BLOG: Opportunity Presents Itself for Delia in Fleury's Absence

Collin Delia is well-versed in patiently waiting for his opportunity.
The Blackhawks netminder is hopeful to again get the chance to showcase his continued progress after being called to the active roster on Monday morning, replacing Marc-Andre Fleury, who was placed in COVID-19 protocol coming out of the holiday break.

"It's pretty unfortunate circumstances, you don't want to see anyone get sick or get hurt, but definitely happy to be here," said Delia. "I'm looking forward to competing every day and seeing what opportunity comes my way. To support [Kevin Lankinen] and be around the guys, it's always a good feeling. Just doing anything I can to be prepared."
Delia's journey with the Blackhawks has largely been about just that -- being prepared.

He was a bright spot down the stretch in the 2018-19 season, appearing in 16 games from late December onward in a backup role with Corey Crawford sidelined. It looked like he was set to be the full-time backup the following season until Chicago was unexpectedly able to snag Robin Lehner from the summer free-agent market to created a two-starter tandem for 2019-20. The move, in turn, sent Delia back to the AHL.
He again seemed poised for an elevated role last season as the Blackhawks entered the year with a three-man rotation in net with eyes on solidifying their goalie of the future. Delia started the second and third games of the season before Lankinen emerged as the team's go-to guy in net. It was three and a half months before Delia saw game action again, finishing the year with four solid performances over the season's final nine days.
"What I can focus on and what I try to turn my energy and attention to is just keeping my game as sharp as I can and what I can progress in," Delia said of his mindset through it all. "I don't ever want to be stagnant or idle, don't want to rest on past successes or failures.
"To me, I kind of look at it every day as a new opportunity to again prove myself. I don't see it as a destination like 'Oh, I've improved myself, so now I get to be in the NHL.' I think it's something that you have to continually do over and over to be relevant. I think this past experience last year has really proved that and driven that home for me is that regardless of if I've played in the NHL before, you can't rest, can't be complacent, you have to continue to push and continue to get better every single day."
Delia feels he's been able to take a step this year with his understanding and reading of the game, especially coming off long stretch last year not seeing games, while using his experience to be more consistent and confident. He has appeared in 10 games with Rockford thus far and allowed just one goal in each of his last two starts with the IceHogs.
The netminder was even credited with his first pro goal on Dec. 17 in a 3-1 win over the Texas Stars.

Time will tell if the opportunity does come again for Delia during his latest NHL stint. The Blackhawks are scheduled to play in a back-to-back set this weekend, first in Nashville on Saturday and then at home on Sunday against Calgary. If Fleury remains out through the week, it could open the door for Lankinen and Delia to split the net duties.
If not in game action, even practice time with the NHL group is a welcomed chance for Delia to continue to show what he's got to the Blackhawks brass.
"I'm just really looking forward to the opportunity here," he said. "I'm not sure how long it is, but I'll just take it day by day and seeing what change I can affect in my game and how I can help the team."
"Losing a guy like Fleury is not easy," interim head coach Derek King said. "But there's an opportunity here for Lanks to get more games in, step up and then not sure schedule-wise, maybe Deals does get a game in and there's an opportunity for him also."