Top 25 Moments in Chicago Blackhawks History

As a member of the Original Six, the Chicago Blackhawks have a history steeped in tradition.

With that history comes moments of great historical significance as well as memories that leave a lasting impression on a devoted fanbase.

From Bobby Hull to Chris Chelios to Patrick Kane, superstars have played a huge role in shaping the identity of one of the most recognized franchises in all of sports.

With this in mind, determining the 25 top moments in Blackhawks' history is a hefty challenge, but one this list attempts to accomplish. 

The impact on hockey in general, the impact on Chicago and whether the moment led to Stanley Cup glory are the three main factors in solving this list.

With all that being said, enjoy this step back into Chicago Blackhawks history.

25. Kane and Toews Earn Back-to-Back Cover Spots

This is a fun moment and one of the few that actually occurs off the ice.

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews made history by becoming the first two athletes from the same team to earn back-to-back covers for the iconic EA Sports NHL franchise. Kane represented for NHL 10, while Toews followed in NHL 11.

As the sports world gets broadened into different aspects of life with video games, social media and fantasy games, the legacies of the athletes involved has also become more broadened.

It's funny to think that a younger fan might not know who Bobby Hull is and may never have seen Tony Amonte play, but they'll remember playing as Patrick Sharp or Marian Hossa on their PlayStation. That's one way the younger generation is building a history and association with their favorite teams and players.

Just as becoming the Madden cover athlete is a big deal, so is becoming the NHL cover athlete. As competitive gaming is growing and professional gamers are becoming as well idolized and loved as sports athletes, the crossover success of Kane and Toews will leave a lasting legacy in the industry.

However, the lack of direct impact on the game of hockey puts this at the bottom of the list.

24. Banana Blade Craze

Bobby Hull did a lot to change the game of hockey. One of the lesser known changes was something called the "banana blade."

The craze took the NHL world by storm in the 1960s, as Hull and teammate Stan Mikita fashioned sticks with extreme curves, which led to unpredictable shots that would give goaltenders fits.

Since many goalies didn't wear helmets at the time, the banana blade was deemed dangerous and the league eventually set the maximum curve of each blade to one-half inch.

This is a memorable moment in Chicago's history and NHL history because a player's pure dominance led to a rule change. Most fans were endeared by Hull's success with the Blackhawks, and the banana blade was just one of the stories people tell with the legend.

It's one of those fads or time periods in sports that people will always remember, and something that makes hockey so great. It's very similar to the Dock Ellis LSD game or Sammy Sosa's corked bat. Fans will remember that crazy time when the banana blades made goaltenders' lives miserable.

23. Amonte Gives Chicago Stadium Its Final Hoorah

At the end of the 1993-94 season, the legendary Chicago Stadium would close after 65 years of service to the team.

A perfect curtain call, in an opening-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago great Tony Amonte tallied four goals in a 5-4 Game 3 triumph for the home crowd.

What makes this moment so memorable for Blackhawks fans was it was seen as the end of something old and the start of something new.

Amonte was acquired in a trade earlier in the season and went on to have a great career with the Blackhawks. His great playoff game solidified the fanbase behind him.

Also, the game signaled the last great moment for Chicago Stadium before the team moved to its current home, the United Center. 

This treads low on this list because, while historically significant, there were better performances and bigger situations in Chicago history.

22. Mulvey Pots Five for Chicago Record

Grant Mulvey is a name lost in the past for some Blackhawks fans. Drafted 16th overall in the 1974 NHL draft, Mulvey had a few big moments for the team during his Chicago tenure.

One of those was a five-goal outburst against the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 3, 1982. He'd have seven points that game. Both still stand as team records.

What makes this moment so memorable is the fact that, despite having some of the best players to ever play the game, the five-goal mark has never been matched. This includes guys like all-time leading scorers Bobby Hull, Jeremy Roenick, Denis Savard and Tony Amonte. 

It's moments like this that endear players like Mulvey to a fanbase. Sometimes the best players accomplish so much that it's easy to lose track of all of their great moments. Can a Wayne Gretzky fan count every time he did something special? 

Especially in the midst of a Stanley Cup drought that would last 49 years, it's moments like a relatively unknown player scoring an unprecedented amount of goals that will live long in memory.

This moment ranks lower in this list because, while being a longstanding Chicago record, the goals lack the impact on the franchise of some of the higher-ranked entries.

(A video of Mulvey's goals couldn't be found. Instead, enjoy a clip of Mulvey and teammate Terry Ruskowski celebrating a score with an unreal handshake.)

21. Chris Chelios Delivers Overtime Magic...Twice

Repeat Norris Trophy winner Chris Chelios became the face of the Blackhawks through the '90s. That face was beaming during the 1994-95 playoffs.

In a conference semifinals sweep of the Vancouver Canucks, Chelios came up huge in two sudden death situations.

Both Game 3 and Game 4 ended with Chelios depositing a puck in the back of the net in overtime to secure victories for the Blackhawks.

The team would lose to the Detroit Red Wings in the conference finals.

For nearly a decade and a half, these moments with the 1994-95 team lived as the closest Chicago got to the Cup, with Chelios' improbable back-to-back overtime game-winners being a lasting memory for Blackhawks fans.

As always is the case and what this list will confirm, this was a Chicago legend making big plays on the biggest stage. Though Chelios and teammates like Jeremy Roenick couldn't win it all like Hull did before them and Kane and Toews did after, they still won over the fans of the city with moments like this.

This moment is low on the list because, while it's a great set of goals in critical spots, the Blackhawks ultimately came up short that season.

20. Perfect Game

There have been 23 perfect games in Major League Baseball history. In hockey, there's been just one.

In 1944 at legendary Chicago Stadium, the Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs skated to a 0-0 tie with no goals and no penalties called on either side. This is the only instance this has happened in NHL history. 

Digging deeper to show how incredible this is, the Blackhawks averaged 3.56 goals that season and 3.74 goals against.

Though there wasn't a reliable method to determine the average penalties surrendered per game during that time frame, to give an idea of how frequently penalties are called today, the Nashville Predators lead the league this season with the least amount of penalty minutes per game with 7.2 heading into Monday night's games.

What makes this such a memorable moment is the fact that it can never happen again. Under current NHL rules, a game can't end in a 0-0 tie because of the shootout. Even if the shootout were erased, with the abundance of penalties being called (as evidenced by the above statistic), it'd be nearly impossible to accomplish again.

This outranks the bottom portion of this list because of the sheer improbability of it ever happening again. While it's a noteworthy game, it ranks lower than most because of the lack of impact it had on Chicago's franchise.

19. Biggest Trade in Team History: One Hall of Famer for Another

All Chicago sports fans remember when Hall of Famer Denis Savard was traded for Chris Chelios.

The writing seemed to be on the wall for Savard, who clashed with head coach Mike Keenan. Many fans were upset about losing the future Hall of Famer, seeing Chelios as a downgrade in point production and not as skilled as Savard.

In the end, Chicago won the trade, as Chelios would help the team to a Stanley Cup Final appearance, a Presidents' Trophy and would earn two of his three Norris Trophies during his Blackhawks career. 

Ironically, Savard would rejoin Chicago in the 1994-95 season after being relatively ineffective in his time with the Canadiens, though he did win the Cup with the team in 1993.

This trade will go down as one of the biggest in team history and NHL history for sending two of the game's greatest of all time packing.

What ultimately leaves it down on this list is the fact that, while Chelios was a great player who made a large impact on the team, he could never lead them to the Stanley Cup.

18. Tony Esposito Sets Modern-Day Shutout Record with 15

Shutouts were more common in the early days of the NHL, as rules adjustments tried to counteract a boom in the early 1920s that saw nearly 10 goals scored a game. A lot of the all-time shutouts records belong to goaltenders during that time frame, with the best being 22 by George Hainsworth of the Montreal Canadiens. 

Esposito's magic 1969-70 season of 15 shutouts was a memorable one for those who got to witness it, simply because it has never been duplicated in the modern era. This, despite the fact that conditions today are very conducive for such a feat. Most also forget that this was Esposito's rookie season.

Especially over the last 20 years, the NHL has had its share of great defensive teams, the introduction of the a defined trap and some of the best goaltenders of all time.

Think of guys like Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist, Dominik Hasek and Patrick Roy. None of those goaltenders has been able to accrue more shutouts in a season than Esposito. These goaltenders played in what is called the "Dead Puck Era," a time that goal scoring was down immensely. Some even believe the league is returning to the second of such eras with a recent dip in scoring.

Esposito's shutout efforts that season, without being covered like a knight in large, bulky armor like today's goalies, are some of the best moments in Chicago history and rank him in the top 20 on this list. 

17. 1990-91 Chicago Blackhawks: The Champion That Never Was

The Chicago Blackhawks have had a lot of great teams that never won a Stanley Cup. Perhaps the one that thrilled fans most was the 1990-91 edition of the franchise.

Star power was abundant on that squad. To put things in perspective, at one point Dominik Hasek backed Ed Belfour in net. That's one hockey Hall of Famer backing up another hockey Hall of Famer. What a duo that is, right?

Steve Larmer, who tallied 1,012 points in his NHL career, led the team with 101 points, with Jeremy Roenick, a man who should be a Hall of Famer, racking up 41 goals and 94 points behind him. 

Hall of Famer Chris Chelios secured the blue line with Doug Wilson and Dave Manson providing formidable backup.

That's not even including guys like Michel Goulet and Steve Thomas, who were integral to the team's success.

This was the first Blackhawks team to win the Presidents' Trophy for having the league's best record at 49-23-8.

Though they eventually fell to the Minnesota North Stars in the conference semifinals, fans will look back fondly on the exciting team that could have or maybe should have won it all. 

16. Blackhawks Reach Finals for First Time in 19 Years

The disappointment of the 1990-91 Blackhawks squad bred a new hunger for the team the following year. It accomplished what it set out to do, reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in nearly 20 years. 

Though the team ultimately came up short in its goal, facing the buzz saw of a Mario Lemieux Penguins team that won back-to-back titles, the excitement of a legitimate Stanley Cup contender gave new heroes to a city that yearned for the title contenders of the late 1960s and early 1970s. 

Hull and Mikita were replaced with talk of Chelios and Roenick. Belfour was in net, and the excitement was back in Chicago Stadium, especially with a guy by the name of Michael Jordan playing during the Blackhawks' off days.

15. Hossa Finally Picks the Right Team

Elise Amendola/AP Photos

There are many memorable stories and moments that surrounded the Blackhawks' 2009-10 Stanley Cup victory, their first in 49 years.

Probably the most intriguing, feel-good story was that of Marian Hossa.

Two seasons prior, Hossa was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Atlanta Thrashers. The Penguins roared to the 2007-08 Stanley Cup Final, but would lose to the Detroit Red Wings.

Hossa desired to win the Cup more than anything else, signing with the defending champion Red Wings the following season at a discount.

Hossa's hopes were again dashed as the Penguins won a rematch with Detroit, snatching the 2008-09 Cup away from Hossa.

A year later, Hossa would sign a 12-year deal with the Blackhawks, the young team his Red Wings bumped out of the Western Conference Finals the season prior.

An important cog, Hossa would tally 15 playoff points in 22 games and finally raise the Cup with Chicago.

At the time, there wasn't a fan that didn't know Hossa's situation. While he drew the ire of Pittsburgh and Detroit supporters, some wishing he would fail again, his victory was a moment many appreciated for an athlete who ultimately cared more for winning than money.

His unique case and ultimate victory is a moment and circumstance that make Hossa a vivid memory for many Chicago fans during that magical Cup run.

14. Hull Makes History with 51st Goal

Before Bobby Hull, scoring 50 goals in the NHL was a rare feat. Only two other players had accomplished the task, Maurice "Rocket" Richard in 1944-45 and Bernie Geoffrion in 1960-61, each with 50.

Until Hull, nobody had scored more than 50. That all changed on March 12, 1966 (see video above), when Hull scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season. He'd finish the year with 54.

What makes the moment so memorable is not only the fact Hull was the first player to ever hit 51 goals in a season, but also for Norm Jary's historic call of the event.

Similar to the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in baseball, Jary's call is a constant in the minds of Chicago fans who either witnessed it happen at the time or were told the tale later in life. While most average hockey fans won't recall the significance of Jary's call, they can still recognize it when it's played in replays and tributes. That's the sign of a lasting memory.

Along with the iconic call, what makes this moment so memorable is it's the goal most attributed to the Blackhawks' greatest scorer of all time. Hull finished his career with Chicago with 604 goals, more than 60 ahead of Stan Mikita on the team's all-time list.

This ranks high on the historical significance of the goal and the player involved.

13. Hull Becomes Only Blackhawks Player to Reach 600 Goals with Team

There are only 18 players in NHL history to score at least 600 goals. During the 1971-72 season, Hull became one of them.

In his NHL career, Hull would score 610 goals, becoming the only player to score 600 goals for Chicago. His son, Brett, ranks third all time with 741.

Still, most consider Bobby to be the better player, with this 600th goal cementing him as possibly the greatest Blackhawks player of all time.

Most fans will remember this moment as Hull's curtain call with the Blackhawks and one of the last legitimate chances the team had at winning a Stanley Cup for a long time. The next year, Hull would join the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association.

In his final season with Chicago, Hull scored 50 goals and had a career-best plus-54 rating.

It's been done only 18 times, so Hull's 600th ranks highly because of that reason alone.

12. First Is Always the Sweetest

The 1933-34 Blackhawks captured the first Stanley Cup in franchise history with a 1-0 victory in Game 4 of a best-of-five series with the Detroit Red Wings.

It's very difficult to say this is a memorable moment, as the majority of hockey fans today weren't alive during the time. The historical significance of this victory being the first for the team is what makes it a great moment in Chicago history.

The Blackhawks have been blessed with five Stanley Cup victories in the franchise's history. Sometimes getting the first is harder than most anything. Taking a look at the 31 other NHL teams currently in existence, 12 have never won a Stanley Cup.

Longevity and winning make history into a tradition. The Blackhawks have both, and they have the early success of the 1933-34 team to thank.

11. Hawks Win Their Second Stanley Cup

Like the Blackhawks' first Stanley Cup, most fans won't remember back to 1938 when the team won their second crown against the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 in Game 4 of a best-of-five series.

What most fans don't realize is just how bad this Blackhawks team was during the regular season, finishing 14-25-9 under coach Bill Stewart.

What the NHL has taught its fans through the years is that the team with the best record doesn't always win the Cup.

Parity can be a good thing and a bad thing. In no sport is that more obvious than hockey, especially in the current system in the NHL where half the teams in the league get into the playoffs.

This Chicago team will be remembered for getting the job done only when it mattered. In ways, the hope of every eighth seed (the Los Angeles Kings a few season ago being a more recent memory) should be inspired by a long forgotten Chicago team that put it all together in the end. 

While both these Cup wins might not be as memorable as Hull's goals or some of the team's performances through the Cup drought, winning means everything. It should be no shock that Cup wins, or moves that led to Cup wins, will dominant the top portion of this list.

10. Jonathan Toews Is Drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks

There may not be a more underrated player in the NHL to this day. Jonathan Toews was the last of three great players drafted with the top three picks of the 2006 NHL draft.

Erik Johnson, a solid defender, went first overall to the Blues; Jordan Staal, younger brother of superstar Eric, went to the Penguins; and the Blackhawks were "stuck" with Toews as the third overall pick.

Early on, it looked like Pittsburgh got the best pick, as Staal was integral to the team's 2008-09 Stanley Cup victory.

Eventually, the cream rose to the top.

Just a year later, Toews, as captain, led his team to its first Stanley Cup in 49 years, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process. His leadership and maturity at an early age helped the Blackhawks win the ultimate prize again just three years later.

The moment Toews was drafted will be one many fans didn't see (not everyone watches the draft), but one they'll certainly be grateful for.

He's the perfect captain, the perfect leader and ended up being one of the most important picks in team history.

Combined with the edgy personality of Patrick Kane, Toews' calm demeanor is the perfect mix of dynamism and talent.

Chicago gives the Blues and Penguins many thanks.

9. It's Kane! It's Kane!

Patrick Kane made an instant impact after being drafted first overall by the Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL draft, as he won the Calder Trophy for the league's best rookie with 21 goals and 72 points in his first season.

However, despite being one of the best forwards in the league, it's Kane's impact on Chicago's recent postseason successes that makes his selection such a memorable moment.

Many of his greatest moments will be featured later in this list. So, they won't be spoiled here.

For all the big-time moments that get attributed to players like Sidney Crosby around the league, it's arguable that Kane has had just as many, if not more, to help his team win big games.

The moment Kane was drafted was so huge, because it completed the duo of Kane and Toews that has brought such success to Chicago. The two have makings of one of the best combinations of all time.

8. It's a Win, but the Long Wait Begins

There's good and bad to the Blackhawks' 1960-61 Stanley Cup win.

The good obviously was the team had clinched its third Stanley Cup with a 5-1 Game 6 victory against the Detroit Red Wings.

The bad is it took 49 years for the franchise to win another one.

It's the combination of the good and the bad that make the 1960-61 team so memorable.

For fans latching onto the good times, they looked back on the last Cup team fondly. That's where their best memories were for a very long time. Similar to a New York Rangers fan looking back on the 1993-94 season or a Philadelphia Flyers fan looking to the team's back-to-back Cup wins of the mid-'70s, Chicago fans had to go deep in the memory bank to recall the team's last great success. For another example, look no further than the Chicago Cubs.

As the years go by, the memory of Bobby Hull, Glenn Hall, Bill Hay and the other players from that 1960-61 team became almost larger than life, and memories and fondness for the time period grew with every Chicago fan. 

It's a Cup win, so it makes its way in the top 10.

7. Chicago Goes Half a Season Without Losing in Regulation

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

In a lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, the Blackhawks proved they were ready to play hockey.

Chicago captured the attention of the entire league as it rushed out of the gates, going 24 games without a regulation loss.

What makes this moment in time so impressive is the fact that there was no training camp and no time to prepare, yet Chicago was able to make it through half of its 48-game schedule without a regulation loss on the board.  It really showcased how well run the organization is and how the veteran stars were able to click so well with each other.

"It was great. We talked about it a lot. We played so well as a team," goaltender Corey Crawford said of the streak to Rick Sadowski on the team's official website. "Everyone in the lineup was playing hard every night, but it's over. We just have to worry about the next one."

Crawford was a key cog for the team that season, compiling a .926 save percentage and a meager 1.94 goals-against average.

The Blackhawks would go on to win the Stanley Cup.

6. Kane's First Hat Trick Sets Stage for Playoff Heroics

Any team, any potential dynasty with budding superstars witnesses a certain progression and development through the years.

Wayne Gretzky and the great Edmonton Oilers teams from the 1980s first had to fail in the 1982-83 Stanley Cup Final to a dynasty in the New York Islanders before they knew what it took to win it all.

More recently, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins had to lose in the 2007-08 Stanley Cup Final to the veteran Detroit Red Wings before winning the Cup in a rematch the next year.

Along the way, there were signs and moments letting the hockey world know these marquee players and teams had what it took to take the Cup in due time.

For the Blackhawks, that moment came just a year before they won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.

It was Game 6 of the 2008-09 Western Conference semifinals against the Vancouver Canucks, and Patrick Kane recorded his first career hat trick in a 7-5 victory that sent the Canucks packing. Though the Blackhawks would lose in the next round, the momentum and confidence gained from the experience was invaluable to future seasons.

This memory is so important to Chicago because it provided a prelude to the big-game heroics of Kane and the championships to follow.

5. Toews Regains Composure to Lead Team to Series Victory

Superstars can get frustrated from time to time. This was the case for Jonathan Toews during the 2012-13 Cup run. Toews saw himself in a playoff scoring slump and his team on the verge of trailing the Red Wings 3-1 in a best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals matchup.

The frustrated Toews acted uncharacteristically during his team's 2-0 Game 4 loss, committing three penalties and letting his frustrations out the wrong way.

As a true champion does, Toews rebounded, responding with his first goal in 10 playoff games in a 4-1 Game 5 victory. As they say, the rest is history. 

Most will remember this moment for the backlash against the team's captain, this man associated with being a model of maturity and composure. Toews was the talk of the hockey world for all the wrong reasons.

The moment of his Game 5 goal will be remembered as the time he grew as a player and true leader, raising his team up from the brink of elimination and leading his fellow players further playoff success.

Though the Blackhawks had faced adversity through Toews' playing career, this may have been the first time the captain faced personal adversity on such a large scale. He quieted all the doubters who were quick to judge him after Game 4. 

To come back from a 3-1 deficit against a Mike Babcock-coached team makes the feat all the more impressive.   

4. Kane Comes Up Heroic Again in Playoffs, Becomes Superstar

It's hard to keep Patrick Kane from taking up every single spot on this list. The man comes up big in nearly every situation when the Stanley Cup playoffs begin.

There was a real chance that the Nashville Predators would advance in their 2009-10 opening-round matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks. With the series tied 2-2, the Predators were winning Game 5 4-3 with the man advantage and under a minute left.

Then, with 14 seconds remaining, Kane found himself in the right place at the right time, pouncing on a loose puck and securing the game-tying goal.

Most fans will remember Hossa's overtime winner that followed, but Kane's goal, in the most dire of circumstances, quite possibly saved the season and the Stanley Cup ride the Blackhawks went on. If this goal doesn't happen, maybe the Blackhawks don't grow into a team that can consistently win it all. Maybe 49 years becomes 53.

There are moments when stars become superstars. In those dwindling seconds of Game 5, Kane reached superstardom.

3) Hossa Wins Overtime Thriller on Way to the Cup

If Kane's goal from the same game is on this list, so should Hossa's.

Even though Kane's goal took the team to overtime, the Blackhawks still had to kill off the tail end of a five-minute boarding major.

In perhaps the greatest sign of destiny, Hossa scored seconds after the penalty was over, lifting Chicago to a 5-4 overtime triumph in Game 5.

After that, what possible chance did the Predators have in the series?

As stated before, this goal often overshadows Kane's shorthanded tally to tie it. It being the game-winning marker and the one most fans remember, it gets booted up over the Kane goal on this list. 

2. Chicago Wins Second Cup in Three Years; Prove Team to Beat This Decade

The fans of Chicago had to wait 49 years between Stanley Cup wins. After the team took the 2009-10 championship, the city didn't have to wait that long for another one. The lockout-shortened 2012-13 season was fruitful for the Blackhawks, who captured their second Stanley Cup in a three-year stretch.

As was the case with the team's Stanley Cup win three years prior, a bit of drama was on tap for a finals clash with the Boston Bruins.

Trailing 2-1 in Game 6, the Blackhawks scored two goals with just under two minutes remaining in the third period to win the game, 3-2, and raise the Cup. It was an amazing comeback in hostile territory, which makes the victory all the sweeter.

This win is memorable for putting Chicago at the top of the pack as the team of the decade. In what was no surprise in a lockout-shortened season, the four previous Cup winners were the final four teams left in the postseason—the Blackhawks, Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings. Chicago reigned over all. 

With the Los Angeles Kings winning another Cup last season, the Blackhawks will no doubt be looking to retake their title as the definitive team of the decade.

1. Chicago Ends 49-Year Wait

Did it go in? What just happened? Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane began celebrating with his teammates after a weak shot somehow made its way behind Philadelphia Flyers goalie Michael Leighton.

The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia was deathly silent as the realization set in. The city of Chicago was the opposite, as a 49-year-old cloud was removed from above the city.

The Chicago Blackhawks had won their first Stanley Cup in nearly 50 years. It was this anticlimactic shot by Kane in overtime that sealed the deal in Game 6 of the 2009-10 Stanley Cup Final. The final score of the game was 4-3, one that will be etched in the memory of every Blackhawks fan. 

The long drought between Cup wins ranks this moment at the top of this list. Generations of Chicago fans had waited for this moment, but some will say the end result was well worth the wait

All statistics courtesy of NHL.com, unless otherwise noted.