FEATURE: Devils Secure Proven Goaltender in Crawford

It's not every day you can add a two-time Stanley Cup champion goaltender coming off a pretty decent season, but it's 2020, and stranger things have happened this year.
When Corey Crawford was made available by the Chicago Blackhawks decision not re-sign him, the Devils swooped in on day one of free agency in hard pursuit. [It didn't hurt having Martin Brodeur on the other line when recruiting a free agent goaltender.]

FREE AGENCY COVERAGE
FEATURE ARTICLES
Devils Secure Proven Goaltender in Crawford
Murray Excited for New Start with Devils
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
Amanda Stein and Chris Wescott talk to Crawford
Murray speaks with Matt Loughlin and Amanda Stein
PRESS RELEASES & BLOGS
Devils Agree to Terms with Crawford
Devils Acquire Murray from Columbus
Devils Buy Out Cory Schneider
ANALYSIS & MORE
Murray and Crawford
Cory Schneider Tribute Video
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES
Crawford Speaks to the Media
Murray Chats with the Media
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Draft Day 1 News, Articles & Blogs
Draft Day 2 News, Articles & Blogs
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For Crawford, it was the first time he had ever tested free agency since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2003. And that's for good reason. He's been a stellar backstop for the Blackhawks since joining them full-time in 2010-11. He's had just two seasons posting below the .917 SV% mark he had last year in 40 games. He won the two aforementioned Stanley Cups, he was on the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2010-11, he's recorded the Leauge's lowest goals-against twice, recorded the NHL's most shutouts in 2015-16, and was an All-Star and World Cup Gold medalist in 2016-17.
He's played 488 260-162-53] regular-season NHL games in his career, posting a 2.45 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. His experience in the playoffs is also an extremely valuable asset, with Crawford skating in 96 of those games with a 2.38 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
And Crawford showed last season that he's still got it. His percentage of games started with a save percentage above .900 was ninth in the NHL among goaltenders who skated in 30 games or more. This despite facing the seventh most shots per 60 minutes. His .917 SV% is tied for 12th in the league amongst those goalies to handle a 30-plus game workload. All of this while playing behind a Chicago defense that has seen a decline in recent years. He was a big reason for the Blackhawks upset of the Edmonton Oilers in the League's play-in round this postseason.
As much as this offseason is about trying to get better and more consistent play from their goaltending, it was also about supporting their rising young star between the pipes, and the rest of the youth on the roster. Devils Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has been clear that the franchise is turning over to its youth and finding ways to support and develop them into a superb and winning core. Mackenzie Blackwood seems well on his way to becoming a top-tier starting netminder in this league, but supporting him with another goalie who can handle a large workload will help him develop more evenly without added pressure or being rushed into anything. Internal competition breeds development.
"You're competitive and want to play every game," said Crawford. "I haven't had a chance to talk to Blackwood yet but I'm sure he's the same way. He's a young, competitive guy who wants to play games. That might work out as we battle and push each other and hopefully have a good relationship."
And Crawford has proven over the course of his career that while he is a quiet person,[he can be a very supportive person to his partner in net.
Should the NHL season be condensed next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes more necessary for teams to have two very capable goaltenders in order to be successful.
The support Crawford can provide physically being on the roster is not to be overshadowed by what he can provide off of it.
"We are excited to bring Corey into our organization, as he is a proven winner and two-time Stanley Cup Champion," said Fitzgerald. "We will look to him to assume a leadership role and be a strong presence for our young core. Crawford's compete level and ability to battle will rub off on the entire group. This opportunity also provides him with a new challenge in his career."
And there's no doubt Crawford will have more opportunity to be a more vocal leader in New Jersey than Chicago. The Blackhawks teams he backstopped were overflowing with leadership and megastars and big voices. The Devils could use a little of that out of Crawford as they continue to build.
"I never really had to be that vocal in Chicago with the leaders we had," said Crawford. "I'm going to have to get used to that. I'm sure there are guys in Jersey that have that role already. I'm more of a quiet guy, do my thing, and go out and work hard. Compete as hard as I can. I'm here to help Jersey win hockey games. The main goal is a championship."

When you dive into what the Devils were needing in their new goaltender, Crawford seems like he fits perfectly. That veteran, supportive competitor, whose presence will surely be watched closely by the younger players in the locker room. Crawford has seen it all over the course of his career and he knows what it takes to bring a young roster together to start winning hockey games. And Crawford says he sees some similarities between this roster and some of the younger Blackhawks teams when they were beginning to win more and more.
"It does look kind of the same," he said. "I came in a few years after the first championship in Chicago but it does look very similar. Players can develop quick. Guys can learn quick, especially top-end players. They can develop really fast."
When it came down to choosing the Devils as the next stop in his career, Crawford is especially happy to go somewhere that really wanted him. But he also wants to be a part of the Devils taking that next step. He saw glimpses of their potential when the Devils, who had started to turn their season around, beat the Blackhawks 7-1 on December 23.
"I was really surprised at Blackwood, how great a young goaltender he is," said Crawford. "They've got a ton of skill up front. Subban is still a great player. It's a group that I feel really confident about going to and trying to help win more games. They're very underrated. Things change very quickly in the NHL. The Hawks did it. They had a young group and got good pretty fast. Colorado, too."
If Crawford can help be a part of that turnaround, he'll only cement his legacy as one of the better and more consistent goaltenders of this stretch of NHL history, despite being underrated and overshadowed by some of those Blackhawks teams. And that's something Devils fans, and some very loyal Chicago-Crawford fans will be eager to watch.