Former Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford announced his retirement from hockey today.
Despite signing with the New Jersey Devils this offseason, Crawford opted to hang up his pads for good prior to the season beginning, preserving his stat line of having only played for the Blackhawks. Crawford’s decision comes on the heels of taking a personal leave of absence from the Devils earlier this week to consider his future.
Crawford was a member of the Blackhawks for 10 seasons, appearing in 488 regular season games and 96 playoffs games. He won two Stanley Cups in 2013 and 2015 in addition to 260 regular season wins and a franchise-record 52 playoff wins. Crawford finished with a career save percentage of .918 and his goals against average finished at 2.45.
The Quebec native was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. After spending time in the QMJHL and the AHL, Crawford made his NHL debut on Jan. 22, 2006, against Minnesota. He would not assume the starting goalie position until 2010–11, beating out veteran Marty Turco for the job.
Crawford’s legacy includes two William M. Jennings Trophies in 2012–13 and in 2014–15, two NHL All Star appearances in 2015 and 2017 and six 30-win seasons with the Blackhawks. In addition to those awards, Crawford ranks third in franchise history in regular season wins, second in playoff appearances and first in playoff wins, establishing himself as one of the core members of the Blackhawks’ dynasty in the early part of the last decade.