Corey Crawford (Photo Credit: Getty Images, By: Elsa)
Coming into the season, goaltending wasn’t supposed to be a concern for the Chicago Blackhawks, and it hasn’t been. However, it wasn’t supposed to be Marty Turco, not Corey Crawford, in net for the Blackhawks.
But after Turco struggled early on, Crawford emerged as not only a capable starter, but a goalie who could carry the team.
“If there’s an MVP to be named for the Blackhawks, obviously two names will come up, ‘Tazer’ and Corey Crawford,” Blackhawks’ legend Denis Savard said on the Danny Mac Show.
Crawford has 30 wins this season with a 2.28 goals against average, the seventh best GAA in the NHL.
Unlike some of the other young stars on the Blackhawks, Crawford’s journey to the big club wasn’t a quick one, Crawford played 417 games in the Juniors and the Minors after the Blackhawks drafted him in 2003.
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“He paid his dues,” Savard said. “He was in the minor league for quite a few years here. We drafted him in the second round, if I recall, and I remember him in prospect camp, four or five years ago. I was the assistant coach at the time, and I ran prospect camp. I’m not involved in drafting players, but we saw a little bit of Corey Crawford that summer, and it looked like he was going to be a solid goaltender for a long time.”
The early signs are that Crawford will live up to Savard’s first impression.
“Good start for Corey,” Savard said. “He’s been carrying the load for the most part of the year now, he’s been great.”
