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Stanislav Berezhnoy signing gives Blackhawks a sneaky reason to feel hopeful

The Blackhawks have another netminder coming into the system, and one who could ultimately make a great supplement to Spencer Knight.
ByTodd Matthews|
Feb 14, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a Chicago Blackhawks logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Feb 14, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; View of a Chicago Blackhawks logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images | David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The Chicago Blackhawks may've struck gold with another netminder after they signed Stanislav Berezhnoy, who's coming over after spending his career in Russia's MHL and VHL.

He played in one KHL game, but Berezhnoy's moments came in the lower leagues these past few seasons. Last season, he split time between the Omskie Krylia and SKA-Neva St. Petersburg.

Berezhnoy appeared in 14 games for Omskie, putting up a 0.926 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA. With SKA-Neva St. Petersburg, Berezhnoy saw action in 13 contests, recording a 0.931 save percentage, a 2.49 GAA, and a shutout.

Not bad numbers, and success he hopes to take with him to Rockford, where he'll vie for time with the IceHogs. If his eight-game postseason numbers, in which he put up a 0.921 save percentage and a 2.66 GAA, say anything, chances are, he'll figure things out quickly here in North America.

Sure, he may need to get used to the different game, but 22-year-old has routinely put up stellar performances that also include strong campaigns in the MHL dating back to 2021-22.

Stanislav Berezhnoy will face competition with the Chicago Blackhawks, given their young netminding

Berezhnoy and just about every young netminder in the Hawks system will face intense competition if they plan on getting reps with the big club at some point. Spencer Knight looks like the clear front-runner to be the team's franchise goaltender, especially since the Hawks traded for him, and Arvid Soderblom could have the 1B/No. 2 position locked up.

Knight showed durability last season when he appeared in 38 contests between the Blackhawks and Florida Panthers, posting a 0.901 save percentage, a 2.72 GAA, and two shutouts. His quality starts percentage clocked in at a solid 0.583, and he ended the season with 17 wins.

In Chicago, Knight posted a 5-8-2 record, with an 0.893 save percentage and a 3.18 GAA to go with a solid 0.533 quality starts percentage. His numbers weren't going to be anywhere near as good with the Hawks for obvious reasons, but he still showed he could hold his own in the net.

Arvid Soderblom will also get in Berezhnoy's and other prospects' way with a solid 2025-26 season

Perhaps no other netminder made bigger strides last season than Arvid Soderblom, as he showed the NHL wasn't too much to handle. He posted just a 10-18-7 record, but ended the year with an 0.898 save percentage, a 3.18 GAA, and a 0.485 quality starts percentage.

Overall, they weren't great numbers, but the improvement over last season was paramount. If you remember it right, Soderblom had a 3.92 GAA, a 5-22-2 record, plus an 0.879 save percentage. Should he repeat his 2024-25 success or, better yet, improve on it, he'll be tough to beat out.

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