What’s new with the Chicago Blackhawks? That’s what this page is all about.

The Team Spirit Line Change website begins where the Team Spirit books end.

That’s because hockey never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!

Take a look at some of the Blackhawks collectibles I have in my home.

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Updates

2022-23 Season

Season Preview: Chicago fans expected to see their team make it to the postseason last spring and were disappointed when the Blackhawks didn’t. This year, they would love just to get close to the playoffs. They would also love to see longtime superstar Patrick Kane on the ice all year, but that may not happen either. The Blackhawks are rebuilding, and many NHL clubs will be offering good young players in a trade for Kane. So Chicago is pinning its hopes on veterans Seth Jones, Tyler Johnson, and Jonathan Toews, along with goalie Petr Mrazek. That may not be enough to get where they need to go.

2021-22 Season

Season Recap: A slow start cost coach Jeremy Collitin his job and made it impossible for Chicago to reach the playoffs. Among the few bright spots were the play of young stars Alex DeBrincat, who scored 41 goals, and veteran Patrick Kane, who led the club with 66 assists. Newcomer Seth Jones—the son of NBA All-Star Popeye Jones—became the leader of the defense after joining Chicago after in an off-season trade.

December 9, 2021: Marc-Andre Fleury shut out the Montreal Canadiens for the 500th win of his career. Only two other goalies—Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy—have 500 victories.

Season Preview: No team took more chances than the Blackhawks over the summer. Hoping to surround their two longtime stars—Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews—with championship-caliber players, they picked up goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and talented defenseman Seth Jones. While Duncan Keith is gone after many great seasons in Chicago, the Hawks’ defense should be fine thanks to Jake McCabe and Connor Murphy. Chicago fans will keep an especially close eye on Kirby Dach, a special player who was sidelined with a broken wrist for much of last year. He and Kane will have Alex DeBrincat as a linemate, forming a fearsome threesome.

2020-21 Season

Season Recap: Chicago began the year on fire but let too many opponents score comeback wins to make it to the playoffs. Patrick Kane was the team’s best player, while Kevin Lankinen had a good year in goal and Alex DeBrincat showed he could be a major star.

Season Preview: The Blackhawks will count on veterans Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to play winning hockey, but all eyes will be on young stars Adam Boqvist and Kirby Dach, who hope to join their teammates soon as household names in Chicago. Young forwards Dylan Strome and Alex DeBrincat should improve, but defensive leader Duncan Keith may be nearing the end of his career; the club will need others to step up and fill his shoes.

2019-20 Season

Season Recap: Chicago returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2016–17 and upset the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. The Black Hawks didn’t make it past the next round, however, falling to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. Patrick Kane led the team with 33 goals and 51 assists, with Jonathan Toews finishing second with 60 points. Beyond these two veterans, Chicago has many up-and-coming stars, which should make for an exciting 2020–21 season.

Season Preview: Two years without a playoff appearance was a wake-up call for the Blackhawks, who spent the summer improving their defense. They traded for defensemen Olli Matatta and Calvin de Haan, and added Robin Lehner to share goaltending duties with Corey Crawford. Rising stars Alex Nylander and Dylan Strome should join Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Alex DeBrincat as the team’s main scoring threats.

2018-19 Season

Season Recap: Chicago fans were shocked when the team missed the playoffs for the second year in a row—despite a winning record. Patrick Kane had a sensational season with 44 goals and 66 assists, while Alex DeBrincat and Jonathan Toews combined for 76 goals. But the scoring dropped off sharply from there, and the defense gave up 22 more goals than the offense scored.

February 27, 2019: Patrick Kane scored the game0-winning goal against Anaheim with 17 seconds to play. Kane became the first NHL player to score 40 goals in the 2018–19 season.

Season Preview: Chicago fans are still wondering how their team missed the playoffs last year. A season-ending injury to goalie Corey Crawford was the main cause. This year Crawford and Cam Ward should share the position. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews will lead the Blackhawks’ offense again, with help from Brandon Saad and young gun Alex DeBrincat. Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and rookie Henri Jokiharju will hold down the defense.

2017-18 Season

Season Recap: For the first time in a decade, Chicago failed to make the playoffs. Solid seasons from Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat could not make up for a poor second half, which saw the team win just seven games on the road. An inexperienced defense and a head injury suffered by goalie Carey Crawford doomed the Blackhawks’ season almost from the start.

January 20, 2018: Patrick Kane scored a goal against the Islanders to give him 800 points for his career. He joined Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Denis Savard and Steve Larmer as the only Chicago players to reach 800 points.

Season Preview: After losing in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, Chicago made a number of moves over the summer to get back to its old winning ways. To do that they brought back players from their glory days, including Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad. Jonathan Toews will lead the club as usual, while Patrick Kane providing the scoring punch.

2015-16 Season

Season Recap: With Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews at the peak of their skills, many fans thought Chicago would return to the finals. Instead the Blackhwaks lost to the Blues 4–3 in the opening round. Kane had the finest year of his career, leading the NHL with 106 points and winning the Hart Trophy as MVP. Goalie Corey Crawford led the league in shutouts, but the full team effort wasn’t there in the postseason.

Season Preview: Winning a championship means giving out a lot of raises, so the Blackhawks had to trim some salaries over the summer. The core of the team is still good enough to compete for the Stanley Cup thanks to superstars Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith. Chicago picked up a promising young player in a trade named Teuvo Teraveinen, who will join Toews and Kane on the #1 line.

2014-15 Season

October 26, 2014: Marian Hossa scored against the Ottawa Senators for his 1,000th career point. Only 79 other players in history had reached quadruple-figures.

Season Preview: Chicago fans are still wondering how they didn’t win the Stanley Cup last season. They are also wondering what could keep them from righting that wrong. The Blackhawks have loads of talent, including Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith, Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane. All rank at or near the top of the NHL at their positions. Add veteran free agent Brad Richards to the mix as a second-line center, and the team looks ready for a big year.

2013-14 Season

March 19, 2014: Coach Joel Quenneville won his 700th career game, against the St. Louis Blues—the first NHL team he coached. Only two other coaches have more victories: Scotty Bowman (1,244) and Al Arbour (782).

Season Preview: What do you do for an encore after winning a Stanley Cup? Win another one! The Blackhawks made sure to keep their key players from the championship team, and will count on the experience and leadership of Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, and Jonathan Toews. Who might be the X Factor as the Hawks get close to playoff time? Rookie Brandon Pirri is a good bet to make an impact by season’s end.

More Go-To Guys

I like this card of Johnny Gottselig because you can see the chicken wire behind him. A lot of rinks in the 1930s used this material where NHL teams now use big sheets of see-thru plexiglass. (O-Pee-Chee Ltd.)

Smile, Keith! I swear, this guy got into a fight a game during the 1970s. (Sports Illustrated/TIME Inc.)

Dirk Graham signed this card from 1991. He was one of Chicago’s most popular players. (Score, Inc.)

Patrick Sharp signed this photo from a couple of years ago. He was a huge reason why the Hawks won their second Cup in 2013. (Author’s Collection)

  • Johnny Gottselig — Left Wing
    Born: 6/24/1905
    Died: 5/15/1986
    Played for Team: 1928–29 to 1904–41 & 1942–43 to 1944–45
    Johnny Gottselig was a good scorer and great leader. He captained the 1938 team, which won the Stanley Cup. He led all playoff scorers that year.

  • Doug Bentley — Left Wing
    Born: 9/3/1916
    Died: 11/24/1972
    Played for Team: 1939–40 to 1943–44 & 1945–46 to 1951–52
    Doug Bentley lacked the skating flair of his younger brother, Max, but he scored more points during the 1940s than anyone else in the NHL. Doug led the NHL in scoring twice during his career.

  • Max Bentley — Center
    Born: 3/1/1920
    Died: 1/19/1984
    Played for Team: 1940–41 to 1942–43 & 1945–46 to 1947–48
    Max Bentley’s playing weight was around 140 pounds, but he was one of hockey’s most feared forwards. His speed and stickhandling ability were sensational. He won the Hart Trophy in 1945–46 and beat out the great Rocket Richard for the NHL scoring title on the final day of the 1946–47 season.

  • Bill Mosienko — Right Wing
    Born: 11/2/1921
    Died: 7/9/1994
    Played for Team: 1941–42 to 1954–55
    Bill Mosienko is so famous for scoring three goals in 21 seconds that many fans forget that he was the NHL’s fastest skater during the 1940s. More important, Mosienko could stickhandle at full speed. After World War II, the Blackhawks put Mosienko on a line with the Bentley brothers. Nicknamed the Pony Line, it was the fastest of its time.

  • Dennis Hull — Left Wing
    Born: 11/19/1944
    Played for Team: 1964–65 to 1976–77
    Dennis Hull emerged from the shadow of his superstar brother, Bobby, to have a fine NHL career. He put the family weapon—the slaphsot—to excellent use, scoring 298 goals in a Chicago uniform. Dennis was picked to play in the All-Star Game five times between 1969 and 1974, and scored between 30 and 40 goals four times during that span.

  • Keith Magnuson — Defenseman
    Born: 4/27/1947
    Died: 12/15/2003
    Played for Team: 1969–70 to 1979–80
    Keith Magnuson once said he’d do anything to keep the puck out of Chicago’s net—including stopping a puck with his teeth. He refused to back down from bigger, stronger opponents, and the fans and teammates loved him for it.

  • Doug Wilson — Defenseman
    Born: 4/27/1947
    Died: 12/15/2003
    Played for Team: 1969–70 to 1979–80
    Keith Magnuson once said he’d do anything to keep the puck out of Chicago’s net—including stopping a puck with his teeth. He refused to back down from bigger, stronger opponents, and the fans and teammates loved him for it.

  • Dirk Graham — Right Wing
    Born: 7/29/1959
    Played for Team: 1987–88 to 1994–95
    Dirk Graham was one of the league’s top defensive forwards. He was also good for 20 to 30 goals most seasons. In his second year with Chicago, Graham became the first person of color to be named an NHL team captain. He also coached the Blackhawks, becoming the first person of color to coach an NHL team.

  • Ed Belfour — Goalie
    Born: 4/21/1965
    Played for Team: 1988–89 to 1996–97
    A quick glove and lightning reflexes helped Ed Belfour make a splash in the NHL at an early age. He won the Calder and Vezina awards in 1990–91 and helped the Blackhawks reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992. Belfour won another Vezina Trophy in 1992–93.

  • Patrick Sharp — Left Wing
    Born: 12/27/1981
    Played for Team: 2005–06 to 2014–15 & 2017–18
    The Hawks picked up Patrick Sharp in one of their best-ever trades. He immediately became the club’s top clutch player, and in 2011 had 11 goals and 11 assists on the way to Chicago’s Stanley Cup title. The following season, Sharp was named MVP of the All-Star Game. In 2013, his 10 goals led all scorers in the playoffs. After two years with the Dallas Stars, he returned to Chicago for the 2017–18 season.

  • Corey Crawford — Goalie
    Born: 12/31/1984
    First Season with Team: 2005–06
    It took five seasons for Corey Crawford to win the starting job in Chicago, but once he did, the Blackhawks were tough to beat. In the 2013 playoffs, Crawford led all goalies with 16 wins and allowed under two goals per game.

  • Dominik Kubalik — Left Wing
    Born: 8/21/1995
    First Season with Team: 2019–20
    Dominik Kubalik spent many years improving his game in Europe and in the minor leagues. In 2019–20, he was one of the NHL’s top rookies and second on the Blackhawks with 30 goals.

More Fun Facts

This old newspaper clipping shows Gottselig posing with some of the players in the AAGPBL. (Author’s Collection)

  • CALLING THE SHOTS
    During the 1940s, Johnny Gottselig was a manager in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (made famous in the movie A League of Their Own). Gottselig managed the Racince Belles, Peoria Redwings and Kenosha Comets.

  • BIG NUMBERS
    In a 1943 game against the Rangers, the Line of Doug Bentley, Max Bentley, and Bill Thoms had a night to remember. Doug had two goals and four assists, Max had four goals and three assists, and Thomas had five assists. The Blackhawks won 10–1.

  • FATHER TIME
    Patrick Kane was the eldest of four children—his three younger siblings were all girls. In order to get them to play sports with him, Kane had to be the Dad whenever his sisters played house with their dolls.

League Leaders

This card of Doug Bentley is made to look like an old-time card from the 1930s. (ITG)

This paper-and-plastic coin came in bags of potato chips in the 1960s. (Shirriff Company)

This card of Dick Irvin shows him in the team’s original uniform from the 1920s. (Topps, Inc.)

  • GOALS
    1942–43 — Doug Bentley — 33
    1943–44 — Doug Bentley — 38
    1959–60 — Bobby Hull — 39*
    1961–62 — Bobby Hull — 50
    1963–64 — Bobby Hull — 43
    1965–66 — Bobby Hull — 54
    1966–67 — Bobby Hull — 52
    1967–68 — Bobby Hull — 44
    1958–69 — Bobby Hull — 58

    * Tied with another player

  • ASSISTS
    1926–27 — Dick Irvin — 18
    1943–44 — Clint Smith — 49
    1947–48 — Doug Bentley — 37
    1948–49 — Doug Bentley — 43
    1964–65 — Stan Mikita — 59
    1965–66 — Stan Mikita — 48 *
    1966–67 — Stan Mikita — 62

    * Tied with another player

  • POINTS
    1942–43 — Doug Bentley — 73
    1945–46 — Max Bentley — 61
    1946–47 — Max Bentley — 72
    1959–60 — Bobby Hull — 81
    1961–62 — Bobby Hull — 84*
    1963–64 — Stan Mikita — 89
    1964–65 — Stan Mikita — 87
    1965–66 — Bobby Hull — 97
    1966–67 — Stan Mikita — 97
    1967–68 — Stan Mikita — 87
    2015–16 — Patrick Kane — 106

    * Tied with another player

  • GOALS-AGAINST
    1931–32 — Charlie Gardiner — 1.85
    1934–35 — Lorne Chabot — 1.80
    1971–72 — Tony Esposito — 1.78
    1990–91 — Ed Belfour — 2.47

  • PLUS/MINUS
    No Blackhawk has led the NHL in the statistic

In the Stanley Cup Finals

The Hawks reached the Finals three times during the 1960s. This program is from the only season that they won. (Author’s Collection)

SEASON OPPONENT RESULT
1930–31 Montreal Canadiens Lost 2–3
1933–34 Detroit Red Wings Won 3–1
1937–38 Toronto Maple Leafs Won 3–1
1943–44 Montreal Canadiens Lost 0–4
1960–61 Detroit Red Wings Won 4–2
1961–62 Toronto Maple Leafs Lost 2–4
1964–65 Montreal Canadiens Lost 3–4
1970–71 Montreal Canadiens Lost 3–4
1972–73 Montreal Canadiens Lost 2–4
1991–92 Pittsburgh Penguins Lost 0–4
2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers Won 4–2
2012–13 Boston Bruins Won 4–2

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