The Chicago Blackhawks announced on July 16 that they have signed goaltender Stanislav Berezhnoy to a two-year, entry-level contract that will run through the 2026-27 season. He will earn an annual average value (AAV) of $975,000.
The 22-year-old Berezhnoy split the 2024-25 season with Omskie Kayla and SKA-Neva St. Petersburg in Russia’s Supreme Hockey League (VHL), the country’s second-highest level. In 27 regular-season games, he posted a 12-10-2 record, a .928 save percentage (SV%), a 2.50 goals-against average (GAA), and one shutout. In the VHL playoffs, he went 4-3 with a .921 SV% and 2.66 GAA.
Berezhnoy, who stands at 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, has a 17-18-5 record in 54 career VHL games, posting a .918 SV%, a 2.77 GAA, and three shutouts. An undrafted netminder, he also played 92 games in Russia’s Junior Hockey League (MHL), going 48-24-4 with a .920 SV%, a 2.46 GA,A and 10 shutouts.
Related: Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell to Entry-Level Contract
The Blackhawks now have four goaltenders under contract: Spencer Knight, Arvid Soderblom, Drew Commesso, and Laurent Brossoit. Knight has one year remaining on his contract and is expected to be the team’s number-one goalie going into 2025-26.
Who will serve as his backup remains a question, as Brossoit is expected to return after missing the entire 2024-25 season. Soderblom, who remains unsigned as a restricted free agent, appeared in 36 games last season, going 10-18-7 with an .898 SV% and 3.18 GAA. Meanwhile, Commesso, a 2020 second-round pick, went 18-15-4 with a .911 SV% and 2.54 GAA in 39 games with the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Rockford IceHogs in 2024-25.
If Chicago agrees to terms with Soderblom, Brossoit, who signed with the team in July 2024 but has yet to play a game, may end up being expendable and going on the trade market.
Blackhawks fans: Who do you want to see in the crease in Chicago next season? Should the team try to move one of their netminders? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
