It was then that Crawford brought up NFL quarterback Andrew Luck and his recent retirement at the age of 29 due to continued injuries and subsequent rehabs into the conversation.
"You kind of have an idea if you've been injured enough of what he's feeling and just the constant, over and over and over," Crawford said. "That's what it is. You have to have that will to battle back and go through it again during those tough days. So, right now, I still have that will to keep pushing and get back to where I need to be."
By all accounts, Crawford is there and he - and the Blackhawks - believe he will be at the top of his game during the 2019-20 season.
"He's back to himself as far as his personality and his excitement to be back playing and ready for the season to begin," Blackhawks Senior Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman said. "I think he's in a good frame of mind. He trained well. I think he's ready for a big season. I know he's a big part of our team. He has been for years and we expect that to be the same this season."
That dark period has made Crawford appreciate where he is today: already on the ice preparing for a new season.
"Oh, yeah, big time," Crawford said. "To be able to be here and be healthy and to play, for sure. Especially as your career goes on you realize that bad luck happens, injuries happen and I'm very fortunate to come back and get back at it."
Crawford also feels fortunate to be able to enjoy time at home with wife, Kristy, and 2-year-old son, Cooper, when he leaves the rink.
"Having such a good family at home makes it's kind of nice to have a good switch from coming here where I have the rink and have the guys and then have that other part, too, where I can go home and wrestle Cooper and be with (Kristy)," Crawford said. "I'm really fortunate to be able to have them at home to do that."
On the ice, Crawford will have some competition for playing time after the Blackhawks signed veteran Robin Lehner to a one-year, free-agent contract. Some goalies would feel threatened by the acquisition of a Vezina Trophy nominee, but not Crawford.
"No, not at all," he said. "I mean, we're not in control of what management does. You have to look at it as management trying to improve our team. I would love to play 82 game but I don't think there are too many guys who have done that. However it plays out, we have to have two guys at the top of their games and I think it's just going to make our team better."
Another topic of discussion for Crawford in the coming months will be what his future holds when the season ends. The 34-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent following the '19-20 season.
"I would like to keep playing," Crawford said. "This is like the first time for me to be in this situation and I haven't really thought about it that much to be honest. It's just kind of, play the next game.
"I think my play and my health will probably determine my future here, for sure, like it always has," Crawford added. "If you're not at the right level and the team feels like you're not helping then the chances are you won't stay here. That's good. I've always been a competitive guy, confident in what I can do. It's another challenge."
