Making the case for Corey Crawford's induction to the Blackhawks Hall of Fame

The Chicago Blackhawks centennial celebration will honor the team's rich history, a history including six Stanley Cup wins and plenty of star players over the years.

One exciting part of the Blackhawks centennial will be when the Hawks name their first round of players elected to the team's new Hall of Fame.

Fans can cast their vote for one Modern era and one Heritage era player to be elected to the Hall. Voting, which will take place through the middle of July, will be calculated amongst a fan vote, an alumni vote and a local media vote to determine the two alumni honored each season.

Blackhawks with their number retired were automatically inducted into the Hall of Fame. Additionally, the Blackhawks can induct one Builder into the Hall as a broadcaster, coach or other contributor for inclusion in the annual class through committee selection.

One player who stands out amongst the ballot for the Modern era has to be former Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford.

Corey Crawford helped bring two Stanley Cups to the Blackhawks and deserves a spot in the team's Hall of Fame.

Crawford was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft. While it would take him some seven years to really make it to the NHL, when he did get there he was a game changer for years to come.

Crawford was Chicago's backup netminder to start the 2010-11 season, he later stole the starting job from Marty Turco. He would go on to win two Stanley Cups with the Hawks, becoming an important piece of the Blackhawks championship core.

Of the players from the Blackhawks dynasty, Corey Crawford might be one of the most overlooked guys on those championship teams. He easily could have won the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy and it was because of his reliable play that the Hawks were as successful as they were over the years.

Crawford leads the Blackhawks in career playoff wins with 52, ahead of Tony Esposito with 45 and Ed Belfour with 35. Additionally, Crawford is third in franchise history (260) in wins behind just Esposito (418) and Glenn Hall (276).

Of the 18 goaltenders who played 80 or more games with the Blackhawks, Crawford leads the bunch with a save percentage of .918. Crawford is not just one of the best goalies in Blackhawks history, but he is also one of the best goalies of the salary cap era.

Crawford won two William Jennings Trophies in his career one in 2013 and one in 2015. He also went to two all-star games in 2015 and 2017. He also had some fun moments in the playoffs every year. Crawford was never afraid to get involved when things got heated on the ice.

Corey Crawford should definitely be in the Blackhawks Hall of Fame, with so many exceptional players on the ballot it will be interesting to see who is selected first.