Throwback Thursday: Dirk Graham

Dirk Graham #33 Chicago Blackhawks (picture courtesy of home.comcast.com)

Dirk Graham

Chicago Blackhawks Career-1987-1995

Games-546

Goals-152

Assists-191

+/- +35

Game Winning Goals-26

Blackhawks Captain- 1988-1995

Graham was part of the Hawks teams that were regular playoff teams in the late 80’s and early 90’s.  He was Captain of the team after his first season with the franchise up until his last in the NHL in 1995.

Graham and the Blackhawks had back to back great seasons in 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 that both ended in their own version of heartbreak.  In 1990-1991 the Blackhawks won their first President’s trophy and Graham won the Selke trophy.  It is kind of ironic that the next time both these awards were won they were accomplished in the same season by the team’s Captain (Jonathan Toews).  Sadly, the 1991 President’s trophy meant absolutely nothing as the Blackhawks lost to the Minnesota North Stars in the first round.

The 1992 team made a great run to the Stanley Cup Finals including 11 straight victories.  The Hawks played hard in those Finals but came up just short in each game while getting swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins.  In Game 4 of the Finals Graham collected a hat trick in the losing effort. Graham was a tough defensive forward which was a perfect fit for the Hawks in that time.

Graham coached the Hawks for 59 games during the dark ages of 1998-99 where he was fired with a record of 16-35-8 in his first and only season as a NHL head coach.

Graham currently is a scout for Doug Wilson and the San Jose Sharks.

My biggest memories of Graham is of his hat trick in the losing Game 4 of the Finals and that he is the last Hawks Captain to have to shake hands as a loser in the Cup Finals. Still a very good player and Captain in Chicago Blackhawks history.

What is your memory of Dirk Graham?

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