Blackhawks let two-time champion goaltender Corey Crawford hit free agency
For the first time since the 2005-06 NHL season, the Chicago Blackhawks won't have goaltender Corey Crawford.
Chicago general manager Stan Bowman told reporters on Thursday that the two-time Stanley Cup champion, who turns 36 years old in December, will enter free agency on Friday morning.
"I had a conversation with Corey earlier today and it was a bit of an emotional talk," Bowman said. "Corey and I go back a long time. He's up there with the legends for the Blackhawks: Tony Esposito, Glenn Hall, Corey Crawford. Corey stands tall as a two-time Cup champion."
"The message to Corey and to everyone else today is that we've decided we have some young goaltenders here in Chicago we believe in," Bowman explained. The Blackhawks currently have 25-year-old Kevin Lankinen and 26-year-old Collin Delia.
"Much like Corey needed that opportunity when he came up after the 2010 season … we have a couple young goalies in (Kevin) Lankinen and (Collin) Delia who we haven't given a real opportunity to. With where we're headed, the NHL is relying more and more on young players. We're going to embrace that going forward."
Chicago is also expected to re-sign restricted free agent netminder Malcolm Subban.
In late September, Bowman seemed optimistic Crawford would remain with the Blackhawks through the start of the 2020-21 campaign, which may not begin until January because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We still have time on our side here, and that's what we're working through," Bowman said at that time. "We're realistic that [Crawford signing with another team is] a possibility, but that's not what we're focused on. I think we're looking at [re-signing Crawford] and optimistic to do something like that."
Crawford departs the Blackhawks as the only goaltender to win multiple Stanley Cups (2013, 2015) and multiple William M. Jennings Trophies (2012-13, 2014-15) in franchise history. He holds club records for playoff wins (52) and regular-season save percentage (.918 with a minimum of 100 appearances).
In 488 regular-season appearances with Chicago, Crawford tallied a 260-162-53 record with a 2.45 goals against average, .918 save percentage and 26 shutouts.
More must-reads: