It’s been around two and a half decades since the Chicago
Blackhawks single season record for goals, assists or points has been
re-written. The Blackhawks may not be the Edmonton Oilers or Pittsburgh
Penguins when it comes to these individual records, by the numbers are quite
respectable.
Most Goals – Bobby Hull
You have to go back to the year they put a man on the moon
for the record for most goals in a single season by a Chicago Blackhawks
player. Bobby Hull set the then National Hockey League record with 58 goals
during the 1968-69 season. He broke his own record of 54 goals set three years
earlier and his 58 would stand as the best ever for only two years. Phil
Esposito of the Boston Bruins shattered the mark with 76 goals during the
1970-71 season.
That year, 1968-69, Hull’s performance was the only
highlight of Chicago’s season. The team finished last in the six team Eastern
Division and out of the post season. Bobby finished second in the race for the
Art Ross Trophy, 19 points behind Esposito. Hull was selected the Left Winger
on the First All-Star Team.
Most Assists – Denis Savard
Denis Savard owns the record for the most assists by a
Blackhawk in a single season with 87 in 1981-82. He matched the total in
1987-88. Despite the fact that 87 assists is a Chicago record, the total was
good enough for just third place in 1981-82, behind Wayne Gretzky of the
Edmonton Oilers and Peter Stastny of the Quebec Nordiques. Chicago, despite
finishing fourth in the Norris Division with a lacklustre record of 30 wins, 38
losses and 12 ties for 72 points, made it through to the Conference finals in
the Stanley Cup playoffs before losing to the Vancouver Canucks.
In 1987-88, Savard was once again third in the league in the
assists category, this time behind Gretzky and Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh
Penguins. The team had a mediocre season, finishing third in the Norris with 69
points and making a quick first round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs at the
hands of the St. Louis Blues.
Most Points – Denis Savard
Denis Savard also holds the Chicago record for most points
in a single season. In 1987-88, Denis produced 131 points. It was his fifth and
final 100+ point season with the Blackhawks. Once more, his thunder was stolen
by Lemieux and Gretzky, who finished 1-2 in scoring with 168 and 149 points.
The 131 points ties Savard for the 41st highest single season point
total in NHL history.
Both of these gentlemen are members of the Hockey Hall of
Fame. Hull was inducted in 1983 and Savard entered in 2000. Bobby’s number 9
and Denis’ number 18 are two of only six Chicago
Blackhawks retired numbers. In the history of the Blackhawks, they are
among a select group with their accomplishments. Just Savard, Hull, Steve
Larmer and Jeremy Roenick have produced 100+ point seasons. Al Secord and
Jeremy Roenick are the only other two Chicago players to score 50 or more goals
in a single season.
