Last night the Blackhawks worst fears became reality. At the 18:30 mark of the first period, Evander Kane interfered with Dylan Strome, who was trying to cut off Logan Couture, and pushed both players into Corey Crawford. Crawford was already in a vulnerable position and his head was slammed off the goal post. He left the game and head coach Jeremy Colliton confirmed following the game that he suffered another concussion.
Wonderful
Corey Crawford leaves the game after this nasty collision. pic.twitter.com/WCKD7Mgczh
— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) December 17, 2018
As Blackhawks fans know all too well, a concussion is not an injury that you can put a timeline on. Especially when the recipient just suffered a pretty major concussion just one a year prior.
This concussion situation is no longer just a hockey problem, it is a quality of life concern. We have stated this several times on the podcast, but one more shot or collision to the head might very well end Corey Crawford’s career.
And now here we are.
First of all, hockey and Blackhawks aside, I really hope he turns out alright. He has a family to take care of. If he never steps on the ice again, that’s fine. The most important part of this is his personal health and the well being of his family. Hockey is a game.
All that said, assuming Crawford is out long term, what do the Blackhawks do now?
In the short term, they should call up Anton Forsberg and have him backup Cam Ward. Basically the plan they had to begin the season. Forsberg has played well enough in the AHL that he deserves one last shot in the NHL. Maybe this coach won’t jerk him around as much and he gets a slightly longer leash.
You might say, “But, Jeff, what about your guy Collin Delia? He has played even better in the AHL.”
And you would be right. Why subject him to a nightly thrashing, behind a grossly subpar defense that will be one of the worst teams in the NHL no matter who you put in there? Let him stay with his team, where he is comfortable. Maybe he gets a few starts after the New Year just to give him another taste of NHL duty.
Unfortunately, at this point, the Blackhawks don’t have a plethora of goaltenders that look like they have NHL futures ahead of them. Delia might develop into a NHL guy but, after him, there is AHL/ECHL tweener Kevin Lankinen, ECHL veteran Matt Tomkins and…
They still hold the rights to Ivan Nalimov in the KHL but he has proven to be a bit of a head case, and Stan Bowman brilliantly told his agent this summer that, “We’re not ready for you.”
Stroke of genius right there, fans. Great job reading your situation and reacting accordingly.
This season is a total lost cause. Squeeze every ounce you can out of Cam Ward and Forsberg, build Delia up to compete in the fall, and use some of that “Panarin money” in free agency to find a guy (under 30) that can pair up with Delia.
You could also potentially dangle one or two of their (seemingly 10) young smallish puck moving defenseman for a goaltender and use the cap space to bolster up the defense, rather than spending it all to fill a hole they don’t have because “Da Breadman.”
The Blackhawks are in a very uncomfortable situation but one they put themselves in. Once again they have gambled on hopes and dreams, rather than reality and common sense.
EDIT: Shortly after this article was posted, Collin Delia was deservedly called up from Rockford.
#Blackhawks recall goaltender Collin Delia from #IceHogs
Delia is 7-5-4, 2.34 GAA, .933 Save% this season in Rockford.
Also, Kevin Lankinen Recalled to Rockford from the Indy #Fuel#NHL #AHL #ECHL— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 17, 2018
Delia leads the #AHL in Save% this season (.933) and his 2.34 GAA ranks tied for 3rd in the league. His 7-5-4 record is deceiving due to Rockford’s low goal-support. 16 of 29 #IceHogs games have been 1-goal games and they rank 2nd to last in goals for this season.
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) December 17, 2018