Corey Crawford Appreciation Thread

[roshinaya]

There are rumours that Chicago has signed another Finnish goalie, Antti Raanta, who represented the national team in the recent IIHF tournament and won the FEL championship this spring. Won all sorts of hardware, over 94v% in the regular season and over 95sv% in the playoffs. 24 year old, not that big though at 6", but I guess he could be an option for the backup job.</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Can't be worse than Crawford.

 

[Variable]

Could turn out to be a pretty great move. Can't hurt. Goalie is the one position they are light in depth in right now in the minors and Emery, who knows what happens with him in the offseason.</p>

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="roshinaya" data-cid="198466" data-time="1370266485">
<div>


There are rumours that Chicago has signed another Finnish goalie, Antti Raanta, who represented the national team in the recent IIHF tournament and won the FEL championship this spring. Won all sorts of hardware, over 94v% in the regular season and over 95sv% in the playoffs. 24 year old, not that big though at 6", but I guess he could be an option for the backup job.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Announced on WSCR AM  that the Hawks have indeed signed him.</p>

 

[Rex]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="roshinaya" data-cid="198466" data-time="1370266485">
<div>


There are rumours that Chicago has signed another Finnish goalie, Antti Raanta, who represented the national team in the recent IIHF tournament and won the FEL championship this spring. Won all sorts of hardware, over 94v% in the regular season and over 95sv% in the playoffs. 24 year old, not that big though at 6", but I guess he could be an option for the backup job.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


should play in Rockford next year IMO. Goalies need a year to adjust to the difference ice surface. </p>

 

[PatrickShart]

Congrats to CC</p>


 </p>


Midway in the DET series I wanted to say something....even PM'd Rexy on this...but I wasn't going say/jinx anything about it.</p>


 </p>


I think the questions going into the season were legit....his rookie year he shown he can physically be a good goalie, but in year 2 he seemed mentally not to be able to get over/past what would be considered a soft goal.  With a team that uses puck possession as a big part of their defense, he'd go 10min without seeing a shot.  Year 2 CC had a tough time with that and it seemed when he gave up 1...it weighed on him</p>


 </p>


There were several turning points/challenges for him this year, but the one that stood out to me was vs SJ when he gave up 3 in the first - and Q stuck with him.  I liked Q's handling of him throughout - seemed to always challenge him/keep him hungry for that number 1 spot - and Sugar Ray was right on his heels.  If he slipped....Ray Ray was there to "take his spot".  Was a lot of pressure on him....but in my opinion - it molded/prepared him for the playoffs.</p>


 </p>


Craw, Waite, I think Ray as well....probably the team shrink did an amazing job this year in preparing Craw for the number 1 role.  But it ultimately falls on Craw to produce and he did.</p>


 </p>


I don't expect Vezina's out of him....Don't expect him to be the "Olympic goalie".  I don't think he goes to another team and becomes some sort of dominant/all world goalie.  But the Hawks don't need that.  He doesn't need that.  He's won a cup and worked hard to get it.  Kudos to him..he deserves/earned everything he's gotten - and no one can question if he can "win a cup" ever again.</p>

 

[LordKOTL]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pmxclland" data-cid="202906" data-time="1372170141">
<div>


Congrats to CC</p>


 </p>


Midway in the DET series I wanted to say something....even PM'd Rexy on this...but I wasn't going say/jinx anything about it.</p>


 </p>


I think the questions going into the season were legit....his rookie year he shown he can physically be a good goalie, but in year 2 he seemed mentally not to be able to get over/past what would be considered a soft goal.  With a team that uses puck possession as a big part of their defense, he'd go 10min without seeing a shot.  Year 2 CC had a tough time with that and it seemed when he gave up 1...it weighed on him</p>


 </p>


There were several turning points/challenges for him this year, but the one that stood out to me was vs SJ when he gave up 3 in the first - and Q stuck with him.  I liked Q's handling of him throughout - seemed to always challenge him/keep him hungry for that number 1 spot - and Sugar Ray was right on his heels.  If he slipped....Ray Ray was there to "take his spot".  Was a lot of pressure on him....but in my opinion - it molded/prepared him for the playoffs.</p>


 </p>


Craw, Waite, I think Ray as well....probably the team shrink did an amazing job this year in preparing Craw for the number 1 role.  But it ultimately falls on Craw to produce and he did.</p>


 </p>


I don't expect Vezina's out of him....Don't expect him to be the "Olympic goalie".  I don't think he goes to another team and becomes some sort of dominant/all world goalie.  But the Hawks don't need that.  He doesn't need that.  He's won a cup and worked hard to get it.  Kudos to him..he deserves/earned everything he's gotten - and no one can question if he can "win a cup" ever again.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Exactly!  We needed him to be "Good enough", and he was in spades this year.  Hell, I think everyone that we questioned was--not just Crawford.</p>


 </p>


Unfortunately we still have malcontents that are on his case as if he buggered them with the business end of a forklift. </p>

 

[sth]

I've always liked Corey. Back when he shutout the Ducks in his first start 5 years ago. I wanted him over Niemi as back up in 09-10. He has the size and athleticism to be an excellent goalie. The question always with goalies is mental make up. After his great rookie year and terrific series against Vancouver I felt really good about his future. Last year was tough, but I always stayed on his side. I think there was a massive overreaction to his OT goals against Phoenix. But his numbers were down last year. I think the sophomore goalie slump is a real thing. It affects many goalies, adjusting to the NHL is not easy. Players figure you out watching video and exploiting weaknesses. Craw showed this year that he could adjust. Look at his response to game 4, after glove-gate he played two excellent games. It's nice to see. </p>

 

[Ton]

I thought he was spectacular this season. I am so proud of him, I need a name on the back of my authentic... and I've been pretty skeptical but if the Hawks lock him up to another contract I may don a Crawford jersey for the rest of my life.</p>

 

[Maiden]

I was not a fan but he made me a believer this post season. Props to Corey.</p>

 

[mikita's helmet]

Thought he deserved the Conn Smythe, but there were many worthy Hawks.</p>

 

[roshinaya]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mikita's Helmet" data-cid="203015" data-time="1372193473">
<div>


Thought he deserved the Conn Smythe, but there were many worthy Hawks.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


Thought so too, but agree there were many worth it. I think it says a lot of what kind of team they are, no one stood out and they all chipped in their own way and supported each other. Truly a team victory.</p>

 

[the canadian dream]

Hes groomed from within..that's the most important thing about Crawford and always has been. And the Hawks groomed him properly unlike some goalies in the past which has been an issue for years now (or giving up on goalies too quickly). He paid his dues..the team put their trust in him and he appears to be another character guy in the dressing room whom the rest fo the team bonds really well with. I liked him from the moment the hawks drafted him and was hoping they would groom him the way he has been. I still don't believe in taking a goalie and just throwing him on a team without building him into the position and around a team and letting a goalie have his ups and downs. It worked with Neimi but that's a very very very rare thing.</p>


 </p>


And im not going to take a thing away from Cory but we all know he had a good team infront of him also..there is nothing wrong with that at all of course. I do think Craw also made a lot of guys infront of him better. Goalies can do that. I think watching him handle the puck through the playoffs was something else. That kind of puck play can help a blueline out and the transition game big time. It comes with a risk though as we saw on a couple goals against but the positives outweighed those. When a goalie starts handling a puck like Cory started doing in the Wings series when the Hawks had their backs to the walls..its full on confidence and cockiness that I love in a goalie. I still think that was one of a few huge reason the Hawks came back down 3-1 to the Wings. In game 5 of that series he pretty much became the guy to start the transition game and it had instant effect. Really damaged the Wings forecheck.</p>

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Man... every goalie I make an appreciation thread for wins the Cup.</p>


 </p>


BRB making one for Lundqvist.</p>

 

[supraman]

I have no issues with Corey being our goalie, just prefer a different style, will never hate him for it though. I think he missed his calling as a lumberjack with that beard though</p>

 

[winos5]

Thats why Crow triumphed over Rask.   The fact he can grow a man's beard that is.....     That scraggly as peach fuzz crap that Rask was sporting was lame in comparison.</p>

 

[Pez68]

His puck handling skills were so awesome to watch in these playoffs. Really surprised me.</p>


 </p>


Corey Crawford is our goalie.</p>

 

[LordKOTL]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Supra" data-cid="203080" data-time="1372207390">
<div>


I have no issues with Corey being our goalie, just prefer a different style, will never hate him for it though. I think he missed his calling as a lumberjack with that beard though</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


I don't think he cuts down trees, skips and jumps, and likes to press wildflowers.</p>

 

[phranchk]

There's no way we can win another cup with Craw as our goalie...... /sarcasm

 

[winos5]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="LordKOTL" data-cid="203163" data-time="1372262240">
<div>


I don't think he cuts down trees, skips and jumps, and likes to press wildflowers.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>


 </p>


or have buttered scones with tea for that matter.</p>