Boston University goalie Drew Commesso forgoing senior season to join Blackhawks: Source

Boston University junior goalie Drew Commesso will forgo his senior season and sign an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks, a team source told The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:

• Commesso, a 2020 Blackhawks’ second-round draft pick, will sign a three-year entry-level contract that begins next season with the Blackhawks. He is not expected to join the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, to end this season.
• The 20-year-old Commesso was 24-8-0 with a .913 save percentage and two shutouts in 34 games with the Terriers this season.
• Boston University won nine consecutive games with Commesso in net to end the season before losing to the Minnesota Gophers in the Frozen Four semifinals. He had a .939 save percentage in those 10 games.
• Commesso is expected to share the IceHogs’ net with goalie prospect Jaxson Stauber next season while Arvid Soderblom and Petr Mrazek are the Blackhawks’ two goalies in the NHL.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

A sign of Commesso’s progress

Prior to the 2020 draft, the Blackhawks hadn’t invested an early-round pick on a goalie for some time. That changed when they used a second-round selection on Commesso. They thought he was worth it at the time, and that decision seem to be panning out. He has probably progressed as they hoped since drafting him. He may need some time in the AHL, but he has the makings of an NHL goalie. — Powers

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What’re the long-term hopes?

The Blackhawks have to be optimistic about their future at the goalie position, especially since they’re amidst a rebuild and don’t really have any other position figured out yet. They’re hopeful Arvid Söderblom will be a No. 1 NHL goalie in the next few years. Jaxson Stauber, who is in his first full pro season, performed better than expected when given a chance in the NHL this season and has a chance. And now, Commesso will be in the fold, too.

Commesso isn’t as polished as Söderblom at this point, but the Blackhawks can be patient with Commesso and give him time to develop in Rockford. — Powers

A good spring for the future

The Blackhawks have been able to sign nearly all of the prospects they’ve wanted to so far this spring. Wyatt Kaiser and Ryder Rolston also decided to forgo their senior season and sign with the Blackhawks recently. Landon Slaggert opted to return to school, but the Blackhawks were expecting that. The Blackhawks also finalized entry-level contracts with CHL players Paul Ludwinski and Gavin Hayes and European forward Antti Saarela.

The next prospect to likely sign is forward Samuel Savoie, who was drafted in the third round in 2022. — Powers

Required reading

(Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA Today)