Chicago Blackhawks: Phillip Danault Days Until Banner Raising

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.

The Chicago Blackhawks countdown is down to 24 and we have it to a number that was worn 2 times this past season by one of the possible faces of the future for the Blackhawks.

Phillip Danault was a first round draft pick in 2011 by the Chicago Blackhawks and has had a very successful run through the OHL and AHL and is positioned to by the franchise to be the next Marcus Kruger. Danault did have the misfortune to get injured and is now out for four months, but this probably wasn’t going to be his real window to stick with the team anyways. Danault looks to be a bottom six forward when his number is called by Stan Bowman and the Blackhawks.

The #24 was most famously worn by Doug Wilson in the 1980’s. Wilson leads almost all offensive categories in Chicago Blackhawks history by a defenseman. He was easy to pick out when I was a kid because only Wilson and Al Secord played without a helmet back in those days. Wilson had a tremendous shot from the point and won the 1982 Norris Trophy when he scored basically at will that season. Wilson is now the San Jose Sharks GM so he’s not a fan favorite anymore.

Here is a snapshot at all of the former #24’s in Chicago Blackhawks history.

1. Rick Foley-1971 Foley only played 2 games with the Blackhawks picking up 1 assist during the action. He played 67 NHL games scoring 11 goals and 26 assists.

2. Walt Ledingham-1973 Ledingham only played 15 career NHL games with the first 9 in Chicago. He picked up 1 assist wearing #24 in Chicago.

3. Rob Palmer-1974-1976 Palmer laced up the skates 16 times over three different NHL seasons for the Blackhawks. Palmer picked up 3 assists during his short stay in Chicago.

4. Duane Wylie-1976-1977 Wylie wore #24 14 times for the Blackhawks and he scored 3 goals and 3 assists in his short NHL career.

5. Greg Vaydik-1977 Vaydik was a first round draft pick by the Hawks in 1975 (7th pick overall) and to say his career was a bust would be an understatement. His career NHL totals were 5 games with Chicago no points and a -5.

6. Ian McKegney-1977 McKegney saw action with the Blackhawks 5 times which was his entire NHL career and all he has to show for his efforts is a career -8.

7. Doug Wilson-1978-1991 If Vaydik was a bust from the 1975 draft, Wilson was a fantastic pick in the 1977 first round by the Blackhawks. Wilson holds almost every Chicago Blackhawks offensive record. Wilson won the Norris Trophy for his sensational 1981-1982 season when he scored 39 goals and 46 assists. Wilson was always on the ice when I was a kid and was one of the cool guys with Al Secord that never wore helmets. Wilson was part of the very good 1980′s Hawks teams and played all but the last 88 games of his 1,024 NHL game career with the Blackhawks. He finished with 237 goals and 590 assists. He currently is the GM for the San Jose Sharks.

8. Bob Probert-1996-2002 The late Bob Probert is the first high-profile NHL player to suffer from brain trauma from all his seasons of throwing punches in the NHL. Probert played the first half of his career with the Detroit Red Wings while finishing the last 7 years of his career with the Hawks. He played in 853 scoring 163 goals 221 assists and a mind-boggling 3,300 penalty minutes.

9. Martin Havlat-2007-2009 Havlat has always been a good scorer which he came to Chicago to do, but he also has never played a full 82 game season healthy. Havlat helped bridge the Hawks from the dark ages to the stepping stones of their first Stanley Cup in 49 years. Havlat stay in Chicago lasted 172 games with 64 goals 97 assists.

10. Nick Boynton-2010-2011 Boynton was on the 2010 Stanley Cup team yet his stay with Chicago was only 48 games. Boynton scored 1 goals and 8.

Only 24 Days Left until opening night, it’s right around the corner!

Next: 5 Ways To Prepare For The Season

More from Blackhawk Up

Home/Blackhawks News