The Chicago Blackhawks made a lot of roster improvements this offseason after a difficult 2023–2024 campaign. The Hawks had a lot of injuries last season, which made it difficult to have a deep team. Kyle Davidson added seven new players to the Hawks this offseason to ensure they would have a stronger roster the following year. Some Blackhawks will be vying for slots on the opening night roster as a result of the strengthened roster. Let’s discuss a few Blackhawks players that will be vying for slots on the roster in 2024–2025.
Three Players for the Blackhawks Competing for Roster Spots
Slaggert Landon
Slaggert is a contender to miss out on the final roster of the Blackhawks following a 16-game NHL stint near the end of the 2023–2024 season. The former third-round selection signed with the Hawks in March and played in 16 games, scoring four points. Pat Maroon and Craig Smith were added by the Hawks to their bottom six, which made it more difficult for a talent like Slaggert to break into the team.
This is not to argue that Slaggert is not in need of the AHL time. Slaggert could have used more minor league experience, but he was respectable in NHL play. Chicago would be better off letting him grow. Slaggert is and probably always will be a bottom six player. Sending Slaggert to Rockford, where he can play more consistently, may be the wisest course of action because he probably won’t receive many minutes if he plays in the NHL this season. Slaggert, though, is probably going to be among the first guys called up to the NHL following an injury. Slaggert appears to be pushed into an AHL role just as a result of the team’s increased depth.
Kevin Korchinski
Finally, Kevin Korchinski can play in the AHL after a difficult rookie campaign. CHL players are not eligible to be assigned to the AHL until they turn 20 due to agreements between the NHL and the Canadian Hockey League. With Korchinski, this put the Blackhawks in a difficult predicament. They had to decide whether to keep him in the NHL or send him back to the WHL. Chicago didn’t fare so well with Kyle Davidson’s decision to keep him in the NHL.
Korchinski is now qualified to play in the AHL, therefore the Hawks may choose to go in this direction. In the NHL, Korchinski was outmatched. Providing him with an opportunity to enhance his defensive skills and obtain more steady minutes could greatly enhance his self-assurance. The Blackhawks have possibilities to replace Korchinski in the starting lineup because they added free agents Alec Martinez and T.J. Brodie. Korchinski’s performance in the inaugural season suggests that the Blackhawks would be better off leaving him off the final squad.
Arvid Soderblom
In Chicago, Soberblom’s 2023–2024 season was underwhelming. During his first extended stay in the NHL, Soderblom had difficulties. He recorded a 3.92 goals against average and an impressive.880 save percentage. Soderblom had a longer leash than he should have had because the Blackhawks never had a suitable candidate to fill his roster slot. Laurent Brossoit’s signing puts Soderblom in danger of losing his NHL position.
It is difficult to see Soderblom land a starting position, even in the AHL. The fact that Blackhawks top prospect Drew Commesso just finished a successful season with the Rockford IceHogs makes Soderblom’s circumstances even more difficult. Since Soderblom is still only 24 years old, there is yet hope for him. Nevertheless, his statistics have never shown a goalie of NHL caliber.
The Blackhawks training camp is something to watch closely as another season of hockey approaches. In many aspects, the Blackhawks roster is still a work in progress. The team is looking to turn the wheel on their rebuild, and with the acquisitions made this offseason, the roster battles will get more competitive.
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