Chicago Sun-Times

Hawks reportedly offer Crawford one-year deal

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The Blackhawks are already working to check off their No. 1 offseason priority: a new contract for goaltender Corey Crawford.

Hawks general manager Stan Bowman has made an initial offer to Crawford of a one-year contract with a $3.5 million cap hit, according to The Athletic. Crawford and his agent, Gilles Lupien, are expected to counter.

The NHL also moved up the draft to Oct. 6-7, three days earlier than previously announced, and finalized an Oct. 9 start date for free agency. Crawford, 35, would become an unrestrict­ed free agent

— and current backup Malcolm Subban a restricted free agent — if he doesn’t re-sign beforehand.

The cornerston­e goalie said during his end-of-year media availabili­ty last month that guaranteed playing time will be a bigger factor than salary. Ben Pope

Robin Lehner stopped all 24 shots he faced for his fourth shutout of the playoffs, and the Knights beat the Stars 3-0 on Tuesday in Game 2 of the Western Conference final, evening the series at 1-1.

Paul Stastny got the Knights on the board in the second period, scoring at 4:53. William Karlsson and Tomas Nosek made it three in less than 10 minutes against Anton Khudobin.

 ??  ?? Corey Crawford
Corey Crawford

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