Delia signs 3-year extension with Blackhawks
In 14 short months, Collin Delia has gone from the ECHL to the AHL to earning a three-year contract extension with the Blackhawks.
Not too shabby for a 24-year-old who didn't start playing ice hockey until he was 12 years old.
"It's a huge vote of confidence in myself and my ability," Delia said after the Hawks practiced at MB Ice Arena on Monday. "Couldn't be happier to do it now."
Delia's contract carries just a $1 million cap hit through the 2021-22 season. He is 6-2-3 with a .923 save percentage and 2.98 goals-against average since being called up from Rockford after Corey Crawford suffered a concussion in mid-December.
Delia wasn't expecting the deal to happen and said it came "completely out of the blue." The California native high-fived Crawford in the dressing room just moments after reporters informed Crawford about the extension.
Delia said he's followed Crawford's career from the beginning and figures to be sharing the duties with him next season.
"I've watched their Stanley Cup runs multiple times," Delia said. "Watching him and how he conducted himself and handled himself throughout the process was one of the coolest ways to learn. To be a fellow counterpart between him and (Cam Ward) - two Stanley Cup goalies - it's pretty amazing."
Crawford on Darling:
Corey Crawford said he has not had a chance to reach out to good friend and former goalie partner Scott Darling, who was granted a leave of absence from Carolina on Sunday.
"I haven't talked to Scott in a while," Crawford said. "It's a tough situation to be in. He knows how to play. But just getting over that hump mentally of being through something like that, he's got to battle and try and get back.
"He definitely has the skill to play in the league."
No. 1,000 on hold:
Dylan Sikura, who was called up from Rockford on Monday, will take Chris Kunitz's spot in the lineup at Boston on Tuesday. Kunitz will play his 1,000th NHL game at the United Center on Thursday when the Hawks host New Jersey.
Sikura has 13 goals and 17 assists in 40 games with the IceHogs. He also has 3 assists in 11 games with the Hawks.
Slap shots:
The NHL named Dylan Strome (2G, 5A in three games) as the Third Star of the week. … Cam Ward (maintenance) did not practice Monday.