It’s the end of an era in Chicago, as Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has announced that the team will not re-sign Corey Crawford. Bowman explained it was an emotional decision and suggested that Crawford should be recognized with the great Chicago goaltenders like Glenn Hall and Tony Esposito after winning two Stanley Cups with the organization. Crawford will become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow. While Bowman confirmed Malcolm Subban was not given a qualifying offer (along with Slater Koekkoek, Drake Caggiula and others), the team is hoping to re-sign him to a different contract.
Crawford, 35, will leave the Blackhawks after 497 games in the Chicago crease and one of the most consistent goaltenders of his generation. He has posted a 260-162-53 record over his decade-plus with the team, recording a .918 regular season save percentage in the process. His postseason performances were even better, with two magical runs to the Stanley Cup championship in 2013 and 2015. He was a Vezina candidate on three different occasions, took home the Jennings twice and was named to the All-Rookie team in 2011. There is little that Crawford hasn’t accomplished during his time in Chicago.
If he wants to keep playing (which he does), then he’ll have to try and take that magic somewhere else. After returning from serious concussion issues this season he managed to post a .917 in 40 appearances, creating an excellent tandem with Robin Lehner. Lehner was moved at the deadline and then re-signed by the Vegas Golden Knights, meaning if it’s not Crawford, the Blackhawks will have to look elsewhere for their 2020-21 starter. Collin Delia is still in the organization and under contract, but neither he or Subban are legitimate starting options if the team has plans on returning to the playoffs.
It’s the long list of free agent options that may have cost Crawford an opportunity to return, since the Blackhawks can bet on signing someone else when the market opens on Friday. That doesn’t mean his career is over though, as long as he’s willing to take a backup or tandem role somewhere else. Perhaps even Vegas and a reunion with Lehner would be of interest to him if the Golden Knights can find a way to get rid of Marc-Andre Fleury’s contract.
At any rate, Crawford will bid farewell to the only professional franchise he’s ever known. It was a good run.
Eric Olson 2
Bowman=Idiot
bobbyk 2
Agreed. Bowmans so far buried into a corner he’ll never find his way out. Welcome back to the good old days of Blackhawk hockey, 2005-06.
windycitykid89
End of an era with Crow. 2 Stanley Cup titles and probably one of the top 5 goalies in the history of the franchise. Not surprised they’re bringing him back, but still bittersweet. Thanks for everything, Crow. Best of luck elsewhere
windycitykid89
*not surprised they’re not bringing him back.
lapcheung39
Dalton needs to come back
tgslug84
Maybe they will bring back Scott Darling.
66TheNumberOfTheBest
Niemi is available.
Sounds like someone is about to overpay for a lesser goalie. Holtby?
JtS12
Let Crowe go but bring back Malcolm Subban? Dumb.
DarkSide830
i mean he’s going to get very little given he was non-tendered. and he wolnt start.
JtS12
He shouldn’t even be the backup next season. Only way they should keep him is if he is the #3 or #4 option. Also, with Stan Bowman in charge in Chicago, it cannot be guaranteed that he doesn’t plan for Subban to be on the Hawks next year. Stan tends to make dumb decisions.
MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend
Stan’s going to out-think himself here. He’s going after the ultimate dark-horse: David Ayres!
windycitykid89
Lol that would be funny.
MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend
@windycitykid89 – Hey, he can drive a Zamboni, stop the Leafs, and, in a pinch, move a piano! :)
Bucky76
Holtby!!!! I would say…
dman07
He’ll call Dubas about Freddy I’m sure
LarryJ4
Sabres will trade you Carte Hutton for Patrick Kane’s hockey stick tape (if it’s used they’d throw in a 1st rounder)!
LarryJ4
*Carter Hutton
bobbyk 2
Salary cap problems started with the overpay of almost $11M each paid to Toews and Kane. Add in Seabrook’s gross overpay and you have Blackhawks version of “Salary Cap Hell”.
CdnElsy
How are Kane & Toews overpaid? Yes, Seabrook is as of now but when deal was signed. Injuries really hurt Brent but he is still one of the best D-men in franchise history and will be sad day when he taken by Seattle or placed on permanent LTIR
riverrat55
Carter Hutton and a first for Kane, ha ha , got to be joking , Kane isn’t going nowhere even thou he is from Buffalo
Heck even Ayres would be a better bet he could drive the Zamboni if needed as well
windycitykid89
I don’t think you read his comment correctly. He said Hutton for Kane’s stick tape…not Kane lol
tucsontoro1
That Lehner trade looks good now!
aias
Crawford wanted too much money for a guy who can’t stay healthy.
I fear the latter parts of Toews and Kane’s careers will look a lot like their early years: stuck playing on bad Hawks teams.
therula34
Lol they were competing for the playoffs their first season in the league and made them their second ..