Blackhawks: A Waiting Game With Crawford Doesn’t Work

No surprise here, the Chicago Blackhawks and Corey Crawford don’t see eye-to-eye on a contract extension. This could cause a waiting game for both parties.

Let’s be honest, Corey Crawford is asking for too much. Crawford is coming off of a six-year deal, where he made $6,000,000 AAV. There are rumors that Crawford wants the Chicago Blackhawks to give him a multi-year extension that is worth more than the rumored $3,500,000 that was already offered for one-year. The two parties playing a waiting game doesn’t help either side.

Why doesn’t this work?

1. If the Hawks hold out for Crawford and miss the boat on either trading for a new goalie or signing one – they’ll either have to overpay for Crawford or he’s on his way out. Overpaying hurts their chances of keeping Kubalik and Strome.

2. Crawford has a terrible history of injuries, holding out for him, and having him injured again next season gives them no backup play.

No GM has ever been a fan of waiting out for a deal, praying the player will sign with the team. The NHL is a business, at the end of the day. If Crawford is asking for a contract that is too much money, Chicago needs to look elsewhere and find a goalie that fits their needs.

Crawford spoke on taking a hometown discount and staying in Chicago in January and now right after the playoffs. He played great in the playoffs, but how much of that does he have left in him? I would assume he doesn’t have three-years left of how great he played in the playoffs.

At the end of the day, Stan Bowman traded the WRONG goalie. Robin Lehner for “less money” is way better. The two parties there were agreeing on a salary, they just couldn’t get the duration of the contract right. Three-years of Lehner is better than three-years of an aging Crawford. Just a bad move overall.

I want to say I’m disappointed, but I’m not. Being surprised by Stan Bowman is impossible at this point. Even if he makes a great trade or a great signing, he’ll mess it up somehow and bring back an aging veteran who cannot play anymore.

"Blackhawks: Corey Crawford’s Contract Is An Issue Not Expected"

Sign Jacob Markstrome for the same contract Crawford wants. He’s worth more.