Laurent Brossoit is finally set to see game action again, and it’s been a long time coming. The Blackhawks have activated the veteran goaltender from the injured non-roster list and assigned him to AHL Rockford on a conditioning stint - a move that allows them to bypass waivers for now.
He can stay with the IceHogs for up to two weeks before Chicago must make a decision: either keep him on the NHL roster or place him on waivers for a full-time AHL assignment. With an open roster spot available, the Hawks didn’t need to shuffle anyone around to make room.
Brossoit’s return could come as soon as Friday, and if he does suit up, it’ll mark 583 days since his last appearance - a relief outing for the Winnipeg Jets in Game 4 of their first-round playoff loss to the Avalanche back on April 28, 2024. A lot has happened since then.
After hitting free agency that summer, Brossoit signed a two-year, $6.6 million deal with the Blackhawks - the biggest contract of his career. But almost immediately, things went sideways.
A torn meniscus in his right knee required surgery in August, and that was just the beginning. Over the next several months, Brossoit underwent three separate procedures, each one pushing his return further down the road.
What was initially pegged as a short-term absence to start the 2024-25 season turned into a prolonged saga. In November, he was ruled out indefinitely and underwent a second cleanup surgery.
That was supposed to get him back in January, but recovery didn’t cooperate. By March, he was officially shut down for the season.
Then, during training camp this fall, GM Kyle Davidson revealed Brossoit had undergone yet another surgery - this time on his hip - and again, his timeline was indefinite.
At that point, it was fair to wonder if Brossoit’s comeback would ever happen, or if the 2025-26 season might be lost before it even began. But those doubts started to fade a couple of weeks ago when Brossoit was spotted back on the ice at Blackhawks practice. He’s now had several full skates without any reported setbacks, and this conditioning stint in Rockford is the next step in what’s been a long, winding road back.
Chicago will almost certainly use the full two-week window to evaluate where Brossoit stands. With Spencer Knight and Arvid Söderblom locked in as the NHL tandem, there’s no spot waiting for him on the big club - at least not right now.
According to Elliotte Friedman, the Blackhawks have already granted Brossoit permission to explore trade options. If nothing materializes by December 16, expect him to hit waivers.
If he clears, he’ll remain in Rockford.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Brossoit might actually draw some attention on the market, especially if the Blackhawks are willing to retain part of his $3.3 million cap hit. Before injuries derailed his momentum, Brossoit was quietly putting together some elite numbers in limited action.
Over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons with the Golden Knights and Jets, he posted a 22-5-5 record, a .927 save percentage, a 2.05 goals-against average, and three shutouts in 34 games. He also racked up 19.0 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck - impressive stuff for a goalie often pegged as a career backup.
The hope when he arrived in Chicago was that he could be more than just a backup - maybe even a 1B option capable of handling 30-35 starts. That vision never got off the ground, but the talent is still there. If he’s healthy and close to form, Brossoit could be a valuable depth piece for a team in need of goaltending insurance down the stretch.
If no trade materializes and he ends up staying in the system, the Blackhawks can bury $1.15 million of his cap hit in the minors, reducing his impact to $2.15 million for the remainder of the season. With Chicago sitting on over $20 million in cap space, that’s not exactly a pressing issue.
For now, all eyes shift to Rockford. After nearly two years away from game action, Laurent Brossoit is finally back between the pipes. The next two weeks could go a long way in determining whether this is the start of a new chapter - or the closing of the book.