Hawks give Lalime $950,000 contract

When the season ended, Blackhawks goaltender Patrick Lalime considered going on the free-agent market July 1 in hopes of landing a multiyear contract. In the end, a significant raise from the Hawks trumped the unknown. Lalime agreed to a one-year contract Thursday believed to be worth $950,000. He made $700,000 last season. Lalime would have preferred a multiyear contract, especially at 32. The Hawks have two years left on the contract of starter Nikolai Khabibulin. They also expect goalie of the future Corey Crawford to be in Chicago by 2008-09, if not sooner. In his second professional season, Crawford, 23, had a stellar campaign for Norfolk of the American Hockey League. He finished second in the league with 38 victories with a 2.84 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. After playing just one game in the AHL playoffs last season, Crawford will be the starter as Norfolk opens the Calder Cup playoffs Friday against Wilkes-Barre. Lalime had an up-and-down season. Coming off a knee injury, Lalime injured his back before training camp and needed surgery. He made his Hawks debut with a shutout Feb. 7 against Vancouver. He finished 4-5-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. World roster Two Hawks and two Hawks prospects have been invited to play in the world championships, which will be April 27 to May 13 in Moscow. Tuomo Ruutu and Tony Salmelainen will play for Finland, and prospects Jonathan Toews and Nathan Davis have been invited to the Canadian and American teams, respectively.