Hey everyone, I know it has been a couple of weeks since my last blog, the thing was I just could not think of what to write. Since hockey is getting into the swing of things and the season is a couple of weeks old already, I thought why not a post about the TOP 10 Chicago Blackhawks of All-Time. With the Hawks being an Original 6 franchise the list of greats and Hall of Famers is pretty long. So in order to make this list your numbers and legacy better be good. Over the past 80+ years the Hawks have been playing hockey they have had some great times and decades, at one time having the longest consecutive playoff run out of the 4 major sports at 24 consecutive years. They also had some pretty lean times especially recently (1998-2008 -only making the playoffs 1 time). Throughout the Blackhawks history they still remain the only team to win the Stanley Cup with a losing record in 1938. Looking back over their history in order to make this list, you had to be considered one of the best at your position at the time you played and be loved by the fans and sustained longevity. So of the greats you will not see are: the Bentley brothers, Bill Mosienko (who still holds the NHL for the fastest Hat Trick ever recorded: 21 seconds), no Ed Belfour or Al Secord. Even though I know when they retire Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews and Brent Seabrook may all be on this list - there careers are just to short at the moment to compare to legends on The Top 10 Blackhawks of All Time
10. Steve Larmer: scored over 400 goals with the Blackhawks, never missed a game, made several all star games, Calder Trophy winner and had the nickname of "Gramps"
9. Doug Wilson: Won the Norris Trophy in 1982, feared slapshot from the Blueline ( I actually saw a wilson Slapshot knock off the cage of a goalie mask in a game) for over a decade considered one of the Elite defenseman in the game
8. Jeremy Roenick: good ol' JR, played with emotion and passion: multiple time All-Star, 2x 50 goal Scorer, one of the Top 5 centerman when he played
7. Chris Chelios; Chicago native, won 3 Norris Trophies (2 w/ Chicago), played with a nasty edge
6. Pierre Pilot: Won 3 straight Norris trophies with the Hawks in the 60's, is considered the greatest blueliner in Chicago Blackhawk history had his number retired to the rafters
5. Tony Esposito: Tony 'O #35, Hall of Famer, Was part of the Trioka in the 70's as best goalie in the world (Ken Dryden of Montreal, and Vlad Tretiak of Russia) Still holds modern day single season shut out record with 15, won over 400 games in his career and has his number retired by the Hawks
4. Denis Savard: "Savior Fair": Hockey Hall of Famer, multiple All-Star, Stanley cup winner ('93 in Montreal), over 1,300 career points, including 5 100 point seasons, during the 80's was considered the 3rd best centerman behind Gretzky and Lemieux
3. Glenn Hall: Mr Goalie, Still holds the NHL record for most consecutive games played by a goalie with 501 a record that will never be broken: Hall of Famer, helped Chicago win the 1961 Cup (the last one before 2010). Is considered the greatest blackhawk goalie ever
2. Stan Mikita: #21: played his entire career in a Hawks uniform, Hall of Famer, one of the Top 25 players in NHL History according to the Hockey News, Multiple All -Star: winner of the Hart and Art Ross Trophies on multiple occassions. Holds the Blackhawks record for most career points
And the Greatest Chicago Blackhawk of All-Time is:
Bobby Hull!!!!! "The Golden Jet" is one of the most Iconic athletes of the last 50 years. The greatest athlete of the 60's, his powerful slapshot and speed put fear in all players especially goalies. Hall of Famer with 610 NHL goals multiple winner of the Hart and Art Ross Trophies. The #6 greatest Hockey player of All-Time according to the Hockey News.
Well there you have it, the Greatest Chicago Blackhawks of All-Time. If you can think of a better list let me know. As I had so much fun making this list for the Hawks, I will continue this format for all of the Original 6 teams in the upcoming weeks.
Till next time.
The Polish Guy
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