Chicago Blackhawks Greatest 100- #54 And #53 Ed Olczyk And Darryl Sutter

By Keith Schultz | Aug 13, 2017

ST PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Darryl Sutter of the Los Angeles Kings looks on during the third period of the game against the Minnesota Wild on February 27, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Kings 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

Sorry, I was at an event after work yesterday and didn’t get home until late so I didn’t get yesterday’s Greatest 100 post out so I decided to combine yesterday and today’s into one with a couple of guys that played in the same era of Chicago Blackhawks hockey.

Both players seem bigger now than they were when they laced them up in the 1980’s. Ed Olczyk has been the Chicago Blackhawks color guy and NBC Sports color guy for sometime now while Darryl Sutter helped lead the LA Kings to 2 Stanley Cup Championships in this decade.

They both started out playing for the Chicago Blackhawks in the early 80’s though. Darryl was probably the least naturally talented of all of the Sutter brothers, but his leadership and determination made up for that and then some. He was the first Captain of the Chicago Blackhawks that I remember growing up, and although he didn’t fight a ton he looked like he was country strong that no one would want to mess around with.

More from Blackhawks News

Both Sutter and Olczyk were on the 85 team that made it to the Conference Finals only to lose to the Oilers in what was one of the highest scoring series of all-time. Sutter was a monster that playoff year collecting 12 goals and 7 assists in 15 games including this double overtime winner against the Minnesota North Stars.

Eddie was more of a prodigy coming up to the NHL as a local boy at the age of 18, and his best seasons were the first couple with the Blackhawks including the 85 season when he scored 29 goals and picked up 50 assists as a 19 year old.

One of the saddest days for me following the team was when the Hawks traded Eddie with Al Secord to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987. Secord was my favorite player and Eddie was originally right down the street in Palos.

Sutter was done and out of the NHL by 87, but he picked up the coaching bug and his career started with the Hawks in the early 90’s before eventually becoming a Cup champion in LA.

Eddie as we all know is fighting cancer now, and we will all be thinking about him all the time!

Two greats that played for the Hawks and went on to bigger and better things are numbers 54 and 53. What are your memories of these two former Blackhawks?

Next: When will the Chicago Blackhawks Defense Support Arrive?

Only 53 days left until the season kicks off!

Home/Blackhawks News