Crawford expected to be ready for Blackhawks next season, GM says

DALLAS -- Corey Crawford is expected to be ready for the 2018-19 NHL regular season, Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said.

The 33-year-old goalie was 16-9-2 with a 2.27 goals-against average and .929 save percentage this season but missed significant time with injuries. On Dec. 1, he was placed on injured reserve because of a lower-body injury and missed three games. He returned Dec. 8 and played in seven games before being placed on IR on Dec. 27 with an upper-body injury that kept him out the final 47 games of the regular season.
The Blackhawks (33-39-10) and missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2008.
"We expect Corey to be back. There's no reason to think that won't happen," Bowman said. "But as far as any other things at this point in the summer, all the players are preparing for next season. Corey's in that same preparation mode. I guess when we get to the [Blackhawks annual convention July 27-29], he can speak specifically about himself. But nothing has changed. We still expect him to be back and ready to go in training camp."
Another player the Blackhawks are examining is Marian Hossa. The 39-year-old, who did not play this season because of a progressive skin disorder, told a Czech newspaper in May that he was done playing hockey. Hossa was placed on long-term IR this season and has three years remaining on his contract, which expires in 2020-21. Hossa cannot announce his retirement before the end of his contract because the Blackhawks would face recapture penalties that would affect the NHL salary cap.
Hossa has 1,134 points (525 goals, 609 assists) in 1,309 NHL games. He can be traded at any point during his remaining contract.

"At this point we're looking at our options on that front," Bowman said. "If you're going to make a trade of that sort, you have to find a willing party. Whether it'll come to be, I can't predict. The way you handle it is you have discussions, see if there's a fit and if there is, you move forward. That falls into the other category of ways to improve our team, free agent acquisitions, trading players, all things we're investigating and making calls on. But there's nothing to report on that."
Chicago has the No. 8 and 27 selections in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft, which begins Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS) and continues Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS) in Dallas. Bowman said the Blackhawks are taking a look at moving up from No. 8.
"We've had discussions about potentially moving up, but a lot of teams in the [Nos.] 3-7 range, they're unsure they want to move down because they may get someone they value highly at their spot," he said. "We've been pursuing the potential of moving up. It still could happen. But you have to find someone willing to do that. And right now, because of the uncertainty with how teams are going to select players, it leads to teams more likely to sit tight on their pick."