Corey Crawford is a top 10 goalie
Corey Crawford has always been one of the most underrated goalies in the NHL. He’s always been a ‘product’ of the Blackhawks elite defense (in the early 2010s) and he was never any good. Well, I’m here to say that he was and still is an elite goaltender in the NHL.
Road to the NHL
Crawford was drafted out of the QMJHL at the 2003 NHL Draft in the second round. In four seasons with the Moncton Wildcats, he had a 0.913 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average. He also made the second all-star team in both 2004 and 2005.
After the 2004–2005 season, Crawford made the jump to pro hockey. He spent two games with the Chicago Blackhawks (0.878 SV% and 3.47 GAA) but spent most of his time with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. There were questions if he would ever make it, but as we know goalies generally take longer than skaters to make the NHL. He would split time between the AHL and NHL for the next five or so years.
NHL Breakthrough
After switching between the AHL and NHL, Crawford finally got his chance during the 2010–2011 season and never looked back. The 26-year-old had a 0.917 SV%, a 2.30 GAA, a 7.70 goals saved above expected, and an 0.828 HDSV% in 57 NHL games. Those marks ranked sixth, 10th, 13th, and 14th out of 33 eligible goalies respectively (minimum 35 NHL games played). The rookie netminder also finished fourth in Calder voting.
The next year was definitely a down year for Crawford. He had a 0.903 SV%, a 2.72 GAA, a -20.04 GSAx, and an 0.801 HDSV% in 57 games played. He ranked 20th, 23rd, 33rd, and 27th out of 35 eligible goalies. He also struggled in the playoffs ranking 15th in both SV% and GAA (out of 19 goalies).
Stanley Cup Runs/Prime Years
In 2012–2013, Crawford returned to form. He posted an impressive 0.926 SV%, a 1.94 GAA, a 7.10 GSAx, and an 0.830 HDSV% in 30 games. Out of 30 goaltenders (min. 1200 TOI), Crawford ranked fifth, second, 11th, and 13th. In the playoffs, he was fourth in SV%, first in GAA, and helped the Blackhawks to a Stanley Cup victory. Personally, he won the William M. Jennings (with Ray Emery) and was eighth in Vezina voting. He also gave us this legendary moment.
2013–2014 saw Crow fall back down to earth a bit. He had a 0.917 SV%, a 2.26 GAA, a -2.55 GSAx, and an 0.852 HDSV% (min. 35 games played, same from here on out). Crawford ranked 11th, sixth, 22nd, and fourth respectively out of 33 goaltenders. During the playoffs, he ranked 10th in SV% and 10th in GAA (out of 22 goaltenders).
There might be a trend that’s starting with Crawford at this point in time. He again has a bounce-back year after a rough 13–14 season. He recorded a 0.924 SV%, a 2.27 GAA, an 8.60 GSAx and an 0.825 HDSV% in 57 NHL games. Those marks ranked sixth, ninth, 14th, and 16th out of 35 eligible goalies. Crawford also had an excellent performance in the playoffs. In 19 playoff games, he had a 0.927 SV% (eighth), a 2.31 GAA (10th), and two shutouts en route to another Stanley Cup victory. Crawford won the William M. Jennings trophy, made the NHL All-Star Game, and finished sixth in Vezina Trophy voting.
Corey Crawford has his strongest year to date during the 2015–2016 NHL season. In 58 NHL games, he had a 0.924 SV%, a 2.37 GAA, a 21.65 GSAx, and an 0.850 HDSV%. He ranked fourth in SV%, 13th in GAA, third in GSAx, and fourth in HDSV% out of 35 eligible goalies. In the playoffs, he had the 11th highest SV% (0.907) and the 12th lowest GAA (2.55) among 26 goaltenders. He had the most shutouts (seven) and finished fifth in Vezina Trophy voting.
Crow, did see a slight drop in production during the 2016–2017 season, but he still played like a top 10 goalie. He played 55 NHL games and had a 0.918 SV%, a 2.55 GAA, a 10.21 GSAx, and a 0.837 HDSV%. Out of 37 goalies he ranked, eighth in SV%, 16th in GAA, ninth in GSAx, and 10th in HDSV%. The Blackhawks ended up getting swept in the first round and Corey Crawford had a 0.902 SV% and a 2.84 GAA. Crawford was again voted to the All-Star Game.
Corey Crawford started off the 2017–2018 season like any other season. He was having a stellar season with a 0.929 SV% (T-3rd), a 2.27 GAA (3rd), a 13.8 GSAx (11th), and an 0.860 HDSV% (1st) through 29 games. He was playing his best hockey at the time and was poised to win his first Vezina Trophy. Then mysteriously he went down with an injury and was place on injured reserve on December 27th, 2017.
Injury Riddled Seasons
We didn’t really know what was going on. We kept hearing he’ll be back soon and stuff like that. He did return to the ice and did some off-ice workouts in February, but after that, we had little-to-no updates on Crawford and he never returned. It turns out Corey Crawford had a concussion and had lingering symptoms for many months. I don’t like to speculate, but many believe this to be the moment when Crawford suffered his concussion.
Throughout the summer we heard from then head coach Joel Quenneville, general manager Stan Bowman, and then team president John McDonough. Their statements differed, but they generally said they expected Corey Crawford to be ready by training camp. We had yet to hear from Corey himself. He finally did speak with the media during the Hawks annual convention.
And then he spoke again during training camp. He went more in-depth with what was going on. He said he was dealing with a concussion from last season.
Corey Crawford finally saw game action on October 18th, 2018. He made 27 saves on 31 shots in a 4–1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. Crawford played 23 games and recorded a 0.906 SV%. Once again Crawford suffered another concussion.
This one kept him out from mid-December till late February. Luckily, this one was not as major as the first concussion he suffered. Crawford finished with a 0.908 SV% (T-18th), 2.93 GAA (T-30th), 1.11 GSAx (21st), and an 0.844 HDSV% (T-8th) out of 48 goaltenders. Definitely one of Crow’s worst statistical seasons.
Rebound Season/Present
Corey Crawford was finally healthy and had time during the offseason to work on his game. It looked like he was poised to be the starter. Then, on July 1st, 2019, the Blackhawks had announced they signed Vezina Trophy finalist, Robin Lehner.
For the first time in many years, Crawford had competition for the starting job. Throughout the year they battled for the starting spot. They both went on runs where they got the starting job for a few games. The difference was how both goalies handled it. Crawford was quiet but didn’t seem too bothered with it on the outside. Lehner, on the other hand, was visibly unhappy and didn’t talk to the media like he had before. (Disclaimer this isn’t me ragging on Lehner, it’s just what happened).
Lehner and Crawford both had one-year contracts, and with Lehner’s contract negotiations not going well, the Blackhawks decided to trade him. At the time of the trade, both goalies had started 31 games. This left Crawford with the starting job.
Crawford had his best season to date during the 2019–2020 season. He went 16–20–3 in 40 games played. He also finished with a 0.917 SV% (T-6th), a 2.77 GAA (T-13th), a 7.44 GSAx (2nd), and an 0.849 HDSV% (T-2nd) out of 30 eligible goalies. It’s also worth noting that Crawford had the most high danger shots faced per 60 (10) and the most high danger saves per 60 (8.49).
Summary/The Future
With two Stanley Cups, an all-time record of 260–162–53, a career SV% of 0.917, a GSAx of 55.02, 26 shutouts, two William M. Jennings trophies and two all-star game appearances to his name, there are no reasons why Corey Crawford should not make the Hall of Fame. There are no doubts in my mind that Crawford is/was a top 10 goalie in the NHL.
Crawford is a pending free agent and with his age and injury concerns, the Chicago Blackhawks may decide to let him go. I’d advise the Hawks to keep him, but they may want to go in another direction and go for a younger goalie. I think Crawford would take a pay cut to around $3–4 million per year for a year or two. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
Stats via: Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey
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