Photo: NBCS Chicago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford confirmed that he missed the first two weeks of the team’s training camp due to a positive COVID-19 test. He quarantined in Chicago but joined his team for the first time on Saturday.

Corey Crawford confirms he tested positive for COVID-19 and had to quarantine in Chicago for the past few weeks. #Blackhawks

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) July 25, 2020

The Blackhawks ruled him “unfit to play” and he did not participate in any of the team’s phase two workouts.

The 35-year-old played the first 20 minutes of the team’s scrimmage on Saturday but not the last 20. He took shots from the Blackhawks’ assistant coaches before the scrimmage.

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman was hopeful Crawford would be able to travel with the team for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on Sunday. The Blackhawks open up their best-of-five qualifying round series against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, August 1, and play an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.

As of Tuesday, Bowman said that nothing has been ruled out in regard to Crawford.

The Blackhawks announced on Friday that defenseman Brett Seabrook will not play at all during the tournament after undergoing three different surgeries during the regular season. He was expected to need 5-6 months to recover from hip surgery on February 6.

Crawford went 16-20-3 with a .917 save percentage, a 2.77 goals-against average, and one shutout in 40 regular-season games this year, the most he has played in three seasons.

The Blackhawks traded goaltender Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for goaltender Malcolm Subban, defenseman Slava Demin, and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft on February 24.

Crawford can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

By Harrison Brown