Crawford retires from NHL | Pro Hockey News

After 13 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Corey Crawford signed a two-year deal with the New Jersey Devils to take over net duties.

Goalie Corey Crawford (#50) of the Chicago Black Hawks.

On January 8, Crawford requested and was granted an indefinite leave of absence form the Devils.

Crawford released a statement upon leaving the team.

“I have been fortunate to have had a long career playing professional hockey for a living,” Crawford said. “I wanted to continue my career, but believe I’ve given all I can to the game of hockey, and I have decided that it is time to retire. I would like to thank the New Jersey Devils organization for understanding and supporting my decision. I would like to thank the Chicago Blackhawks organization for giving me the chance to live my childhood dream.”

On Saturday, Crawford retired from the NHL.

“Corey has an unforgettable place within our organization, in our fans’ hearts and in Chicago sports history,” the Blackhawks said in a statement. “We congratulate Corey on a Hall of Fame-worthy playing career, one we celebrate with him today as a member of the Blackhawks family forevermore.

“‘Crow’ is not only one of the greatest goaltenders in Chicago Blackhawks franchise history but was also a pillar in our local community throughout his entire career. … he thrilled a generation of Blackhawks fans over the last decade-plus while bringing the city of Chicago two Stanley Cups. We wish him, his wife Kristy, and sons, Cooper and Camden, nothing but the best in this next chapter.”

Over the last two seasons, Crawford has missed 80 games for concussions.

New Jersey was certainly looking to Crawford as an element of a rebuild and return to the postseason.

Center Nolan Patrick (#19) of the Philadelphia Flyers attempts to screen Goalie Corey Crawford (#50) of the Chicago Black Hawks

“My initial thoughts are disappointment,” Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said on NHL.com. “Corey’s had an incredible career. conversations that I’ve had with him, I understand where he’s at and I think the fact that he’s had a great career and he’s come to this point, you deal with it and you move on. it’s something that obviously was deep in his mind.

“We all had conversations with him, you know, started with [Devils general manager] Tom [Fitzgerald], myself, [Devils VP and Hall of Fame goalie Martin Brodeur]. You know, you just understand where he was at. I think those initial conversations are, ‘How can we help you, is there something we can change?’ all those type of conversations. … But it really wasn’t about any of that.”Players do not miss 80 games for minor aches and pains. Two concussions may well have been enough for two-time Stanley Cup winner. There is life after sport, and the hope is Crawford made the right decision at the time for himself and those around him.

“I’ve known Corey since we were juniors,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said on NHL.com. “… I don’t know the circumstances for him, but you want everyone to have the opportunity to play as long as they want to. He was a huge part of the Blackhawks’ success and I certainly enjoyed coaching him. It always makes the coach look better when the goaltender is stopping the pucks. Obviously, I’ll be reaching out to him later, but wishing him and his family the best here.”

In the truncated 2019-20 season, Crawford had a record of 16-20-3 including a 2.77 GAA and 917 save percentage; he had one shutout. He had 39 starts and 40 games on the season.“It feels recently there were so many times where he played so good and kept us in games where maybe we weren’t at our best or the other team was coming at us hard and he was weathering the storm for us,” Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith said on NHL.com. “That’s the biggest thing I remember about him as a player and a teammate is the fact that you knew he was going to make those big saves and keep us in it. He was the No. 1 goalie here for a long time and gave exactly that for a long time.”