Blackhawks Prospect Drew Commesso Has An NHL Future
Coming into 2024-25, the Chicago Blackhawks were expected to use a goalie tandem of Petr Mrazek and Laurent Brossoit. Well, Brossoit was hurt before the season even began and never returned to action.
That opened the door for Arvid Soderblom to take the gig, and he did. It was an impressive year for him, as there were times he was the number one over Mrazek.
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The Hawks made a big-time move ahead of the trade deadline, however, that changed the present and future of the organization's plans in the net.
In sending Seth Jones to the Florida Panthers, Spencer Knight came the other way. He is seen as the goalie of the future in Chicago. What that means for Soderblom and the other goalies in the system remains to be seen.
There is a long-term backup to Knight needs to be solidified. Chicago has options for that spot.
One goalie who should have an NHL future is Drew Commesso, whether it's with Chicago or elsewhere. Commesso is currently playing for the AHL's Rockford IceHogs.
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Commesso was a second-round pick (46th overall) by the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has since had success with Boston University, Team USA at different levels, and now with the Hogs down in Rockford.
He made his NHL debut in 2024-25 but didn't get more than one start and two appearances. In 39 games with Rockford in 2024-25, Commesso had a 2.54 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.
On Wednesday night, Rockford took a 1-0 series lead over the Chicago Wolves in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. It was a tight 2-1 win that came in overtime thanks to a sudden-death goal scored by Artyom Levshunov.
Without Commesso's brilliance, Rockford would have never pulled off the win. He made some game-changing saves throughout, including on high-danger chances in the final minute of regulation.
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"Just a continuation of the way he's been the last month and a half, two months," interim head coach Mark Eaton said of Commesso after the big win. "He's been so solid, making the saves that you expect him to make, but then making the big ones when called upon."
In the second half of this AHL season, Commesso has seemed to turn a corner in his development, which has allowed the IceHogs to elevate their overall game in front of him. It was apparent in their first postseason victory of this potential run.
"Drew's been huge." IceHogs captain Brett Seney said following the victory. "All year, he's been great. The second half, especially down the stretch, he's won us a lot of games. He made a couple of huge saves tonight that turned the tide for us. He lets our [defense & forwards ] play a little more free."
When skaters know that they have a solid netminder back there, they can play to their strengths with a lot more confidence. That much was clear with Commesso in the net on Wednesday.
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Next up for the IceHogs is Game 2 of this series on Friday night. If Rockford wins, they will move on and play the Milwaukee Admirals in the second round. If the Wolves take this one, a decisive game three will take place on Sunday.
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