Blackhawks acquire Spencer Martin from Rangers for Arvid Soderblom
A couple of small-time backstops are switching places.
On Sunday, the Chicago Blackhawks acquired goaltender Spencer Martin from the New York Rangers. In exchange, the Rangers are receiving fellow backstop Arvid Soderblom.
It’ll be a fresh start for Soderblom, who has seemingly fallen out of favor in the Windy City. He started the 2026-27 season with the Hawks, serving as the backup behind Spencer Knight. However, while the Blackhawks have struggled as a whole, Soderblom’s play has been anything but up to par. In five appearances so far, including four starts, the 27-year-old has allowed 21 goals, giving him a 4.67 goals-against average and a .842 save percentage, along with a 0-3-1 record.
It led to Soderblom being placed on waivers last Sunday, with the Swedish backstop clearing on Monday. Chicago then sent him down to its American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. He has played two games with the IceHogs, going 2-0-0, with a 0.99 GAA, a .957 SV% and one shutout.
In 117 NHL games, Soderblom has a record of 25-68-15, with a 3.65 GAA, a .885 SV% and one shutout. He’s in the final season of his two-year contract extension, which he signed in July 2025. The deal carries an AAV of $2.75 million.
Martin started this season with the Rangers’ primary affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. However, with injuries to both Joonas Korpisalo and Igor Shesterkin, the 31-year-old was called up to the big club. He appeared in just one game, coming in relief of Dylan Garand in a 7-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 15, just a few days after he was put on waivers for the second time this season.
Martin is in the second season of his two-year contract, which he signed with the Blueshirts in November 2025. The deal has a cap hit of $850,000. In 73 regular-season games in the NHL, the Oakville, Ont. native has a record of 25-33-8, with a 3.62 GAA, a .881 SV% and one shutout.
