Photo: NHL.com

The New Jersey Devils announced late Friday night that they have signed goaltender Corey Crawford to a two-year contract, which will carry a cap hit of $3.9 million. He will make $3.6 million in 2020-21 and $4.2 million in 2021-22.

The 35-year-old went 16-20-3 with a .917 save percentage, a 2.88 goals-against average, and one shutout during the 2019-20 regular season. After testing positive for COVID-19, Crawford went 4-5 while posting a .907 save percentage and a 3.31 goals-against average in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

At five-on-five, Crawford posted a .926 save percentage, a 2.50 goals-against average, a 7.52 goals-saved above average, a .864 high-danger save percentage, a 1.42 high-danger goals-against average, and a 13.19 high-danger goals-saved above average during the regular season.

The Devils finally fulfill their need of a No. 1 goaltender, which has been a glaring hole since they dealt Keith Kinkaid at the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline as their .9127 five-on-five team save percentage last season was the ninth-worst in the NHL.

In 488 career NHL games, all with the Blackhawks, Crawford went 260-162-53 with a .918 save percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average, and 26 shutouts. In 96 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, the 52nd overall pick in the 2003 NHL Draft is 52-42 with a .918 save percentage, a 2.38 goals-against average, and five shutouts.

Crawford backstopped the Blackhawks to two Stanley Cup titles (2013, 2015).

The Devils bought the final two seasons of goaltender Corey Schnieder’s contract out earlier this week.

Crawford faced an average of 33.2 shots-per-game last season, tied for the 19th-most in the NHL.

The Devils now have $21,745,001 remaining in cap space after signing Crawford. Goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood, who impressed as a rookie as he went 22-14-8 with a .915 save percentage, a 2.77 goals-against average, and three shutouts last season, is currently a restricted free agent.

Corey Crawford, signed 2x$3.9 by NJ, isn’t done yet. He was fantastic this season behind the league’s worst defence. He faced plenty of high danger chances and stopped them at an amazing rate. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/ywPoQpA8pV

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) October 10, 2020

By Harrison Brown