‘It was a tough phone call’
Crawford says he was ‘devastated’ the Hawks severed ties
It didn’t take Corey Crawford long to find a new home.
A day after the Chicago Blackhawks severed ties with the two-time Stanley Cup-winning goaltender, Crawford on Friday agreed to a two-year, $7.8 million deal with the New Jersey Devils.
Crawford spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Hawks and was a key part of their championship runs in 2013 and ’15. He has the third-most wins in franchise history and holds the team record with 52 playoff victories.
The Hawks selected Crawford in the second round of the 2003 draft, and he was the team’s starting goalie from 2010-11 through last season. But general manager Stan Bowman on Thursday said the Hawks were going in a different direction.
“The Blackhawks will not be resigning Corey Crawford for next season,” Bowman said in a conference call with reporters. “I had a conversation with Corey earlier today, and it was a bit of an emotional talk.”
Crawford on Saturday told reporters he was “devastated” with the Hawks’ decision.
“I was pretty devastated to get the news about not returning to Chicago,” he said. “That’s all I’ve known in my career. … It turned into excitement. I talked to (the Devils) the most. It’s an up-and-coming team.”
As for negotiations with the Hawks, Crawford said they didn’t happen.
“We just didn’t go back and forth at all,” he told reporters. “It just ended there. There’s not much more I can say. It was a tough phone call. … For me, it was pretty emotional after that talking to some of the players.”
Crawford, 35, posted a 260-162-53 record, 2.45 goals-against average and .918 save percentage with the Hawks. He won two William M. Jennings trophies, awarded to the goaltenders of the team with the fewest goals against during the regular season.
During the summer, Crawford overcame a bout with COVID-19 and joined Hawks training camp a day before the team flew to Edmonton, Alberta, for the postseason. He helped propel them past the Edmonton Oilers in a qualifying series before bowing to the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round.
Crawford, the only unrestricted free agent on the Hawks’ active roster, expressed his desire to return and said he was open to taking less money to stay with the team. He had an annual salary-cap hit of $6 million the last six seasons.
“I would like to be back,” he said in August. “We still have a lot of great pieces on this team. To win another Stanley Cup in Chicago would be unbelievable. That’s the No. 1 goal, to win one more championship.”
According to reports,
Crawford and the Hawks didn’t see eye to eye on some terms of a potential contract.
Bowman on Thursday said the decision not to re-sign Crawford had more to do with giving one of their younger goaltenders, such as Kevin Lankinen and Collin Delia, an opportunity.
The Hawks on Friday re-signed Malcolm Subban to a two-year, $1.7 million deal.
A key component of the Hawks dynasty of the 2010s along with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, Crawford was beloved among teammates and fans.
“Crow” has the thirdmost wins in franchise history behind Tony Esposito (418) and Glenn Hall (276).
“To be a two-time Stanley Cup champion, the only goaltender in the history of the Blackhawks to do that, it speaks volumes of his ability,” Bowman said. “He’s up there with the legends for the Blackhawks.”