New Jersey Devils goalkeeper Corey Crawford is taking indefinite leave from the team for personal reasons, the team announced on Friday.
Crawford has not trained since the team’s training camp opened last week. His absences were first described as “maintenance days” by coach Lindy Ruff before the team said it would take personal days on Wednesday and Thursday.
“We have to give him his space,” Devils veteran reporter Travis Zajac said on Thursday. “Obviously, no one knows each other better than him, so obviously we want to be part of this team, but I think he has to make that decision first. I think he can take all the time he needs. We want him. here. “
Crawford, 36, signed a two-year deal with the Devils last offseason with an average annual value of $ 3.9 million. He has been the Chicago Blackhawks’ starting goalkeeper since 2010-11 – and helped them to two Stanley Cup championships – but the team has decided not to re-sign him this season.
The Devils needed a veteran goalkeeper after they bought Cory Schneider, and Crawford was to share the net with 24-year-old Mackenzie Blackwood, who was re-signed with a three-year contract, 8.4 million dollars before the start of the training camp. .
New Jersey has three other goalkeepers on the camp list: Scott Wedgewood (24 NHL games), Gilles Senn (two NHL games) and Evan Cormier (0 NHL games).
Crawford finished his Blackhawks career in third place in franchise history, with 260 career victories, followed by only Tony Esposito and Glen Hall. Crawford is the leader of the Blackhawks franchise in postseason victories (52) and is the only goalkeeper in the history of the team with several Stanley Cups.