Devils' Crawford takes indefinite leave for personal reasons

Corey Crawford has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the New Jersey Devils for personal reasons, the club announced Friday.

The Devils signed the veteran goaltender to a two-year, $7.8-million contract in October.

Crawford, who turned 36 on Dec. 31, played his first 13 NHL seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. He helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2013 and 2015.

The Devils' other primary netminder, Mackenzie Blackwood, wished Crawford well Friday.

"I hope he's alright; I just hope that whatever he needs to do to feel good or be happy, he gets that," Blackwood said, according to Devils associate producer Amanda Stein. "We all support him."

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