New Jersey Devils goalkeeper Corey Crawford is taking indefinite leave from the team for personal reasons, the team announced on Friday.
Crawford hasn’t practiced since the team’s training camp opened last week. His absence was first described as “maintenance days” by coach Lindy Ruff before the team said he was taking personal days on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“We have to give him his space,” Devil’s veteran Travis Zajac told reporters on Thursday. “Obviously no one knows himself better than he does, so of course we want him to be part of this team but I think he has to make that decision in the future. I think he can take all the time he needs. We want him here. “
36-year-old Crawford signed a two-year deal with the Devils last low season with an average annual value of $ 3.9 million. He was the Chicago Blackhawks’ starting goalkeeper since 2010-11 – helping them to two Stanley Cup championships – but the team decided not to re-sign him off-season.
The Devils needed an experienced goalkeeper after bailing out Cory Schneider, and Crawford was just about to share it with 24-year-old Mackenzie Blackwood, who was re-signed to a three-year $ 8.4 million deal before training camp began. .
New Jersey has three other goalkeepers on the camp file: Scott Wedgewood (24 NHL games), Gilles Senn (two NHL games), and Evan Cormier (0 NHL games).
Crawford finished his Blackhawks career third in franchise history with 260 wins, behind only Tony Esposito and Glen Hall. Crawford is the franchise leader of the Blackhawks in post-season victories (52) and is the only goalkeeper in team history to have multiple Stanley Cups.