Blackhawks Enter Training Camp As Corey Crawford’s Injury Status Remains Uncertain

TheSportster

By Alex Hoegler

Published Sep 7, 2018

The Chicago Blackhawks head to training camp without star goalie Corey Crawford whose status remains uncertain.

Dec 21, 2017; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) faces the Dallas Stars attack during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars shut out the Blackhawks 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

It's been nearly nine months since Corey Crawford last played for the Chicago Blackhawks, and his status is still in question as the team prepares for the start of next week's training camp.

Speaking to reporters, Blackhawks team president John McDonough gave an up date on Crawford, who missed most of 2017-18 with vertigo symptoms and an undisclosed upper body injury.

"I hope he is (ready for camp)," McDonough said, via Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times. Thursday. "Well, I’m confident that he will be." McDonough added.

Without Crawford, the Blackhawks struggled to stay the course, and missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. They had to use five different goalies outside of Crawford throughout the season.

This included 32-year-old Jeff Glass, a 2004 draft pick who had never played an NHL game before, and 36-year-old accountant Scott Foster, who became a national story when he stepped in as an emergency goalie in the final period of a home game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Crawford has registered six 30-win seasons in the Windy City. He entered 2017-18 coming off a 32-win season with a 2.55 goals against average and .918 save percentage. Had Crawford stayed healthy throughout the season, there's a strong chance the Blackhawks' nine-year playoff streak doesn't end abruptly.

Though the Blackhawks were able to groom quality backups such as Antti Raanta and Scott Darling, both of those players have since founded starting gigs in Arizona and Carolina, respectively. Last season, Chicago wasn't able to get much production out of the backups they used.

Plenty of questions surround the team that has three Stanley Cup championships in the 2010s. Jonathan Toews' stats continue to dip, while Duncan Keith (35), and Brent Seabrook (33), continue to get up there in age.

If Crawford is healthy, Chicago certainly stands a decent chance of making the playoffs. Otherwise, expect another down year for the NHL's model organization of the past decade.

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