Chicago Blackhawcks

Team History: The Chicago Blackhawks have won seven Stanley Cup titles in franchise history, The most recent of which came in 2015 in six games against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The other two they have won during the Joel Quenneville, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane era were in 2013 against the Boston Bruins in six games and in 2010 in six games against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Chicago made it to the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2016-2017. The Blackhawks defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup qualifiers in four games. Chicago then lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. In any other season, Chicago would not have made it to the playoffs, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, 24 teams made it to the playoff qualifying round, instead of the usual 16.

The Blackhawks finished in last place in the Central Division this past season with a 32-30-8 record and 72 points. Chicago was five points behind the Minnesota Wild (35-27-7 record with 77 points). The Blackhawks were also behind the St. Louis Blues by 22 points (42-19-10 record with 94 points) in the Central Division for first place.

Roster/Management/Players/Coaches: William Rockwell Wirtz is the owner of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Jeremy Colliton is the head coach of the team. He took over as the head coach of the Blackhawks during the 2018-2019 season for Joel Quenneville. Stan Bowman is the general manager.

Malcolm Subban was acquired in a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights for Robin Lehner earlier in the season. The Chicago Blackhawks have made a lot of trades, but one of their biggest acquisitions in franchise history was signing Marian Hossa in the 2009 offseason. Hossa was with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and 2009. He was in the Stanley Cup Finals both seasons and lost, before he helped lead the Hawks to three Stanley Cups in the 2010’s.

When they won the Stanley Cup in 2015, the Blackhawks defeated the Nashville Predators in the first-round in six games. Big news at the time, goalie Corey Crawford was replaced in that series temporarily for Scott Darling. Crawford did come back in that series and played better. Chicago won in the second-round in a sweep of the Minnesota Wild. They defeated the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference Finals, culminating a hard-fought series with a 5-3 win in Game 7. In the Stanley Cup Finals, they faced with a tough young Tampa Bay Lightning team. The Hawks clinched the Stanley Cup Title in Game 6 at the United Center in Chicago, with a 2-0 shutout win.

Stats: Veteran Patrick Kane played in 70 games this past season, scoring 33 goals and adding 51 assists. The former Art Ross trophy winner is a sniper and should be a first ballot hall of famer.

Joining him there will be Jonathan Toews, who finished with 60 points this season. Toews is the captain of this team and is one of the best leaders in the NHL, and a key linchpin the Chicago’s cup runs.

Dominik Kubalik 30 goals and recorded 16 assists. Kubalik was on the all-rookie first team in the NHL, and has a bright future ahead of him. The Hawks hope Kubalik, Alex Debrincat, Dylan Strome and Kirby Dach are be part of the team’s young core moving forward. DeBrincat played in 70 games this past season, finishing with 45 points. He should be a very important piece moving forward, whenever Toews and Kane decide to retire.

On defense, veteran Duncan Keith finished with 27 points this season, one of the lowest point-scoring seasons of his career. In nets, Crawford played in 40 games, with a record of 16-20-3, a .917 save percentage and a 2.77 GAA, along with one shutout. Robin Lehner posted similar statistics in his 31 games.