Blackhawks lose top goalie on first day of training camp

It is an exciting and strange time to be a hockey fan. NHL training camps kicked off on Monday in preparation for the 24 team expanded playoff format, set to begin August 1st. The Chicago Blackhawks got some bad news today when they learned they will be entering the first round play-in series with the Oilers minus their #1 goaltender.


Two time Stanley Cup winning goaltender Corey Crawford was deemed "unfit to play" by the Blackhawks, the announcement was made by head coach Jeremy Colliton during a post-practice interview. No timetable was provided for when Crawford may be back with the team and Colliton said that the team plans in net are to play Malcolm Subban and Collin Delia in their first round series with Edmonton. The inexperience of the Blackhawks duo is striking, with a combined 80 NHL games between the two of them, 60 of those games belonging to Subban. The Hawks traded away All-Star goalie Robin Lehner to Vegas at the trade deadline this year for Malcolm Subban.

It is still unclear on what "unfit to play" actually means, some teams have included injuries as unfit to play, where others have unfit to play as a Covid-19 positive test results. The teams do not have to disclose any injury or medical information during the return to play for the NHL. A nice consolation prize for all the losing play-in teams is that there will be a second NHL draft lottery held after the first round, where the 8 losing teams have an equal 12.5% chance at winning the top pick in the 2020 draft. The way this year has gone expect the unexpected when it comes to the NHL.


photo credit: Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire