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Blackhawks return to ice, but Crawford is 'unfit to play'

Oof.

That pretty much sums up the first day of Blackhawks training camp at Fifth Third Arena on Monday.

About two hours after the main group was put through a high-paced, intense practice, coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters that goaltender Corey Crawford is "unfit to play" at this time.

What that means is anyone's guess because the Hawks - just like every NHL team - are not required to disclose why a player is out. Crawford could have suffered an injury while training, but he may have also contracted the coronavirus, which players will be tested for on a regular basis.

Colliton gave no indication about a timeline for Crawford's return when asked a follow-up question on the subject.

"The NHL's been pretty clear that's going to be the policy going forward as far as how we announce all injuries," he said. "That's all I have for ya."

If Crawford isn't ready to face the Edmonton Oilers for a best-of-five play-in series set to begin Aug. 1, it leaves the Hawks with four goaltenders competing for the starting job.

The two front-runners figure to be Malcolm Subban, acquired from Vegas in the Robin Lehner trade, and Collin Delia, who spent this season in Rockford. Kevin Lankinen and Matt Tomkins are the other goalies in camp.

"We'll rotate them through the first group," Colliton said. "It's a great opportunity for them and a great opportunity for us to evaluate them and we expect a lot of competition. We have confidence in all three of those guys that they're going to make it hard on us and play at a high level."

The 26-year-old Subban has played 63 of his 66 NHL games with Vegas. He owns a .901 save percentage and 2.92 goals-against average. The 26-year-old Delia was 16-13-1 in Rockford with a .912 save percentage and 2.66 GAA.

It goes without saying that if Crawford can't face the Oilers, the Hawks' chances of pulling off an upset are awfully thin.

As for the practice, it began with mask-wearing coaches emerging from the dressing room, followed quickly by players - the first of which was defenseman Brent Seabrook. His return after having surgery on his knee and both hips was celebrated by Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews in Zoom interviews with reporters afterward, but Keith cautioned not to expect too much too soon.

"It's been a long time since he's played a game and to be back out here going full steam with the guys, he looked good," Keith said. "But I think as a friend and teammate you want to make sure he's smart. I know Brent is fully aware of his body and what he wants to do.

"Just let him do his thing and push it as his pace until he feels 100 percent."

If anybody looked 100 percent, it was Keith. The ageless D-man flashed his trademark quickness, zipped pinpoint passes to teammates, defended with poise and flew up and down the ice with ease.

Calvin de Haan, returning from shoulder surgery, also looked sharp. As did Connor Murphy, Kirby Dach, Alex Nylander, Toews and - of course - Patrick Kane.

Colliton said to expect plenty of scrimmaging as the Hawks prepare for Edmonton.

"There's only one exhibition game we think," Colliton said. (We're) trying to get them (to) that game level, that game feeling as quick as we can. ... We don't have much time so we've got to make use of every day."

Keith and Toews were both asked about how important it is for players to take care of themselves and to make sure they're doing everything possible to lower the coronavirus risk. Keith said it was one of the first things that was brought up before players hit the ice. They all know losing multiple players would all but sink their chances against Edmonton.

Still, Toews isn't about to spend every second of every day worrying about contracting the virus.

"Does anybody really know how and when people catch this thing? The best you can do is get good rest, eat healthy, take care of your body, do the little things that lower your chances," he said.

"What else can you do? Sitting around and worrying about it is just going to drive you crazy.

"The NHL's gone to great lengths to create a safe environment. It's far from perfect, but everyone has their own beliefs in seeing where they stand with all this.

"It's up to you to do the right thing to be respectful of others, but also take care of yourself."

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