The Chicago Blackhawks are one of the “Original Six” National Hockey League franchises that have overcome many obstacles in their history to become storied.
They have six championships despite a drought lasting from 1961 to 2010. They went on to have the last dynasty in the NHL in recent memory, from 2010 to 2015. They’ve had some of the all-time greatest talents in NHL history across multiple generations, which has helped build a legacy of success.
When it comes to the Chicago Blackhawks, there have been difficulties with terrible ownership and the controversy around their name. That is, potentially whether it’s racist or not. There have been as many scandals around the organization as successes. This has added to their reputation amongst other NHL fanbases.
Despite this, the Blackhawks have attempted to move forward and build a new legacy of greatness.
Chicago Blackhawks Had it the Toughest of the ‘Original Six’ Teams
https://gty.im/594190403
Despite winning the Stanley Cup three times in the “Original Six” era, the Blackhawks had the absolute toughest road out of all the teams. They started in 1926 and didn’t win a championship until 1933-34. The 1937-38 team won the Stanley Cup despite having a record of 14-25-9, making them one of the worst teams to win a championship.
Between 1945 and 1958, the team only made the playoffs once despite the low number of teams in the league. It wasn’t because World War II or the Korean War took away players, either; it was because they were acting essentially as a minor-league team for Detroit. That’s why they have fewer championships than most other “Original Six” franchises.
The Chicago Blackhawks also had a longstanding championship drought between 1961 and 2010. It marked the second-longest championship drought in franchise history. That one comes after the championship drought between 1938 and 1961. These times have helped make the successes even more special.
Greatest All-Time Team Legends
https://gty.im/508436004
Starting in the 1950s and 60s, the team became known as a perennial playoff contender. Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Ted Lindsay, and Glenn Hall all were Hall of Famers that led the team to the Stanley Cup in 1961. Tony Esposito was one of the greatest goaltenders in Blackhawks’ history during this time as well.
In the 1980s-90s, Hall of Famers Denis Savard, Steve Larmer, and Chris Chelios led the Blackhawks on the ice. One of the best players on that team was 50-goal scorer Jeremy Roenick, who deserves a place in the Hall of Fame. In the dark era of the late 90s-early 2000s, the best players on the team were Tony Amonte and Eric Daze.
In the modern era, the Chicago Blackhawks had a dynasty in the 2010s. Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook, and Duncan Keith lead this group. Throughout the decade, numerous potential Hall of Famers played on each of the three title teams, with Marian Hossa becoming the first Hall of Famer from the 2010s.
Notable Coaches in Team History
Several great coaches have been behind the bench in Blackhawks history. Not every coach has managed to win a Stanley Cup. But there is a clear-cut winner as the greatest coach in team history.
It goes to three-time champ Joel Quenneville. “Coach Q” led Chicago from 2008 to 2018 while winning championships in 2010, 2013, and 2015. The team only missed the playoffs once in his tenure, winning two division titles and one President’s Trophy.
Another successful coach was Mike Keenan. Keenan led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1991-92. Billy Reay coached the team from 1963-1976 to three appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals. Neither Reay nor Keenan won Lord Stanley’s Cup in Chicago.
The Greatest Team In Blackhawks History
https://gty.im/99640581
One great team in NHL history was the 2009-10 squad. That season, Chicago won a franchise-record 52 games and totaled a team-record 112 points. This young, talented team went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Along the way, they beat the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, and San Jose Sharks. In the Stanley Cup Finals, Kane buried the series-clinching goal in Game 6 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Signing Hossa helped add a presence to a team filled with its own homegrown players. This was the first team to win with the core of Toews-Kane-Seabrook-Keith. Patrick Sharp’s 22 postseason points led to his emergence as a team leader.
Some All-Time NHL Greats You’d Be Surprised Played Here
With an incredibly rich history, there are a lot of players you would be surprised to find played for the Blackhawks. Whether it was only for a couple of seasons, each of these players deserves to be mentioned for their time there.
Doug Gilmour, Paul Coffey, and Phil Esposito are Hall of Fame players who spent time in Chicago. Coffey was only there for 10 games. Goaltender Dominik Hasek started his career in Chicago before gaining greater success in Buffalo.
Goaltender Craig Anderson played professionally from 2001-2023, but fell short of expectations in his time with the team. He was there during a dark period in the team’s history in the mid-2000s. Longtime goalies Cam Ward and Marty Turco also didn’t play their best hockey in Chicago. One outstanding player who’s found great success post-Chicago is current Hurricanes star Teuvo Teravainen.
Team’s Name Has an Interesting Legacy
Frederic McLaughlin named the team in 1926 after a World War 1 infantry division nicknamed the “Blackhawk Division.” However, this name has caused controversy due to allegations of racism and discrimination against Native American groups.
They went under the name “Chicago Black Hawks” until 1986 when they eliminated the spacing. This did not quell the controversy. Instead, the team has worked with the American Indian Center to help share Native American culture and history. Chicago even created college scholarships for students.
At this time, there are no plans to change the logo, name, or uniforms. While other teams like the Cleveland Guardians and Washington Commanders changed their entire identities from Native American identities, the Blackhawks likely will never make the same decision.
An Unfortunate History of Terrible Ownership
The biggest problem with the Blackhawks in the early years was that they were owned by Bill Tobin. Tobin was working for James E. Norris, who was the owner of the arch-rival Detroit Red Wings. Anytime the Blackhawks had good players, they were sent to Detroit to help the Red Wings.
Norris also owned Chicago Stadium, where they played. The team paid rent to Norris, sent their good players to Detroit, and added Red Wings players they didn’t want. In 1967, Norris approved the creation of the St. Louis Blues, who have become the Blackhawks’ other fierce rival.
Bill Wirtz’s ownership decreased the team’s value. It got so bad that Blackhawks games weren’t shown on Chicago television in the 2000s. But they had the most expensive season ticket package in the league. Rocky Wirtz, Bill’s son, worked to revive the team in 2007. Yet his time as team owner ended in scandal. The team is now owned by Rocky’s son, Danny Wirtz.
A Team That Has Dealt With a Fair Share of Controversy
There have been controversial periods in team history. When it comes to its name, the controversy hasn’t satisfied a lot of people. There are many out there who are against against having any sort of Native American name, logo, or iconography in sports.
Another dark cloud covered the organization with the Kyle Beach situation. Reports indicated that the team’s front office coaching staff allegedly covered up a sexual assault incident between Beach and an assistant coach. This reportedly happened during the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup run. Ownership had no idea about the situation, putting an even darker cloud over the Rocky Wirtz era.
In the wake of this matter, some team coaches and executives either were fired or resigned. This included even those no longer connected with the Blackhawks at that time. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also banned these coaches and executives from being rehired by other NHl teams.
Connor Bedard Is the Team’s Future
https://gty.im/2148639597
At the present moment, Connor Bedard is the best player on the team by far. He’s also been propped up as the next face of the NHL and future of the league. He is seen as the league’s next generational talent after being taken first overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Adding Bedard came months after the end of the Jonathan Toews-Patrick Kane era. It’s given the team a bright future and a beacon of light out of the darkness that surrounded Chicago in the previous few seasons.
Bedard’s rookie season proved he can be as great as advertised. He’s just the second player drafted as the overall No. 1 pick by the Blackhawks. Kane was the other player this happened to in 2007.
2010s Dynasty Could Be The Last In NHL History
It’s hard to predict what might happen in the future with the NHL. With the way parity works, it’s incredibly tough to keep a championship contender together. We may never seen a team like the 2010s Blackhawks again. They won three Stanley Cups between 2010 to 2015.
Chicago’s legendary playoff clashes with the Los Angeles Kings will be talked about forever. The 3-1 comeback against Detroit is one of the greatest comebacks in NHL history. Their clashes with the Predators, Canucks, and Minnesota Wild were among the best in the 2010s.
Each Cup run had underrated heroes like Dave Bolland, Andrew Shaw, and Bryan Bickell. With salary cap constraints, keeping a consistent core together for multiple title runs in such a short span was tough to do. The Blackhawks of the 2010s might be the last team we see that wins three titles in a five-year span.
2012 Team Was Last One to Avoid A Curse
There are a variety of superstitions in all areas of sports and society. It’s a fascinating part to look into around sports. The 2012-13 Blackhawks team managed to avoid a prominent hockey curse.
That season, the NHL had to cancel part of it due to a labor lockout. It was the second in less than a decade. A previous strike led to an entire season’s cancelation. The Blackhawks had the best NHL record despite an abbreviated season and were awarded the President’s Trophy.
The President’s Trophy curse has seen a majority of its winners fall short of winning a championship. Most notably, this happened to the 2019 Tampa Bay Lightning squad. It was swept in the first round. The 2012-13 Blackhawks are the most recent President’s Trophy winner to also capture the Stanley Cup. This streak continued after the New York Rangers lost in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
Chicago Blackhawks Record Holders
With a deep franchise history, the Chicago Blackhawks have several historic players that hold records. Stan Mikita is arguably the organization’s greatest player. Mikita holds numerous career records, including seasons (22), points (1,467), and assists (926).
Bobby Hull holds records for most regular season (58) and career goals (604) in franchise history. Hull definitely lived up to his nickname, “The Golden Jet.” Tony Esposito holds the team record for most shutouts in a season (15) and career (74).
Winningest coaches in team history include Reay (516) and Quenneville (452). Quenneville is the lone team coach with multiple Stanley Cup victories. Orval Tessier is the lone team coach to win the Jack Adams Award. That goes to the NHL’s coach of the year after each season.
The World Famous ‘Madhouse on Madison’
The Blackhawks have typically had one of hockey’s greatest home-ice advantages. For most of their history, they played at the Chicago Stadium. Its nickname was the “Madhouse on Madison” thanks to overwhelming crowd noise and being located on Madison Street.
One team tradition started there includes raucous cheering during the National Anthem. Another one is having a goal horn go off after Chicago goals. This tradition started back in 1973 during the Stanley Cup Finals.
These traditions stayed in place when the Blackhawks moved to the United Center in 1995. A new post-Chicago goal tradition started with “Chelsea Dagger” blaring from speakers along with the horn.
A Brawl So Vicious It Was Called a Massacre
https://gty.im/141270572
The Chicago Blackhawks are fortunate to have intense rivalries with St. Louis and Detroit. The Detroit rivalry has cooled off a bit since the Red Wings moved to the Eastern Conference. Yet the St. Louis one? It’s not going anywhere. Chicago owns a 190-158-35-11 record all-time against the Blues, with a 35-28 postseason record as well.
This Blues rivalry goes back to having Chicago knock St. Louis out of the playoffs during the 1970s and 1980s. A notable moment happened when the Blackhawks chirped “wakey wakey Backes” at Blues captain David Backes. This happened after Backes was knocked out by Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook in the 2014 playoffs.
Then we get down to what’s known as the St. Patrick’s Day Massacre between Chicago and St. Louis in 1990-91. This brawl saw 12 players get ejected, multiple suspensions, and each team get fined $10,000. Each team’s coach almost had to be separated from getting into a fight.
‘Detroit Sucks’
https://gty.im/456093952
Despite the rivalry with the Blues, the Red Wings are the Blackhawks’ longtime historic rival. From 1926 until the Blackhawks eliminated Detroit from the playoffs in 2013, the two shared the same division or conference. This led to titanic clashes over the years in the playoffs.
Chicago and Detroit squared off in numerous brawls over the years. Two players who never backed down were Detroit’s Bob Probert and Chicago’s Stu Grimson. They were two of the NHL’s fiercest brawlers. The Blackhawks fans’ intense dislike for the Red Wings led them to chant “Detroit Sucks” loudly and proudly during home games.
Today, the lone way they will clash in the postseason comes by way of the Stanley Cup Finals. Their last clash in 2013 was historic. The Blackhawks rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to win in overtime in Game 7. This happened en route to another championship. Chicago trails in the series 413-320-84-17 all-time, but has a 43-38 postseason record against the Red Wings.
Most Outdoor Game Appearances In NHL History
The Blackhawks have a rabid fanbase all over the world. This, along with being an “Original Six” team, has played a role in their success in NHL’s outdoors games. The Blackhawks have made more appearances in these outdoor games than any other team in NHL history.
Chicago is tied with Pittsburgh with six appearances apiece. The Blackhawks are scheduled to play the St. Louis Blues in the 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago, which will break the tie. Getting Chicago back in the in the national spotlight with Bedard on board will bring more exposure to the Blackhawks.
The Infamous Fake ‘Curse of Muldoon’
From the team’s founding in 1926 until 1967, the Chicago Blackhawks didn’t win their division a single time. During this time period, it was believed that the team’s first-ever Head Coach Pete Muldoon placed a curse them after being fired for losing in the postseason. This joined other curses that allegedly were placed on Chicago’s baseball teams, the Cubs and White Sox.
However, Muldoon never actually placed a curse on the team. It was made up to create newspaper sales. At the same time, it has to be an unofficial record for a team to go so long without winning their division. It’s even stranger to see Chicago won three championships in this time.
The Future Is As Bright As The Past
One thing going for the Chicago Blackhawks is that their future is so bright that the fanbase might have to start wearing shades at the United Center. The team has the second overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft after taking Bedard first overall last year. They also have another first-round pick.
The Blackhawks went through an incredibly dark period post-2015 on and off the ice. This time period saw the team make several questionable decisions to end the dynasty era. Now, the team is appearing to bounce back with a future that could end up as fruitful as their past. This is all in spite of having the second-worst record last season.
About the Author
Alex is a writer at Total Apex Sports. His interests include gaming, watching movies, and spending time with his girlfriend. Some of his favorite movies include The Godfather, Scarface, and Skyfall. He’s also a loyal fan of the Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bulls, San Francisco Giants, and the Chicago Blackhawks. You can find him on X at @alex_furtotti.
For More Great Content
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide heavily detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and so much more! Check out all our great sports content at Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
