Lehner will push Delia out of Blackhawks' top tandem, but goalie's taking it in stride

From backup NHL goalie to starting AHL goalie.

That pretty much sums up what happened to Collin Delia the moment the Blackhawks inked Robin Lehner to a one-year, $5 million deal when free agency opened on July 1.

Delia was shopping for groceries when his agent dropped the bombshell news on him. But as is typical, the California-cool Delia took the news in stride.

"I was like, 'OK. It doesn't really mean anything for me in this moment,'" Delia said Wednesday before the Hawks hosted the Red Wings at the United Center in their third preseason game in as many nights. "I mean I just kept doing what I was doing.

"That's the same mindset that I've carried throughout the summer and throughout camp. I wanted to be the best goalie out here. I want to be a starting goalie in the NHL regardless of who they sign or we already have."

That may happen one day, but Delia's path figures to travel through more minor-league cities in the meantime.

Adding Lehner, who has 265 games of NHL experience under his belt, was a no-brainer for the Hawks once the Islanders elected to go another direction. He will back up Corey Crawford to give coach Jeremy Colliton one of the best 1-2 netminding tandems in the league.

Delia, meanwhile, will grow his game in Rockford.

One could argue that 45-50 starts at the minor-league level will only help the 25-year-old's development. But Delia doesn't necessarily agree.

"Everybody talks about if you are (an NHL) backup, 'Oh, you're not getting your reps,'" Delia said. "But are we talking about just because you're playing games you're getting better? I don't think so.

"It's all about how you prepare. If you're crap for half of those 20 games, what's the point? But if you can play 20 really good games as a backup, that's something to build upon."

It's a fair point - and one that Colliton certainly understands.

"I mean he's a competitive guy," Colliton said. "I expect him to handle it really well, and all he can control is his own performance. So I would expect him to continue to improve. He's still young and we still think highly of him and his chance to be a top guy in the league down the road."

Delia, who signed a three-year extension worth $3 million in February, played 16 games for the Hawks last season and 26 in Rockford. His NHL numbers were pedestrian at best - a .908 save percentage and a 3.61 goals-against average - but remember there were plenty of personnel and coverage issues the Hawks were dealing with during Colliton's first campaign.

One big change Delia made going into the 2019-20 season was to make his permanent home in Chicago.

"I'm 25 years old - can't be living with my parents anymore," said Delia with an ear-to-ear smile.

Although the change came with an added financial burden - it's not cheap living in the city, after all - Delia pulled the trigger because he's determined to be the best goalie he can be.

And that's a lot easier to do when you're not in the car all the time.

"If I'm in California and I want to get a good skate, I'm driving like two hours one way," said Delia, who allowed 4 goals (1 in OT) on 29 shots in Monday's preseason loss at Washington. "So you spend four hours a day driving. That's four more hours I could have here for recovery and nutrition.

"You have to think of total involved cost when you make these decisions. People think only in economical terms, but (often) don't weigh the total involved cost. …

"So grabbing a place in the city costs a little more, but I value my training. It's helped me and I feel better because of it."