Arvid Soderblom’s struggles analyzed by Blackhawks goalie coach Jimmy Waite: ‘We nonetheless have religion’

CALGARY, Alberta — One 12 months in the past, Blackhawks goalie coach Jimmy Waite in contrast Arvid Soderblom to Corey Crawford, describing Soderblom’s fashion and ceiling as Crawford-esque.

The time since hasn’t offered a lot proof to help that comparability. Soderblom has been one of many worst goalies within the NHL this season, going 2-15-1 with an .873 save proportion.

However Waite, regardless of being effectively conscious of these statistics, hasn’t misplaced religion within the 24-year-old Swedish goalie.

“It’s irritating that the outcomes aren’t there, however I’m assured it’s going to show round,” Waite stated Saturday. “I believe he’s ok to play on this league. [He needs to] simply keep it up. Don’t change your recreation as a result of, one night time, you had a foul outcome.”

Since Soderblom’s consecutive disastrous outings in mid-December in opposition to the Kraken and Blues, the Hawks have scaled again his frequency of begins, giving Petr Mrazek 13 of the 17 video games between the Christmas and All-Star breaks.

That has given Soderblom extra follow time to work intently with Waite, fixing and reforming some elements of his recreation whereas the Hawks try an in-season rehab. And that yielded some early fruits, as he posted a save proportion above .900 in three consecutive begins (in opposition to the Predators, Devils and Sabres) earlier than struggling once more Wednesday in opposition to the Kraken.

“After all, [Jimmy is] nice,” Soderblom stated. “He builds me up. Like after the final recreation in Seattle, you’re indignant at your self since you gave up six targets, however you’re it afterwards and [he points out] that two of the targets are simply ridiculous bounces.

“There’s at all times stuff you are able to do [to improve], however you possibly can’t beat your self up an excessive amount of as a result of there was lots of good things in that recreation, too. You’ve bought to take a look at these issues.”

Technical changes

One main, particular downside Waite seen concerned Soderblom overplaying his crease when going through pictures from the left. He would transfer too far to his left (glove) aspect and subsequently depart an excessive amount of of the web open again on his proper (blocker) aspect.

Blues defenseman Justin Faulk’s game-winning objective Dec. 23, a innocent shot that any NHL goalie completely should save, represented a chief instance of opposing gamers exploiting that weak point.

“He was over-moving, after which the far aspect was open,” Waite added. “So he needed to attain out loads, after which he bought beat inside [his arm and body] a pair instances. I don’t know why. That was factor to movie, and now he sees it. He fastened it fairly effectively. On occasion, he nonetheless does it, nevertheless it’s not too unhealthy.”

Soderblom seen and introduced up a associated however barely totally different downside. When an opposing ahead would skate right-to-left (from his vantage level) throughout the offensive zone — from one faceoff circle to the opposite — he discovered himself appropriately retreating deeper into his crease however not rotating sufficient.

That might result in him not being totally sq. to the shooter and leaving further area over his shoulders, the place he bought beat a number of instances.

Soderblom and Waite have additionally talked about different situations the place he’s initially in the correct place — and robotically blocking a lot of the internet due to his 6-3 top and large body — however then tries to do an excessive amount of.

“Generally I attempt to learn the pictures an excessive amount of and open up just a little bit as a substitute of simply being there, being affected person and trusting myself that they need to…make play to beat me,” Soderblom stated. “After I’m doing that, it’s simpler to play. You’re simply there, and also you get hit by some pucks and also you get some free saves. You don’t have to maneuver.”

Months of alternatives left

Regardless of all that effort and time spent bettering technical goaltending stuff, Waite’s greatest qualm with Soderblom is one thing far much less attributable and quantifiable — but it’s the identical criticism many followers have vocalized all season lengthy.

“You want that clutch save, like Petr has been doing: ‘That is the game-changer. We’re nonetheless within the recreation,’” Waite stated. “[Arvid] does make lots of saves, however the well timed saves you actually need, we want extra of that from him.”

Kraken ahead Tomas Tatar’s breakaway objective Wednesday — a backbreaker that felt inevitable the moment Tatar sprung free behind the protection — is an ideal instance.

Soderblom simply hasn’t discovered a strategy to often cease these sorts of grade-A scoring possibilities this season. His .765 high-danger save proportion is, certainly, one of many league’s worst.

However there are nonetheless 32 video games left on the schedule, and this Hawks season is already so toasted that the staff will preserve beginning Soderblom no matter his efficiency. They’re not going to jeopardize Drew Commesso’s improvement by calling him up from Rockford as a substitute.

So Soderblom will virtually definitely obtain his fair proportion of alternatives — after the All-Star break — to show issues round, identical to Waite believes he can. He’ll simply need to carry out significantly better so as to take action.

“We nonetheless think about Arvid,” Waite stated. “General, he has been respectable, however I do know he’s higher than he’s displaying proper now.”