Former Chicago Blackhawk Bryan Bickell To Retire From NHL

Bryan Bickell announced yesterday that this will be his last season in the NHL after being diagnosed with MS earlier this year.  You like may have been frustrated by Bickell’s play at time, but he will always be in our thoughts as he fights his battle with MS.

I will say that since I took over Blackhawk Up that I never really cared what Bryan Bickell ever did during the regular season as long as Playoff Bickell showed up in April.

The first time we ever witnessed Playoff Bickell was during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs when he scored this overtime winner when he beat

Mike Smith

.

One of the most important goals in my eyes he ever scored was in Game #1 of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs when he scored the OT winner against the Minnesota Wild.  The reason I think it was big is because it never gave the Wild a glimpse of momentum in that series.  I also really liked Pat Foley’s call of the Game winning goal by #29.

Of course his greatest moment came in Game #6 in Boston when Bickell scored the first of the two goals the Chicago Blackhawks scored in that famous 17 seconds that really cemented the Chicago Blackhawks as a Team of the Decade, and that Bickell had some playoff magic in him.

Bryan Bickell last year during the playoffs watched from the pressbox when he was said to be suffering from vertigo.  He along with Teuvo Teravainen was traded this offseason, and then we found out the news that Bickell had been diagnosed with MS.

Bickell made his comeback this week after playing in the AHL working his way back to the NHL.  His teammates showed him what he meant to them in Carolina yesterday when they all showed up for the MS walk.

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After the walk yesterday, he had to play a game and all of the fans in the stands gave him a standing ovation during the 3rd period.

So instead of Playoff Bickell now it’s #BickellBrave! Bickell may not have been your favorite Chicago Blackhawk while he was here winning Stanley Cups, but he’ll be one that you probably think about the most for years to come. Thanks for everything you did and will do!

Next: Five Reasons Why The Hawks Will Beat The Preds

Good look #29 and always be #BickellBrave