Emery, not Salak, will back up Crawford for the Blackhawks

The Blackhawks start the season with Corey Crawford firmly installed as our number one goalkeeper. To have a proven starter of Corey's caliber in place at the outset of the season is awfully nice for a change.

But I have to quarrel with Coach Q's choice of a backup. Ray Emery (left) may have experience, but he doesn't have anything like rookie Alexander Salak's potential.

Each played three games during the pre-season,with Salak running up a .929 save percentage and a 1.94 goals against average compared to Emery's .813 save percentage and 4.58 GAA, I just don't get GM Stan Bowman's comment that "We're in the fortunate position to have to make a difficult decision on two netminders that impressed throughout our entire training camp." Salak's numbers are indeed impressive. Emery's? Not so much.

Granted, Emery has a .908 career save percentage and a 2.67 career GAA. I guess that's a better test than three games. And Bowman and Company must feel that Salak needs some seasoning at Rockford before he'll be ready to be the standout NHL goalkeeper he has the potential to be.

One thing is sure: the Hawks have, in as many years, come up with Antti Niemi, Crawford, and now Salak. For a team that went for years without being able to produce a top-notch goaltending prospect ( I think Ed Belfour was the last one before Niemi), they seem to be on a roll.