Chicago Blackhawks

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Blackhawks' original owner was Frederic McLaughlin, a "hands-on" owner who fired many coaches during his ownership and led the team to win two Stanley Cup titles in 1934 and 1938. After McLaughlin's death in 1944, the team came under the ownership of the Norris family, who acted as their landlord as owners of the Chicago Stadium, and also owned stakes in several of the NHL teams. At first, the Norris ownership was as part of a syndicate fronted by longtime executive Bill Tobin, and the team languished in favor of the Norris-owned Detroit Red Wings. After the senior James E. Norris died in 1952, the Norris assets were spread among family members, and James D. Norris became the owner of the Blackhawks. The younger Norris took an active interest in the team, which won another Stanley Cup title under his ownership in 1961. After James D. Norris died in 1966, the Wirtz family became owners of the franchise. In 2007, the team came under the control of Rocky Wirtz, who is credited with turning around the organization, which had lost fan interest and competitiveness; under Wirtz, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times, in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Rocky died in July 2023, and his son, Danny Wirtz, was named chairman of the Blackhawks.

In Their Own Story

On June 26, 1999, the narrative shifted dramatically at the NHL entry draft. Brian Burke, acting as the general manager for the Vancouver Canucks, executed a trade that sent Bryan McCabe and a future first-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks. In return, Chicago handed over their own 1999 first-round selection. This move was not merely a roster shuffle but a calculated maneuver; the acquired picks allowed the Black Hawks to select Daniel Sedin second overall and Henrik Sedin third overall. McCabe played his final games in Vancouver before this exchange, arriving in Chicago with high expectations. However, his stay lasted only until the following season's trade deadline period. By October 2, 2000, after contributing 6 goals and 25 points in the 1999–2000 season, McCabe was dealt again, this time to Toronto, closing his short chapter with Chicago.

Reader's Guide

The Black Hawks began play in the 1926–27 season, along with its fellow expansion franchises, the Detroit Cougars (now the Detroit Red Wings) and New York Rangers. The team had to face immediate competition in Chicago from Eddie Livingstone's rival, the Chicago Cardinals, who played in the same building. McLaughlin took a very active role in running the team despite having no background in the sport. He hired Bill Tobin, a former goaltender who had played in the Western League, as his assistant, but directed the team himself. He was also very interested in promoting American players, then very rare in professional hockey. Several of them, including Doc Romnes, Taffy Abel, Alex Levinsky, Mike Karakas, and Cully Dahlstrom, become staples with the team, and under McLaughlin, the Black Hawks were the first NHL team with an all-American-born lineup.

Did You Know?

• The Blackhawks' name was spelled as two words, "Black Hawks," until 1986, when the club officially became the "Blackhawks" based on the spelling found in the original franchise documents.
• The team was named after the "Blackhawk Division," a military unit in which owner Frederic McLaughlin served during World War I.
• The 1937–38 Black Hawks possess the poorest regular season record of any Stanley Cup champion.