1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 43rd season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a 4th-place finish in the East Division in 1967–68, as they earned 80 points, and qualified for the post-season for the tenth consecutive season. The Black Hawks then upset the second place New York Rangers in the NHL quarter-finals, before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in five games in the NHL semi-finals.[1] But this season, the Blackhawks missed the postseason for the last time until 1998.

1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks
Division6th East
1968–69 record34–33–9
Home record20–14–4
Road record14–19–5
Goals for280
Goals against246
Team information
General managerTommy Ivan
CoachBilly Reay
CaptainVacant
ArenaChicago Stadium
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (58)
AssistsStan Mikita (67)
PointsBobby Hull (107)
Penalty minutesGilles Marotte (120)
Plus/minusPat Stapleton and Gilles Marotte (+23)
WinsDenis DeJordy (22)
Goals against averageDenis DeJordy (3.14)

Offseason

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The NHL announced during the summer that the league would once again increase its schedule, as it went from 74 games to 76.

During the off-season, the Black Hawks traded team captain Pierre Pilote to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Jim Pappin. Pilote had been the captain since the 1961–62 season, and head coach Billy Reay decided to not name a captain for the club for the season.

Regular season

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The Black Hawks would start the season off on the right foot, beginning the year with a four-game winning streak, however, the team would eventually fall into a slump, and sit with a 6–6–0 record twelve games in. Chicago would then get hot again, and eventually found themselves a season high eight games over .500 during their streak, and found themselves in a heated playoff race with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings for the fourth and final playoff position in the East. The Hawks would then fall into a slump, as they had winless streaks of five games and eight games, to fall out of the race, and into the cellar of the East Division. Chicago would end the year with an over .500 record, as they were 34–33–9, earning 77 points, however, the team finished in last, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1957–58.[2]

Offensively, the Hawks were led by Bobby Hull, who once again set an NHL record for goals in a season, as he scored 58 times, and he became the second player in league history to record 100 points, as he finished the season with 107 points, which was second in league scoring. Stan Mikita had another excellent season also, scoring 30 goals and earning 97 points as he finished fourth in NHL scoring. Newly acquired Jim Pappin fit right in, scoring 30 goals and 70 points. Kenny Wharram and Dennis Hull also scored 30 goals to give the Hawks five players with 30+ goals in the season. Pat Stapleton led the defense with 56 points, while Gilles Marotte led the team with 120 penalty minutes, and tied Stapleton with the team lead in plus/minus, with a +23.

In goal, Denis DeJordy saw most of the action, playing in 53 games, earning a team high 22 victories, and a team best 3.14 GAA, along with 2 shutouts.[3] Backup Dave Dryden played well, earning 11 victories, while earning a team best 3 shutouts.[4]

Season standings

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East Division[5]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens 76 46 19 11 271 202 +69 103
2 Boston Bruins 76 42 18 16 303 221 +82 100
3 New York Rangers 76 41 26 9 231 196 +35 91
4 Toronto Maple Leafs 76 35 26 15 234 217 +17 85
5 Detroit Red Wings 76 33 31 12 239 221 +18 78
6 Chicago Black Hawks 76 34 33 9 280 246 +34 77

Record vs. opponents

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Game log

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 11 St. Louis Blues 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks 1–0–0 2
2 October 13 New York Rangers 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0–0 4
3 October 16 Minnesota North Stars 4–10 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0–0 6
4 October 19 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–0–0 8
5 October 20 Oakland Seals 4–3 Chicago Black Hawks 4–1–0 8
6 October 23 Chicago Black Hawks 8–5 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–1–0 10
7 October 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Detroit Red Wings 5–2–0 10
8 October 30 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Los Angeles Kings 6–2–0 12
9 November 1 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Oakland Seals 6–3–0 12
10 November 3 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 Boston Bruins 6–4–0 12
11 November 6 Detroit Red Wings 6–5 Chicago Black Hawks 6–5–0 12
12 November 10 New York Rangers 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 6–6–0 12
13 November 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–6 Chicago Black Hawks 7–6–0 14
14 November 14 Chicago Black Hawks 6–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 8–6–0 16
15 November 16 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 8–7–0 16
16 November 17 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–1 Chicago Black Hawks 8–7–1 17
17 November 20 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0 Minnesota North Stars 9–7–1 19
18 November 23 Chicago Black Hawks 0–1 St. Louis Blues 9–8–1 19
19 November 24 Minnesota North Stars 0–6 Chicago Black Hawks 10–8–1 21
20 November 27 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 New York Rangers 11–8–1 23
21 November 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Chicago Black Hawks 11–9–1 23
22 December 1 Montreal Canadiens 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 11–10–1 23
23 December 4 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 St. Louis Blues 11–10–2 24
24 December 7 Chicago Black Hawks 3–6 Montreal Canadiens 11–11–2 24
25 December 8 Boston Bruins 4–7 Chicago Black Hawks 12–11–2 26
26 December 11 St. Louis Blues 3–6 Chicago Black Hawks 13–11–2 28
27 December 14 Chicago Black Hawks 5–10 Boston Bruins 13–12–2 28
28 December 15 Oakland Seals 4–7 Chicago Black Hawks 14–12–2 30
29 December 18 Chicago Black Hawks 3–1 New York Rangers 15–12–2 32
30 December 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–0 Detroit Red Wings 16–12–2 34
31 December 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 17–12–2 36
32 December 25 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–3 Chicago Black Hawks 17–13–2 36
33 December 28 Chicago Black Hawks 5–2 Minnesota North Stars 18–13–2 38
34 December 29 Los Angeles Kings 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 19–13–2 40
35 January 1 Detroit Red Wings 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 20–13–2 42
36 January 2 Chicago Black Hawks 2–2 Philadelphia Flyers 20–13–3 43
37 January 4 Chicago Black Hawks 6–3 Montreal Canadiens 21–13–3 45
38 January 5 Montreal Canadiens 4–2 Chicago Black Hawks 21–14–3 45
39 January 8 St. Louis Blues 1–3 Chicago Black Hawks 22–14–3 47
40 January 11 Chicago Black Hawks 1–6 St. Louis Blues 22–15–3 47
41 January 12 Los Angeles Kings 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks 23–15–3 49
42 January 15 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Oakland Seals 23–16–3 49
43 January 16 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3 Los Angeles Kings 23–17–3 49
44 January 18 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Montreal Canadiens 23–18–3 49
45 January 23 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks 23–18–4 50
46 January 25 Chicago Black Hawks 0–3 New York Rangers 23–19–4 50
47 January 26 Los Angeles Kings 3–9 Chicago Black Hawks 24–19–4 52
48 January 30 Chicago Black Hawks 12–0 Philadelphia Flyers 25–19–4 54
49 February 1 Chicago Black Hawks 5–5 Minnesota North Stars 25–19–5 55
50 February 2 Montreal Canadiens 6–4 Chicago Black Hawks 25–20–5 55
51 February 5 Boston Bruins 7–2 Chicago Black Hawks 25–21–5 55
52 February 6 Chicago Black Hawks 1–6 Detroit Red Wings 25–22–5 55
53 February 8 Detroit Red Wings 3–1 Chicago Black Hawks 25–23–5 55
54 February 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 25–24–5 55
55 February 11 Chicago Black Hawks 3–7 Boston Bruins 25–25–5 55
56 February 12 Philadelphia Flyers 3–3 Chicago Black Hawks 25–25–6 56
57 February 15 Chicago Black Hawks 3–0 Philadelphia Flyers 26–25–6 58
58 February 16 Boston Bruins 1–5 Chicago Black Hawks 27–25–6 60
59 February 19 Chicago Black Hawks 2–5 Oakland Seals 27–26–6 60
60 February 20 Chicago Black Hawks 6–2 Los Angeles Kings 28–26–6 62
61 February 22 Chicago Black Hawks 4–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 29–26–6 64
62 February 26 Chicago Black Hawks 3–5 New York Rangers 29–27–6 64
63 February 27 Chicago Black Hawks 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins 29–28–6 64
64 March 2 Chicago Black Hawks 1–2 Toronto Maple Leafs 29–29–6 64
65 March 3 Minnesota North Stars 1–6 Chicago Black Hawks 30–29–6 66
66 March 5 New York Rangers 4–4 Chicago Black Hawks 30–29–7 67
67 March 12 Oakland Seals 4–1 Chicago Black Hawks 30–30–7 67
68 March 15 Chicago Black Hawks 1–3 Montreal Canadiens 30–31–7 67
69 March 16 Philadelphia Flyers 2–6 Chicago Black Hawks 31–31–7 69
70 March 19 Montreal Canadiens 5–2 Chicago Black Hawks 31–32–7 69
71 March 20 Chicago Black Hawks 5–5 Boston Bruins 31–32–8 70
72 March 22 Boston Bruins 5–3 Chicago Black Hawks 31–33–8 70
73 March 23 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–4 Chicago Black Hawks 32–33–8 72
74 March 26 New York Rangers 4–6 Chicago Black Hawks 33–33–8 74
75 March 29 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Detroit Red Wings 33–33–9 75
76 March 30 Detroit Red Wings 5–9 Chicago Black Hawks 34–33–9 77

Season stats

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Scoring leaders

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Player GP G A Pts PIM
Bobby Hull 74 58 49 107 48
Stan Mikita 74 30 67 97 52
Jim Pappin 75 30 40 70 49
Kenny Wharram 76 30 39 69 19
Dennis Hull 72 30 34 64 25

Goaltending

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Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA
Denis DeJordy 53 2981 22 22 7 156 2 3.14
Dave Dryden 30 1479 11 11 2 79 3 3.20
Jack Norris 3 100 1 0 0 10 0 6.00

Draft picks

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Chicago's draft picks at the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 9 John Marks   Canada University of North Dakota (NCAA)

References

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  1. ^ 1967–68 NHL Season Summary – Hockey-Reference.com
  2. ^ 1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks Games – Hockey-Reference.com
  3. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Denis Dejordy". Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  4. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks goaltending history : Dave Dryden". Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  5. ^ "1968–1969 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

Sources

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