ST. PAUL, Minn. — Chicago Blackhawks goalie Laurent Brossoit underwent a second surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss about six more weeks, Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson said on Friday.
Brossoit, 31, initially underwent meniscus surgery in late August and was expected to miss five-to-seven weeks. His recovery was on track during training camp and he was expected back with the team early in the season, but he later had more knee issues. He recently had further tests done and another procedure was recommended. Richardson described the procedure as a clean-up after the first surgery.
The Blackhawks signed Brossoit in the offseason to a two-year contract with a $3.3 million cap hit in hopes of him supporting No. 1 goalie Petr Mrázek. Brossoit had battled through other injuries in recent years and was hopeful to prove himself in a larger role.
“I’m sure he’s really frustrated,” Richardson said. “I think the key is to kind of look after it now, and that was the right decision. We’ll just have to be patient.”
In Brossoit’s absence, the Blackhawks have been mostly riding Mrázek in net. He’s started 16 of the Blackhawks’ 22 games and will start again against the Minnesota Wild on Friday. Mrázek has consistently given the Blackhawks a chance this season. He is 7-8-1 with a. 912 save percentage, but he’s been especially good the last five games as he’s stopped 146-of-155 shots for a .942 save percentage over that span.
“Just dialed in, he’s been all year,” Richardson said. “A little more goal support by us, he’d have a better wins-loss record, but he’s doing his job. We got to pick up our end of the bargain here and try to help him out on the win column. I think he’s just an athletic goalie. He’s seeing the puck well. I think we’re doing a better job as team at helping out front, but we can still be a little bit better at some grade-A chances and keep those numbers at a minimum, so he doesn’t have to over-activate too much because he’s playing a lot right now.”
The Blackhawks have also been utilizing Arvid Söderblom as the No. 2. Söderblom was expected to be sent to the AHL after a bumpy season with the Blackhawks last year, but Brossoit’s injury changed those plans. Söderblom may be in the NHL for good now, though. He needs to play only four more games to no longer be exempt from waivers. Considering Brossoit’s timeline and the Blackhawks having a busier schedule coming up, it’s likely Söderblom plays at least four games. And with his improved play this season, which has included a .926 save percentage in six games, it’s unlikely the Blackhawks would attempt to clear him through waivers.
Richardson said he expects Söderblom to get more action soon. He last played on Nov. 19.
“Petr’s feeling healthy, so that’s a big thing,” Richardson said. “That’s a big thing we keep talking to him, even yesterday to make sure that his health is 100 percent. But we got lots of games coming up here in the next little push here, so Arvid will be getting in there shortly and getting a couple more reps in the next few weeks because of back-to-back situations or three in four nights. He’s been playing well, too. We’re comfortable with our goaltending.”
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
