Chicago Blackhawks is an American hockey club performing in the NHL. The team was founded in 1926. The home stadium is called the United Center, and its capacity is almost 20 thousand seats. The Hawks are representatives of the Central Division of the Western Conference.
History
Chicago Blackhawks is one of the Original Six clubs. This team, in addition to the team from Illinois, included the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leaves and Montreal Canadiens. These are the only 6 teams that have been part of the National Hockey League for 25 years, starting in 1942 and ending in 1967.
The founder of the club is Frederick McLaughlin. He was offered to purchase one of the teams of the Western Hockey League when it lost the NHL competition and experienced financial problems. The multimillionaire agreed and bought a team from Portland for $ 200 million, after which he transferred it to Chicago.
During its existence, the club has repeatedly experienced difficult periods, the restructuring of the team helped to get out of it. Management has always found a way out of difficult situations. Now the owner of Chicago Blackhawks is an American businessman Rocky Wirts. It is with his name that the main successes of the hawks in recent years are connected. The club’s general manager is Stan Bowman.
NHL appearances
Chicago Blackhawks played their first match in the 1926/27 season. The club won 19 games with 22 defeats and 3 draws, which allowed it to take 3rd place. From the playoff round, the hawks took off at the ¼ final stage.
Failures haunted the team for another 3 years, and in the 1930/31 season the club was able to qualify for the NHL finals, but lost there. The next finale happened 3 years later. "Chicago Black Hawks" came out in second place in the American division. On the way to the finals, they beat two clubs from Montreal, and in the decisive stage they defeated the Red Wings with a score of 3-1.
After this triumph, the team for 3 years could not overcome the ¼ finals. The season of 1937/38 again became the golden season for the hawks. Hockey players from Illinois in the NHL finals beat 3-1 a club from Toronto.
Having won the league a second time, the team faced a series of setbacks. Before the 1960/61 season, the Chicago Black Hawks only once reached the final of the National Hockey League, but lost in it. In 1961 and 1962, the Hawks played the final series against Detroit and Toronto, respectively. In the first case, the Chicagoans won 4-2, and a year later they lost with the same score.
Before the 1986/87 season, the club began to be called the Chicago Blackhawks. The first NHL final for the team with the updated name took place 5 years after renaming. The Hawks lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins dry.
The 2009/10 season has become a key in the modern history of the team. The club was able to gather upscale hockey players. 52 wins in 82 matches allowed to take 1st place in the Central Division and enter the playoff round. In ¼ “hawks” prevailed over “Nashville” with a score of 4-2. In the next round, Vancouver was defeated with the same result. And in the final of the conference with a score of 4-0, the Chicago Blackhawks beat San Jose. In the final episode, the Chicago team defeated Philadelphia. In the 2012/13 season, Blackhawks players again won the league’s main trophy. After 3 years, the club won the last at the moment the title of NHL champion.
Achievements
In the entire history of the existence of the team played 6270 matches. Chicago Blackhawks scored 2,687 wins and reached the relegation round 62 times.
In 1992, 2010, 2013 and 2015, Chicago Blackhawks won the conference. The hawks won the Stanley Cup 6 times, the first of which was won in the 1933/34 season.
Chicago Blackhawks top scorer - Bobby Hull. He has 58 goals scored in the 1968/69 season. 87 assists in the 1981/87 and 1987/88 seasons made Denis Savard the best assistant in club history. In the 1969/70 season, goalkeeper Tony Esposito played 15 matches without losing a single goal. His achievement could not beat any goalkeeper of the team.
Coach Chicago Blackhawks and roster
The coaching staff consists of general manager Stan Bowman, head coach Joel Kenneville, three assistants and a goalkeeper coach. Bowman has been in office since 2000 . In 2017, the club hired two assistant coaches: Don Granato and Ulf Sumuelsson.
The composition of the Chicago Blackhawks is considered one of the strongest in the league. Team leaders are captain Jonathan Taves and left-handed striker Patrick Kane. They are the highest paid hockey players of the club. Forward salaries are $ 10.5 million per year.
Chicago Blackhawks vice captains are defenders Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. The goal is defended by Canadian goalkeeper Corey Crawford.