Goaltender Laurent Brossoit seems to be close to making a comeback after suffering a long-term knee injury during the 2023-24 playoffs, which caused him to miss the remainder of the playoffs and the entire 2024-25 season. According to Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman, Brossoit is nearing a conditioning stint in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks’ affiliate team.
In light of this, the Blackhawks have already brought Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom onto their roster. Brossoit’s $3.3 million salary cap hit is significant for a goalie who has barely played in over a year. As a result, Chicago has given other teams permission to discuss a potential trade involving the 32-year-old goalie. Friedman explained on “Saturday Headlines” that this transparency helps other teams understand Brossoit’s current health status, the details of his surgery, and his progress.
All indications suggest a trade is likely, though his sizable cap hit remains a challenge. Friedman noted, “Not everyone can accept that; there may be work to be done here.” On the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas linked Brossoit to the Edmonton Oilers, a team struggling with goaltending consistency.
Brossoit has ties to Edmonton, having played four seasons with the Oilers from 2014 to 2018 and five seasons with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings, winning the WHL Championship in 2011-12. Throughout his NHL career, he mostly served as a backup before his injury. In his last season with the Winnipeg Jets, he appeared in 23 games and posted an impressive 15-5-2 record, with a 2.00 goals-against average, a .927 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Brossoit has delivered strong performances throughout his career, including time with the Vegas Golden Knights. In the 2023-24 regular season, he had his best statistical year. He was also part of Vegas’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022-23, where he played 11 regular-season games, achieving a 7-0-2 record along with a 2.17 GAA and .927 SP. During the playoffs that season, he started eight games, winning five, with a 3.18 GAA and .894 SP.
Fan Take: This potential return and trade of Laurent Brossoit is significant for hockey fans because it highlights how teams manage valuable players coming back from injury while balancing salary cap constraints. For the sport, it underscores the constant challenge of building a competitive roster amid the physical demands players face.
