I know we all hope Crawford recovers from whatever his medical problems are but to me the Hawks aren’t doing him or themselves any favors by being so vague about when and if he’s coming back. If there still is so much uncertainty wouldn’t it be better just to put him on LTIR. I know they have to wait until game 1 in order to get the cap relief but if that where their plans are could they just state their intentions now instead of all the back and forth that’s going on now.
- jhawk159

First and foremost I hope Corey gets better for Corey's sake.

From a team's perspective - there isn't anyone ready to take the mantle of #1 goalie and provide the goaltending Corey has and would do again when healthy. I don't see a plan-B in terms of a goalie on a Cup contending team. Maybe one of the young guys sometime in the next few years but that's a crap shoot you don't want to pin your Cup hopes on.

I'm in the school of building the team back to being a contender by 2020/21, or 2019/20 if everything goes as best as possible. But that requires Crawford to be the #1 goalie, especially as the d-corps will have some young inexperienced d-men.

So ... if Crawford is not ready to play by opening game or shortly thereafter - Stan and company are faced with a decision - do they (A) make a futures costing move to help the 2018/19 team they otherwise wouldn't have if Crawford was healthy, or (B) admit the 2018/19 season is going to be used as a rebuilding year? I hope it's the latter.

Isn't it crazy to think that so many "fans" thought that Crawford was awful as recently as 2015 and now a healthy majority believe at age 34 he is a top goalie that the Hawks can't live without?

Isn't it crazy to think that so many "fans" thought that Crawford was awful as recently as 2015 and now a healthy majority believe at age 34 he is a top goalie that the Hawks can't live without?
- phantasmo

he's still a $3 million goalie (at best) and a poor-man's Chris Osgood.

Isn't it crazy to think that so many "fans" thought that Crawford was awful as recently as 2015 and now a healthy majority believe at age 34 he is a top goalie that the Hawks can't live without?
- phantasmo

Think you might be mistaken about the timeline. 2015, don't think so.

Talking about 2011, 2012 yes, he gave up soft goals in the playoffs and they lost. The doubt of him was deserved and earned.

After that though, he proved himself to be a top 5 goalie, and arguably should've won Kaner's Conn Symthe.

Think you might be mistaken about the timeline. 2015, don't think so.

Talking about 2011, 2012 yes, he gave up soft goals in the playoffs and they lost. The doubt of him was deserved and earned.

After that though, he proved himself to be a top 5 goalie, and arguably should've won Kaner's Conn Symthe.
- vabeachbear

Darling did bail Crawford out in the opening series against the Predators in 2015. Crawford got benched for a time, and I think the Hawks lose the series without Darling. That might have been what the OP was thinking of. Thankfully, Crow improved.

Darling did bail Crawford out in the opening series against the Predators in 2015. Crawford got benched for a time, and I think the Hawks lose the series without Darling. That might have been what the OP was thinking of. Thankfully, Crow improved.
- BDT36

Agreed. 2013 cup run, people were also ragging on Crawford for too many glove-side goals in the SCF. 2015 Nashville series.....woof.

Seriously????

Because you think MS is so easy to diagnose??

Oh that's right - you are a doctor and you would have known that's what was wrong.......
- dahawks8819

I have friend who is vendor where i work he was having the same things bickell had and took almost a year to one figure out it was ms and what drug treatment was best for him. Its a disease that very hard to diagnose.

I have friend who is vendor where i work he was having the same things bickell had and took almost a year to one figure out it was ms and what drug treatment was best for him. Its a disease that very hard to diagnose.
- Scott1977

I have a cousin who was just diagnossed with MS and her doctor told her one of the problems treating it is that no two cases are alike so treatment plans have to be tailored to each case. Hopefully that is not Crawfords problem.

6- 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015
- Revco38

Bears repeating for fans from cities that have ZERO cup banners.

So Stan's plan to use his cap space is to wait for an unknown rookie phenom to bump a vet off some other team so Stan can sign him?! Geezus. Ok then. Story from Bleacher Report on comments Stan made at the convention.

I have a really bad feeling. Pat Kane is only human. If he can carry this bunch....remarkable

I have a really bad feeling. Pat Kane is only human. If he can carry this bunch....remarkable
- Hardbalz

This team collapsed after CC went down in December. Looks like he may not play to start the season, if at all this year. That is fine because I want the guy to be healthy. Hockey does not add up to the health of a human. That being said, if Cam Ward struggles then we are back to Forsberg. I think Forsberg has skill, but still needs a little more time to hone his skills.

So with little added to this team in terms of veteran help, the CC health issue and the ? of 19, 2 and 7 and their ability to rebound from ehhh years? I am a huge fan, but there is way too much in the air with this team. And with the behind the scenes struggles with Stan and management on how to proceed with a trade? Yeah, not a good sign.

Bears repeating for fans from cities that have ZERO cup banners.
- 35Tony0

But they still can celebrate their WCF Banner! 😳

Think you might be mistaken about the timeline. 2015, don't think so.

Talking about 2011, 2012 yes, he gave up soft goals in the playoffs and they lost. The doubt of him was deserved and earned.

After that though, he proved himself to be a top 5 goalie, and arguably should've won Kaner's Conn Symthe.
- vabeachbear

nope...as of the start of 2105 the dump on craw squad was still in full throttle...ya know "any goalie could win with that group"...a big ole pile of BS

nope...as of the start of 2105 the dump on craw squad was still in full throttle...ya know "any goalie could win with that group"...a big ole pile of BS
- bogiedoc

You can see into the future!!!!!!!! When do we win again

Seriously????

Because you think MS is so easy to diagnose??

Oh that's right - you are a doctor and you would have known that's what was wrong.......
- dahawks8819

No. Because Stan gets blamed for trading TT when if the doctors did they're job we would still have him or the benifit of trading him for something.

Doctors

Seriously????

Because you think MS is so easy to diagnose??

Oh that's right - you are a doctor and you would have known that's what was wrong.......
- dahawks8819

It’s not just that. Actually I don’t think the Blackhawks are the ones calling the shots anymore on his recovery timetable.

Pat Boyle indicated Crawford has been working with League doctors not Blackhawks doctors. Have to wonder if after the ill fated dessert trip, Crawford lost confidence in the Blackhawks medical team.

That appears to be the case by his comment it “wasn’t smart, I think, to do that and maybe create something worse.”

I was watching a recording from CSN of last night’s Convention and they said Crawford has been under the care of the league’s medical team not the Blackhawks medical team.

Now that seems really strange to me!
- walleyeb1

What frosts my tomatoes is that they act like they told us his issue and we understand what treatment he is getting. It's crazy.

Treatment for what?!?! Whatever we were told.

Doh.

IMO most likely Crawford won't be ready for the start of the season, or the whole season, so possible moves do the hawks have as far as trades and signings? Some trade ideas and signing are welcome for discussion?

[quote=Scott1977]IMO most likely Crawford won't be ready for the start of the season, or the whole season, so what possible moves do the hawks have as far as trades and signings? Some trade ideas and signing are welcome for discussion?

Um we have every right to speculate on anything or anyone we want. But thanks anyway for trying to tell us what we can or can’t do.
- tyweb69

It's very low class. But keep going - it just shows an incredible lack of character.....

It’s not just that. Actually I don’t think the Blackhawks are the ones calling the shots anymore on his recovery timetable.

Pat Boyle indicated Crawford has been working with League doctors not Blackhawks doctors. Have to wonder if after the ill fated dessert trip, Crawford lost confidence in the Blackhawks medical team.

That appears to be the case by his comment it “wasn’t smart, I think, to do that and maybe create something worse.”
- walleyeb1

Does it occur to anyone here that his condition is not physical - and maybe the Hawks doctors are not qualified to help???

It's really sickening to hear the fans here thinking the team's success and their "right to know" comes ahead of a human being's health.

I don't care how long you have been a STH, or how much you pay for tickets, this is above any of that - and all you are doing is showing just how classless you really are!!!!!!

Does it occur to anyone here that his condition is not physical - and maybe the Hawks doctors are not qualified to help???

It's really sickening to hear the fans here thinking the team's success and their "right to know" comes ahead of a human being's health.

I don't care how long you have been a STH, or how much you pay for tickets, this is above any of that - and all you are doing is showing just how classless you really are!!!!!!
- dahawks8819

The product that the Hawks sell is the team and the players on the team. So naturally, when one of the best players on the team goes down and has been out for months, then reappears to say that he is still working on recovery and only hopes to be ready for camp (after the team virtually guaranteeing he would be for months), the fans will wonder.

With few exceptions, the people on here seem to:

1) want first and foremost for Corey to do what is best for himself and his family
2) believe that without Corey, the Hawks season is not looking very good based on what Stan did in the offseason
3) wish that at least the team had more information so they could make the right move for everyone concerned

Starting or spreading rumors about his issue and its root cause is classless. Wanting to know or speculating about what is going to happen to the team's season based on his situation is not.

The product that the Hawks sell is the team and the players on the team. So naturally, when one of the best players on the team goes down and has been out for months, then reappears to say that he is still working on recovery and only hopes to be ready for camp (after the team virtually guaranteeing he would be for months), the fans will wonder.

With few exceptions, the people on here seem to:

1) want first and foremost for Corey to do what is best for himself and his family
2) believe that without Corey, the Hawks season is not looking very good based on what Stan did in the offseason
3) wish that at least the team had more information so they could make the right move for everyone concerned

Starting or spreading rumors about his issue and its root cause is classless. Wanting to know or speculating about what is going to happen to the team's season based on his situation is not.
- pdx2ord

^^^This

^^^This
- Revco38

No matter what happens with Crawford it is personal and private issue or issues that he is dealing with so lets all respect that and stop specualated give time to play out. So lets get back to what the do going foward to contend for a playoff spot.