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‘Hawks sign goalie Glass, an expansion draft option

World Junior Hockey Championships

GRAND FORKS, ND - JANUARY 4: Jeff Glass #33 of Team Canada skates during the gold medal game against Team Russia at the World Junior Hockey Championships at the Ralph Engelstad Arena on January 4, 2005 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Canada defeated Russia 6-1 to win the gold medal. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

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Chicago has signed journeyman netminder Jeff Glass to a two-year deal, the club announced on Thursday.

Glass, 31, has never played in the NHL. A third-round pick by Ottawa in 2004, he spent a few years with the organization before heading overseas, and carving out a successful KHL career.

Last summer, he returned to North America by signing on with Toronto’s AHL affiliate, the Marlies. But he was released in January, then quickly caught on with Chicago’s AHL affiliate in Rockford, where he’s played well -- Glass is 5-4-0 this year, with a 2.38 GAA and .917 save percentage.

His signing, as mentioned in the headline, could be related to the expansion draft. Corey Crawford is the only Chicago goalie under contract beyond this season and, because of his no-movement clause, is required to be protected -- meaning GM Stan Bowman needs someone to expose.

Bowman has said he’d like to bring back backup Scott Darling, but Darling’s a UFA at the end of the year. What’s more, he could be in line for a starting gig -- Crawford himself talked up Darling as a potential No. 1 -- and that opportunity probably won’t come in Chicago.

The other goalies currently in Rockford, Mac Carruth and Lars Johansson, are pending RFAs and UFAs, respectively. Carruth could also qualify as a goalie to expose, per CapFriendly, but the ‘Hawks would need to make him a qualifying offer first.

Glass’ two-year deal is for the remainder of this season and the next, meaning it expires in July of ’18.