The Crawford Dilemma: Sign or Walk Away?

[JimAKABlkhwks918]

Crawford's former teammates react to Hawks not re-signing him

NBC Sports Chicago caught up with several of Corey Crawford’s former teammates to get their reaction to the news the Blackhawks would not be re-signing him. One Hawk close to Crawford posted a heartfelt message to Instagram as well.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[JimAKABlkhwks918]

So the GM who overpays just about everyone waffled at $800K? Interesting...

New Jersey Devils Sign Corey Crawford to Two Season Deal Worth $7.8 Million

The New Jersey Devils made one of the last signings of the first day of the NHL’s free agent period by signing former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford. They needed a goaltender and they got one. This post is a quick reaction to the deal and why it is a good signing.

www.allaboutthejersey.com

 

[Vegas Hawk]

Good for Crawford. Maybe $3.9 mil per year is fair, but given the Hawks cap limitations I think (for once) they did the right thing. With Crawford's injury history the Hawks may have ended up with a younger goalie anyway. Nobody has a crystal ball (although they did have a Cristobal) and it would be risky to think that Crawford could stay healthy for an entire season.

 

[hawkinmontreal]

Good for Crawford. Maybe $3.9 mil per year is fair, but given the Hawks cap limitations I think (for once) they did the right thing. With Crawford's injury history the Hawks may have ended up with a younger goalie anyway. Nobody has a crystal ball (although they did have a Cristobal) and it would be risky to think that Crawford could stay healthy for an entire season.

This is not about the extra 800k, the Hawks brass know where this team is, they are nowhere near being a cup contender and or playoff contender. The world is going through turbulent times and with the NHL having no idea what the future holds this makes sense financially and for the Hawks it’s time to see what there prospects can do.

 

[hawkinmontreal]

So the GM who overpays just about everyone waffled at $800K? Interesting...

New Jersey Devils Sign Corey Crawford to Two Season Deal Worth $7.8 Million

The New Jersey Devils made one of the last signings of the first day of the NHL’s free agent period by signing former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford. They needed a goaltender and they got one. This post is a quick reaction to the deal and why it is a good signing.

www.allaboutthejersey.com

He did t waffle, he actually did the right thing, for once.

 

[JimAKABlkhwks918]

He did t waffle, he actually did the right thing, for once.

Agree, my astonishment is that he did the right thing...

 

[Tater]

I wonder what kind of message this sends to the other core guys. I wouldn't be surprised if 19, 88 or 2 are strongly looking for alternative exits.

 

[JimAKABlkhwks918]

I wonder what kind of message this sends to the other core guys. I wouldn't be surprised if 19, 88 or 2 are strongly looking for alternative exits.

Because they are the face of the franchise, especially Toews and Kane, the team kind of has to wait for them to say they want out...if the team pushes the issue, it looks like they ran their superstars out of town...if the players request out, it looks like they did a kindness to star players who served the team well....PR is certainly a part of this with players of TKK's stature.

 

[LordKOTL]

This is not about the extra 800k, the Hawks brass know where this team is, they are nowhere near being a cup contender and or playoff contender. The world is going through turbulent times and with the NHL having no idea what the future holds this makes sense financially and for the Hawks it’s time to see what there prospects can do.

Except the brass are fucking morons if they go into the year without a vet backup--which is no surprise given that our GM is a beancounter.

Given the goalies out there right now Stan could have easily picked someone up for <2M who has been there, done that, and is not adverse to playing a backup role. Even Crawford had Turco back in 2011. Right now as things lie it looks like the 'hawks are going into the year with a career backup/AHL'er, a rookie netminder that hasn't wrested the backup slot, and another that is completely untested, along with a team D with one aging D-man that can't play the big minutes & support the rookies on D, one who's better served watching Murder: She Wrote in the pessbox, 2 nothing special mid-tier guys, one expensive nothing special mid-tier guy, one rookie so far out of his depth he needed water wings, and a set of FWDs who think defense is what separates their yard from their neighbors.

Sure, I would have loved it if Crawford stayed, but I get it. But given the cost of some of those FA goalies vs Subban, If Stan was a hockey mind he would have tried to tuck one of them in.

Right now though, I'm expecting 2006 all over again. Maybe that will get him fired.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

 

[Diehardfan]

Because they are the face of the franchise, especially Toews and Kane, the team kind of has to wait for them to say they want out...if the team pushes the issue, it looks like they ran their superstars out of town...if the players request out, it looks like they did a kindness to star players who served the team well....PR is certainly a part of this with players of TKK's stature.

Yeah and I really hope they do it soon. The clock is ticking on those guys. It's amazing how many fans just refuse to see the light of day.....I mean re-signing Crawford? What possible good does that do? If you are going to rebuild.....then re-fucking build. Guys like Kane, Toews and Keith are not getting any younger. You have to try and move these guys while they still have value. Not an easy chore but it needs to be done. Another year of mediocre hockey does not help this franchise....we just got to hope Bowman doesn't **** it up. Maybe he should give Rick Hahn a call for some pointers.....

 

[Diehardfan]

I wonder what kind of message this sends to the other core guys. I wouldn't be surprised if 19, 88 or 2 are strongly looking for alternative exits.

That would be the plan.....

 

[Tater]

That would be the plan.....

That's what I'm thinking. No decent goalie, Saad gone too. It pushes TKK to want out of this dumpster fire.

 

[hawkinmontreal]

I wonder what kind of message this sends to the other core guys. I wouldn't be surprised if 19, 88 or 2 are strongly looking for alternative exits.

The issue with CC was his concussion history compounded with his age and length of contract. I am pretty sure, but don’t bet against it, if the leagues cap was increasing and Covid 19 never reared its ugly face, financially the Hawks would of, most likely given him what Jersey offered him. The uncertainty has changed the face of the current NHL and team owners, if the need is not there why put forward that extra million or 2. We have to ask ourselves what is the state of the team, if we like it or not they are on rebuild mode, so going with the kids is the better option, even if it means the Hawks getting hammered every night.
In the case of Kane and Toews, they are the faces of the Hawks, all marketing of the team is based on those 2, fans main purpose of watching the Hawks is Centered around those 2, and they are not 35 years old yet. In Bowmans eyes CC was replaceable, where as Toews and Kane currently are not. I don’t believe Toews is going anywhere, he will retire a Hawks, Kane on the other hand can fetch picks and help against the cap by trading him if need be. Keith on the other hand, may look for an alternative but he has had a very successful career and as much as he may have issues with Stan and JC Chicago is home and he is very close to retirement, at the most a trade deadline deal for a pick and he returns the following year for retirement.

 

[Granada]

He did t waffle, he actually did the right thing, for once.

Completely agree. Guys like Jay Zawaski are saying it was "disrespectful" to pull the offer off the table so quickly after Crawford wanted to negotiate, but I'm sorry, that's complete hogwash. I loved Crow, but the Hawks didn't owe him anything more than what they did for that guy -- multi-year, 6 million contract they let him finish out, they stuck with him through all the concussions, then they offer him a beyond-fair 3.5 million dollar one year contract. I mean, what the hell else did you want the Hawks to do? Negotiate more, even though Crow waited until the last minute to even bring that up? Give me a break. To act like the Hawks owed Crawford anything more is absurd.

 

[Granada]

That would be the plan.....

Exactly. If that Athletic report is any indication, Toews has pretty much had enough. Perhaps those NMC's won't be as much of a problem for Bowman now.

 

[LordKOTL]

Exactly. If that Athletic report is any indication, Toews has pretty much had enough. Perhaps those NMC's won't be as much of a problem for Bowman now.

This is Stan we're talking about. Of course it's going to be a problem.