The Latest
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 10: The road stops in Detroit, but signals new beginning
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. Playoffs, check. Western Conference quarterfinals, check. Semifinals, check. After missing the playoffs a year ago, the Blackhawks found themselves among the final four teams standing in 2009 but were about to face their largest test yet. And it wasn’t just any test....
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 9: Memorable Canucks series
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. After eliminating the Calgary Flames in six games and securing their first playoff series win since 1995-96, the Blackhawks were on to the Western Conference semi-finals, where they would meet the Vancouver Canucks. And what a memorable series this would...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 8: Bring on the Flames
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. For the first time since 2002, the Blackhawks were back in the dance. They compiled 104 points during the 2008-09 season and secured home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. “The last time the Blackhawks made the playoffs...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 7: Winter Classic at Wrigley
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. Blackhawks. Red Wings. No two teams in NHL history have played each other more in the regular season than these two. It’s one of hockey’s most historic rivalries, but one that was one-sided during the 1990s and 2000s when the...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 6: Nine-game winning streak
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. After opening the year winless (0-2-1) and making an early season coaching change, the Blackhawks started to turn it around and played more consistent hockey under Joel Quenneville. But it took them a bit to really get going, finishing with...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 5: The Goalies
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. Every Stanley Cup contender needs to have strong goaltending. You simply can’t win without it. The Blackhawks shored up that position when they signed Nikolai Khabibulin to a four-year deal in 2005, but didn’t have the surrounding parts to go...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 4: Roster overview
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. Starting a dynasty means you have to identify a group of core players to build your team around. Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews were those guys, along with Marian Hossa, who joined that mix later...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 3: Denis Savard out, Joel Quenneville in
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. With Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews having established themselves as two of the game’s rising superstars during their rookie year, it was clear the Blackhawks were ready to take the next step into playoff contention. But after starting the 2008-09 season...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 2: Patrick Kane
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. One year after taking Jonathan Toews with the No. 3 overall pick, the Blackhawks picked first overall for the first time in franchise history and selected Patrick Kane. The fortunes of the franchise had changed. It was time for the...
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Start of the Blackhawks Dynasty, Part 1: Jonathan Toews
In a 10-part series, we look back at the 10-year anniversary of the 2008-09 season, the start of the Blackhawks dynasty. The Blackhawks’ dynasty may not have officially started until the 2008-09 season, but it began to form in 2006 when they were awarded the No. 3 overall pick after finishing the previous year with the third-fewest points. With it, they selected...