Chicago Blackhawks: Three reasons they were sellers this year

Goalies

The Blackhawks would be even lower in the standings if they didn’t have Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner for most of the season. They were both great for Chicago in most games they played in. The team just wasn’t able to give them the support they needed to win enough games to be buyers instead of sellers at the deadline.

Both Corey Crawford and Robin Lehner are on expiring contracts. They will both have the right to sign with any team they choose on July 1st if they don’t come to an extension with their teams by then. You can argue that they should have traded both to acquire some assets but Crawford was the one go stays and Lehner was sent packing.

Crawford is one of the core pieces that won multiple championships with the team. He was lucky enough to stay with the only club he has ever known, but he won’t have a chance at another Stanley Cup. At this point in their careers, Lehner is better than Crawford. That is why Vegas was willing to acquire him to split time with Marc-Andre Fleury. He is going to be able to sign a pretty nice deal once he hits free agency this summer. Now, as a result, the Hawks have to worry about what they are going to do in net going forward as well.