Chicago Blackhawks: Can Corey Crawford Cop a Calder and a New Contract?

Corey Crawford recently won his 30th game in net for the Chicago Blackhawks, who can thank their rookie goaltender for keeping their hopes for postseason hockey alive this spring.

Crawford has had a memorable rookie campaign. Will the NHL consider it Calder-worthy?

More importantly for 'Hawks fans, will he be with the organization next season?

Crawford's continued success has vaulted him into a spot in the team picture regarding Calder Trophy consideration. After starting the season as Mary Turco's backup, he has started 49 games and gone 30-16-5 so far. 

Of rookie goalies who have started the majority of their team's games, he is first in wins, goals against average (2.28) and shutouts (four) and second in save percentage (.918).

To me, there is one rookie goalie with numbers in Crawford's range: Sergei Bobrovsky of the Flyers. 

Carolina's Jeff Skinner, San Jose's Logan Couture and Michael Grabner of the Islanders are all rookie forwards having fine seasons, and deserve consideration as well.

Whereas Bobrovsky took the league by storm early in the year, Crawford has slowly been creeping into the national radar.  Both rookies continue to play well as the playoffs approach.

Is there a clear-cut favorite? Maybe a few weeks ago Couture was the obvious front-runner. As the regular season winds down, however, Crawford continues to build his case.

He has started Chicago's last 21 games. Though he has seemed tired on occasion during that time, he has has gone 13-5-3 in that stretch. Over the last five games, following a poor effort against Dallas that lasted just 23 minutes, he has a 1.60 GAA and a .943 save percentage. 

One would think that he will get at least five of these last six games to add to an already impressive debut season.

The argument can be made that he has been more valuable to the 'Hawks than any of the other rookie contenders have been to their teams. Without Crawford's performance, Chicago would likely be playing out the string at this stage of the season. 

Will that make the difference when votes are cast?

Two things seem certain: Crawford will be in the Calder mix in some capacity and he will be getting a substantial raise over the summer.

Parting ways with Antti Niemi last season was not the way most fans envisioned those negotiations going. Unlike last season, when Crawford was waiting for his chance in Rockford, the goalie cupboard is bare. There is no one currently in the 'Hawks system who can assume the starters duties as Crawford has.

Fortunately, Crawford is a restricted free agent and seems to want to return to the Blackhawks next season. It appears that he has tabled negotiations until after the season plays out.  With no hope of replacing him from within, Stan Bowman would be wise to make the signing of Crawford an early priority. 

The talk from the 'Hawks GM seems to suggest just that.

Crawford's salary should more than double in a few months, though I would expect that Chicago can get a deal done in the ballpark of $2 million. With fewer options in the system and a bit more cap flexibility, Bowman should be able to get his man for the next few seasons.

Whether Crawford claims the Calder Trophy or not, the 26-year-old has had a rookie year that suggests a bright future with the Blackhawks.