Source: Hawks put goalie Alexander Salak in the fold
BY ADAM L. JAHNS ajahns@suntimes.com May 20, 2011 9:40PM
Alexander Salak
Updated: August 27, 2011 12:34AM
After announcing the signing of goalie Corey Crawford to a three-year, $8 million contract Thursday, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said one of his objectives was to bring goalie prospect Alexander Salak in from Europe.
‘‘We’re working on that,’’ Bowman said after the Crawford announcement. ‘‘Alex is going to be a guy who is going to be in North America next year. We’re still working those things.’’
Apparently, Bowman is done. A source said the Hawks signed Salak to a two-year, one-way deal worth $600,000 a season. The team hadn’t announced the signing as of Friday. ESPN was the first to report Salak’s deal.
‘‘[Salak has] got a very bright
future,’’ Bowman said Thursday.
Veteran Marty Turco, who will become a free agent July 1, isn’t
expected to be with the Hawks next season. And Bowman didn’t exactly make it sound like Turco was coming back when he was asked about him Thursday.
‘‘As the year went on, he wasn’t playing as much,’’ Bowman said. ‘‘He was still a great Blackhawk. I think he proved to be a good mentor for Corey. We appreciate everything he did this year in a difficult circumstance for him, and he handled it like a pro.’’
Salak’s one-way deal, which means his salary will remain the same whether he’s in the NHL or is sent to Rockford of the American Hockey League, shows the Hawks think he’s at least capable of backing up Crawford.
The Hawks acquired Salak, 24, in the Michael Frolik deal with the Florida Panthers in February. He had a strong year in the Swedish Elite League in 2010-11, appearing in 32 games and recording seven shutouts, a 1.97 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. He appeared in two games with the Panthers in 2009-10.
