The Chicago Blackhawks may have found a hidden gem in top star signing, who is making the jump to North America after spending the early part of his career in Russia’s MHL and VHL.
While he only has one KHL appearance to his name, top star has made his mark in the lower leagues over the past few seasons. Last year, he split time between Omskie Krylia and SKA-Neva St. Petersburg. With Omskie, he posted a solid 0.926 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average over 14 games. He was even better with SKA-Neva, recording a 0.931 save percentage, a 2.49 GAA, and notching a shutout in 13 games.
Those are impressive numbers, and he’ll look to carry that momentum to Rockford, where he’ll compete for playing time with the IceHogs. His eight-game postseason showing — a 0.921 save percentage and 2.66 GAA — suggests he has the poise and skill to adjust quickly to the North American style.
At just 22, top star has already put together a track record of consistent, high-level play, including standout performances in the MHL dating back to the 2021–22 season. While there may be an adjustment period ahead, all signs point to him being ready for the challenge.
Berezhnoy—and nearly every other young goaltender in the Blackhawks’ pipeline—will face stiff competition if they hope to earn NHL minutes in the near future. Spencer Knight appears to be the clear favorite to become the team’s long-term starter, especially after Chicago made the move to acquire him. Arvid Soderblom, meanwhile, seems to have a firm grip on the 1B or backup role.
Knight demonstrated his durability and potential last season, appearing in 38 games split between the Florida Panthers and Blackhawks. He finished the year with a 0.901 save percentage, a 2.72 goals-against average, two shutouts, and a quality starts percentage of 0.583, collecting 17 wins along the way.
With Chicago, Knight posted a 5–8–2 record, an 0.893 save percentage, and a 3.18 GAA. While those numbers took a dip compared to his time in Florida, that was to be expected given the rebuilding state of the Blackhawks. Still, he managed a 0.533 quality starts percentage and showed that he could remain composed under pressure, providing a glimpse of what he might offer as the team continues to build around its young core.
Arvid Soderblom will also get in Berezhnoy’s and other prospects’ way with a solid 2025-26 season
Few goaltenders took a bigger leap last season than Arvid Soderblom, who proved he could handle the NHL grind. While his 10-18-7 record might not jump off the page, he finished the year with a respectable 0.898 save percentage, a 3.18 goals-against average, and a 0.485 quality starts percentage.
Those numbers might not be stellar on their own, but the year-over-year progress was significant. For context, in the previous season, Soderblom posted a 5-22-2 record with a 3.92 GAA and an 0.879 save percentage. The growth he showed in 2024-25 was a major step forward in his development.
If Soderblom can replicate that level of play—or better yet, build on it—he’ll be a formidable presence in the crease and tough to unseat for anyone trying to claim the No. 2 job behind Spencer Knight.