Chicago Blackhawks: Sergei Berezin Days Until Banner Raising

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We had so much fun doing our Countdown to Faceoff series last season that we decided to do it again.  In case you’re new to the series, we’ll do a roster preview as we count down the days until the Chicago Blackhawks raise their 6th Stanley Cup Banner on October 7th season opener against the New York Rangers.

We are a little late kicking off the countdown, usually we start at 99 but with Stanley Cup victory, draft, Brandon Saad trade, free agency, and the 4th of July weekend we were a little slow on the countdown. Summer is in full affect now and though there could be a Patrick Sharp or Bryan Bickell trade, it will be slow going for Chicago Blackhawks news for the next two months until training camp opens.

There have been two Chicago Blackhawks that have worn #94 in franchise history, and although they didn’t play for an extended period of time they did play for a season with the Chicago Blackhawks.  Here is their career number while wearing #94.

Sergei Berezin– 2002-2003

  1. Games-66
  2. Goals-18
  3. Assists-13
  4. -3
  5. Penalty Minutes- 18
  6. Power Play Goals-5

Yanic Perreault 2007-2008

  1. Games-53
  2. Goals-9
  3. Assists-5
  4. -1
  5. Penalty Minutes-24
  6. Power Play Goals-1

Both players ended their playing careers with the Chicago Blackhawks, while Yanic Perreault became a coach and actually became a faceoff whisperer.  He coached up Marcus Kruger who became a very solid at the dot, and during the 2015 Stanley Cup run the Blackhawks face-off numbers were one of the reasons that the Chicago Blackhawks were able to lift their 3rd Stanley Cup in 6 seasons, and one of the reasons why this is a countdown to Banner raising.

More from All Time Blackhawks

Last summer, we also did a Top 100 countodown,  I don’t think too many slots would have changed much after last season, except maybe Brandon Saad and possible higher rankings of some of the core, but for today we will just take a look back at last years rankings.. At #94 was Stan Bowman here is what we had to say back then.

Jun 27, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman announces Nick Schmaltz (not pictured) as the number twenty overall pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

We have arrived at #94 in our countdown and it’s our first glance at someone who has never skated a period with the Blackhawks.  Bowman has been the GM with the Hawks since the summer of 2009 when he took over for Dale Tallon.

Bowman’s biggest asset since taking over the organization may be what fans complain about the most which is the inability to pull off a major trade.  Bowman since taking over the team that was loaded with talent but way over the salary cap is find a balance of talent and Salary cap flexibility.  Bowman’s main goal is to have a franchise that is talented from top to bottom not just NHL heavy like the St Louis Blues.  Here is a look at Bowman’s top choices each year in the draft.

2010- Kevin Hayes

2011- Mark McNeill and Phillip Denault

2012- Teuvo Teravainen

2013- Ryan Hartman

2014- Nick Schmaltz

2015-No 1st Round Pick

Bowman has been the GM of the team for 2 Stanley Cup Championships though his nay-sayers will say it was all Dale Tallon and Bowman is just a bean counter.  Bowman always seems to have a plan in place instead of looking like he’s flying by the seat of his pants like say the leadership in Toronto.

Bowman still has lots of work to do like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane‘s extensions (which he did with ease), but you know he will get it done and set up the Blackhawks for a shot at more Stanley Cups in this era.

94 Days Until Banner Raising!! It’s crazy that it feels like the Stanley Cup was just won, and now we are counting down until the 6th banner is raised at the United Center.

Next: Getting To Know Bowman

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