Montreal Canadiens organization steals a goaltender from Original Six rival Chicago Blackhawks

Official reports confirmed todayOfficial reports confirmed today that the Chicago Blackhawks have lost the 22-year-old goalie Benjamin Gaudreau to free agency. Indeed, the goalie agreed to the terms of a one-year, two-way contract with the Laval Rocket.

Gaudreau, 22, is coming off a great season with the Indy Fuel in the ECHL, where he had a 21-16-6 record, a 2.46 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage in 43 games. He also took part in five games in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs, where he had a 0.868 SV% and a 3.19 GAA.

He never got a chance to play in the NHL since getting drafted in the third round by the San Jose Sharks in 2021, but showed great potential on the international scene, winning two gold medals with Team Canada at the WJC in 2021 and 2023.

Now, Gaudreau is heading to a crowded goalie unit in Laval. The Rocket are expected to start next season with Jacob Fowler and either Jakub Dobes or Kaapo Kähkönen.

Laval also re-signed Hunter Jones, who spent last season with Trois-Rivières in the ECHL. With this depth, it's likely Gaudreau will find himself back in the ECHL to start the 2025-26 season, this time with the Trois-Rivières Lions.

That might not be such a bad scenario for Gaudreau. The Lions are the defending Kelly Cup champions and are shaping up to have a strong tandem in net with Hunter Jones and Gaudreau.

It could give the young goalie exactly the kind of platform he needs to keep building confidence and experience, with the ultimate goal of working his way back up to the AHL, and maybe finally earning that NHL opportunity down the line.

Either way, this new chapter in Laval's system gives Gaudreau a fresh chance to prove himself.