How a 19 Year Old Saved a Dying Franchise…

In February 2004, a grim milestone was reached when ESPN named the Chicago Blackhawks the worst franchise in professional sports. The once-proud team had become a symbol of apathy and frustration for Chicagoans throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, some of it had to do with the teams stanley cup drought which was nearing 45 years. but much of it was due to the controversial policies of owner Bill Wirtz, known disparagingly as “Dollar Bill.” His decision to block local broadcasts of home games—claiming it was unfair to season ticket holders—alienated the fanbase. Coupled with steep ticket prices for a team who on their absolute best night might have been a solid product in the American hockey league the ticket prices were among the highest in the NHL at the time, it seemed Wirtz was driving a wedge between the team and its city.
Things were so embarrassing As the Blackhawks stumbled, they even had the nearby Chicago Wolves, an AHL team based in Rosemont, Illinois, mocking them with their biting marketing slogan: “We Play Hockey the Old-Fashioned Way: We Actually Win.” It was a painful jab at a team that once commanded respect but had now become a shadow of its former self.
In the wake of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, a glimmer of change appeared. New general manager Dale Tallon took the reins, determined to rebuild and restore the franchise to its former glory. The summer of 2005 brought hope, as Tallon made bold moves, signing Nikolai Khabibulin who was fresh off a stanley cup win and All-Star defenseman Adrian Aucoin. Yet, the optimism was short-lived. Injuries ravaged both key acquisitions, and the Blackhawks endured another dismal season, finishing with a 26–43–13 record—second-worst in the league and next-to-last in the Western Conference.
May 16, 2006, marked another blow when the beloved voice of the Blackhawks, Pat Foley, was let go after 25 years with the team, a decision that outraged fans. Foley’s departure to the Wolves only deepened the rift between the Blackhawks and their supporters.
Yet, amid the darkness, a faint flicker of hope began to emerge in 2006—a sign that perhaps the franchise’s long fall from grace could still be reversed….
#hockey #nhl #chicagoblackhawks #jonathantoews #toews
#blackhawks #hockeycanada #hockeydoc #minidocumentary

48 comments

  11. It's always so weird to me that massive markets like Chicago and Pittsburgh have trouble filling the stands when they don't have top level talent, despite all the cups they've won

  14. His goal against Colorado made me renounce my hometown Flames red for Blackhawks red, I had the centre ice package and marvelled at that goal, no Flame did anything exciting like that, not even Iggy. That goal vs Van where he willed it coast to coast to send it in overtime in game 7, stayed with me all offseason. They had no business being in game 7 vs how good that Vancouver team was that year.

  15. I agree with pretty much everything thats being said about him..but it helps having a guy nicknamed showtime playing with you, marian hossa who was a top 10 forward during his Chicago day's, brandon saad,duncan keith,corey Crawford, Patrick sharpe ect in their prime. Coupled with excellent role players. Point being he had a great team to lead along with great players and it came together beautifully his fingerprints were all over that team and with him leading the way it catipulted the blackhawks to greatness. 3 cups in 5 years and if not for the kings historic 14 playoff run and game 7 OT win in Chicago in conference finals it would've been 4..they also made conference finals in 09..really impressive run.

  21. My man, great video. Much like you I attribute my love of hockey to Tazer, wanted to play like him, emulate his style, and be a leader. Undoubtedly my favorite player on the Hawks. He, along with all the other greats in the 2010s made my childhood a dream.

  33. Toews is a classic example of just how dominant a player can be without being a 100 point scorer. His importance to the Blackhawks and to those 3 Stanley cups cannot be measured in just offensive output. His ability on the Faceoff, his steller defensive game, his leadership on the ice and in the locker room, all those little things that make a true champion. I truly hope he gets a job in the Blackhawks front office. I don't want his time with the Blackhawks to be done. Chicago needs Jonathan Toews.

  37. This video is beautiful… I hope someone from the hawks org can explain his crazy decline because i dont believe "long" covid.. and if so… its just so disappointing. As a fan if you asked me who was the last cup player on the team I woulda sworn toews/kane, not a teuvo free agency singing lol

  38. Patrick Kane saved that franchise. 🇺🇲 only reason he's getting slurped is because hes Canadian. Bet he did nothing about Kyle Beach. Just like the rest of those scumbags. Your first game was after that Stanley Cup? Fairweather ass blackhawks fans. Blaming the owner of course. Not his fault nobody in Chicago gives a shit about hockey until they win. Hope they never get back.

  39. Parents went to North Dakota. WE heard he was special from family, WE saw he was special at the frozen four 2 years in a row. His college hockey line might have been among thee best ever. Oshi, Toews, Ryan Duncan. Because Oshi and Toews played in Worlds, Duncan won the Hobey Baker.
    First game my family went to was Hawks vrs Penguins. Toews scored 3 goals(4 if one wasn't disallowed)… On helmet night. Given a hat prior to a hat trick… Thanks to the disallowed goal there were 2 -10 min interruptions.
    I have been going to Hawks games with my sister ever since.
    Prediction, Toews will announce his retirement when Kane retires. On the Hawks the two were the face and heart of the team. They want to go to the HoF together.

  45. I remember watching his first seasons and that first Stanley Cup run at my friend’s house since his dad was a cop and did security at the UC during games. That dynasty really became part of the lives of Chicagoans.

  46. Great player, sadly his comments on the how the executives handled the Kyle Beach situation changed my opinion of him as a human. Good people don't cover up or ignore blatant sexual misconduct. Period.

Leave a Reply