The Blackhawks knew going into the 2020 NHL Draft that they would have to select a goaltender as they prepare for life without Corey Crawford, whenever that may be. They did that by taking Drew Commesso with the No. 46 overall pick in the second round.
Commesso, who's a Boston native, grew up a diehard Bruins fan and studied goaltenders like Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask over the years.
"We had season tickets right behind the net, so I was fortunate enough to go to a lot of those games," Commesso said. "I definitely watched Tim Thomas a lot as a kid. He was definitely my idol, and watching them win the Cup that year, that was pretty special."
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The 2013 season wasn't as memorable for an 11-year-old Commesso.
The Bruins, as we all know, were minutes away from forcing a Game 7 back in Chicago before the Blackhawks scored two goals in 17 seconds at TD Garden to secure their second Stanley Cup in four years. Commesso wasn't in the building for it, but he still remembers the heartbreak he experienced at the time.
“I remember the pain of watching that and watching you guys score a few quick ones,” Commesso said. “Back then, being such a hardcore Bruins fan and knowing we were so close to doing it again — it was pretty painful, I'm pretty sure I cried during it.”
Commesso will always be a Boston kid at heart, but there are no hard feelings as he begins in a new chapter in Chicago.
NHL
“I guess I have to root for the Blackhawks now,” a smiling Commesso said. “And I’m very happy to.”