1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks season



The 1968–69 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 43rd season in the NHL. The Hawks finished 6th in the East Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Off-season
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.

Pre-season
The Black Hawks held their training camp in Chicago.

Regular Season
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.

The December 14, 1968 Boston-Chicago game saw four different Bruins score 4 points and Bobby Orr net his first career hat trick (and 5 points) as Boston thumped Chicago 10-5. Having started 19 games in a row, Gerry Cheevers was pulled with 8:56 to go and backup Joe Junkin played in his only NHL game. Junkin held the fort and shutout Chicago for the remainder of the match. A major development during this game would affect the Bruins for the next decade. Tom Williams, an offensive bright spot for the Bruins for the last seven seasons, suffered a season-ending left knee injury during the first shift of the game when kneed by Howie Young. Wayne Cashman would win a regular spot in the line-up with Williams' injury.

On March 20, 1969 in Boston, the Bruins jumped out to a four goal lead against Chicago when Derek Sanderson scored a shorthanded goal early in the second period. Dennis Hull and Jim Pappin scored goals less than a minute apart to cut the Bruins lead to 4-2 heading into the third period. After former Bruin Doug Mohns pulled Chicago within one, Bobby Hull fired in two goals 13 second apart on the power play. These were his 54th and 55th goals of the season, setting a new NHL goal record. The Bruins fans gave Hull a standing ovation. Pulling Gerry Cheevers for an extra attacker, Bobby Orr tipped in Fred Stanfield's point shot with a second left to salvage a 5-5 tie. It was Orr's 21st goal of the season, scored on his 21st birthday, breaking the record for defensemen set by Flash Hollett.

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. Backup Dave Dryden played well, earning 11 victories, while earning a team best 3 shutouts.

Playoffs

 * The Black Hawks did not qualify for the post season.

Awards and Records

 * Bobby Hull, Left Wing, NHL First Team All-Star

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

Trivia

 * Black Hawks who recorded a hat trick this season include:
 * Jim Pappin during the 10-4 win over the Minnesota North Stars on October 16, 1968.
 * Bobby Hull during the 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 14, 1968.
 * Bobby Hull during the 7-4 win over the Boston Bruins on December 8, 1968.
 * Kenny Wharram during the 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on January 26, 1969.
 * Jim Pappin during the 12-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on January 30, 1969.
 * Bobby Hull during the 6-2 win over Los Angeles on February 20, 1969.
 * Kenny Wharram during the 6-4 win over the New York Rangers on March 26, 1969.
 * Pit Martin during the 9-5 win over the Detroit Red Wings on March 30, 1969.