Blackhawks Training Camp Preview: Crawford vs. Niemi
Chicago Blackhawks goaltenders Corey Crawford and Antti Niemi will both enter training camp next month expecting to be Cristobal Huet's backup during the regular season. Provided the Blackhawks do not acquire a more experienced goalie, the duel should be one of the more interesting battles of September.
Whether or not you have confidence in Huet, it is evident that he is the starting netminder for the Hawks. Even if Huet squashes his critics and succeeds in the No. 1 role, history dictates that his backup will also play a crucial role in the upcoming season. For all of Stan Bowman's talk of Huet excelling while receiving the bulk of the work, the veteran goalie has never played more than 52 games in an NHL regular season. That effort was in the '07-08 campaign split between the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. Huet has averaged around 40 starts in three other full NHL seasons.
The trend in the NHL is that backup goalies see plenty of time. Only ten NHL netminders played in over 60 games last season. That leaves over a quarter of the games to the man normally sitting quietly on the bench. Added to that is the fact of 18 pairs of back-to-back contests for the Blackhawks this season - more than any other team in the NHL.
So who does Huet get to stare at behind his shoulder? My money is on Niemi. Last year's free agent signee from Finland appears to have a pad up on Crawford.
Both goalies split time for the Rockford Ice Hogs last season while compiling similar stats. Crawford played in 47 games with a 2.59 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Niemi appeared in 38 games for the Ice Hogs with a 2.43 GAA and a .913 save percentage. Frankly, neither guy was able to decidedly out-compete the other.
Since being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NHL entry draft, Crawford has not done enough to gain the complete confidence of the Blackhawks' front office. Why else does Dale Tallon go out and sign Huet last offseason? In Crawford's perfect world, he should of been the man the Hawks turned to when Nikolai Khabibulin's contract expired. Instead, Tallon overspends to land Huet and signs a prospect from Finland in Niemi. All signals pointing to Crawford's exodus from the organization.
Hawk fans got a brief look at Niemi last season as he appeared in three games with the NHL club. The results where less than impressive as he went 1-1 with a 3.40 GAA and an .864 save percentage. If my thoughts are correct, Niemi better improve with his opportunities this season or the Blackhawks may be fighting just to make the playoffs instead of aspiring to the preseason projections as the class of the Western Conference.
Overall, the entire Blackhawks goaltending position is a little unsettling for a franchise with Stanley Cup expectations. Huet will be needed to start in over 60 games - a feat he has never accomplished. The other 20 or so starts will be going to an unproven commodity in either Crawford or Niemi. On top of that, the Blackhawks have subtracted Matt Walker from their defensive core with no additions thus far.
In the end, all may work out in Hawkland. Huet will be consistently spectacular and vie for the Vezina. Niemi will also excel and a small sub-group of fans will gather in the 300 level at the UC and form "Antti's Army."
However, be fore-warned that the opposite is also possible. Huet could be sub-par causing Quenneville to turn to his unproven backup far too often. And, then, of course, the Hawks trade the loser in the backup goalie battle and he becomes the next Dominik Hasek.
Just remember - anything's possible.
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8 Comments
Dave Morris said:
Mark, you raise a lot of excellent points.
But let's face it, neither Crawford nor Niemi got much of a chance last campaign to show what they might do this year. According to Stan Bowman's recent interview (podcast available on the Hawks' site), he feels it's time to see what their true value is.
This might give Chicago fans serious agita, but ayyyy, it's still early. Like five weeks to opening night, right?
So before everyone gets Anttis in their panties and worries that Crawford might stick in their craw...or that Huey could go kablooie...maybe we should let them play a few games.
Whattya say?
Mark Kiley said:
Hawk fans have no other choice but to hope one of three steps it up a notch. We'll all see what happens soon enough. Should be fun to watch.
Dave Morris said:
Mark, agreed that 3-way competition in net makes it much more interesting than this time last year...you remember of course Mr Tallon trying in vain to move The Bulin Wall. Nik even cleared waivers, and it looked like the Hawks were going to be hobbled in terms of twinetending. But 'twas not so.
The other part of the equation is that, as we've seen, Vezina-level puck patrollers do not a Champ make.
If Chicago continues to be one of the top defensive TEAMS in the NHL, the goalie troika should become a non-issue.
As for the departure of Mad Matt Walker, a warrior was he but not Norris quality...as Mr. Hawksin10 so astutely underscores.
If Q can impart his well known nastiness and defensive determination that characterized him as player--and that he evangelizes as a bench boss--to a new pupil...that being, say, Aaron Johnson or even Brent Sopel...the presumed breach in the Hawks' blueline may be only a figment of fan fickleness.
What say you?
hawksin10 said:
Subtracting Walker is a a big addition. "Mr Turnover" won't be missed.
fanof19 said:
It will be interesting to see what the backstabbing Bowmans and McSpinmeister do this season while Hossa is out until perhaps Jan 14. I hear there's an opening for a President os the Cubs.....
Mike Kiley said:
I hope the Cubs still got my phone number. I'm available and I always wanted to be president of something.
Forklift said:
One big plus for the Hawks is that Huet gets a two-week breather during the Olympics, since France isn't being represented. Huet is good for 2-3 starts then starts crapping out, so whoever wins the backup role better be ready for 20 starts or so, along with an occasional playoff appearance.
I do think Huet will play more strongly this season, knowing the job is his, and the puck will spend an awful lot of time 200 feet away.
I wish I could make Matt Walker's salary, since I'm pretty confident I'm better at my job than he is at his.
madara said:
I've watched Crawford and Neimi over the last couple of years. This may very well be a three way race. Crawford would have been the backup last year if they would have moved Khabbie.
I believe it will come down to whoever comes to camp hungriest. Right now I'd bet on Crawford.
Whoever earns the backup spot don't expect the position to be set in stone. If they don't perform, there is an equally as talented goalie waiting in Rockford.
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