Blackhawks Top 100- #2 Stan Mikita

May 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; A general shot of a monument of Chicago Blackhawks veteran

Stan Mikita

outside the United Center prior to game two of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

We’re counting the days until the Chicago Blackhawks 2014 Season kicks off. We’re doing a Top 100 list of all time Chicago Blackhawks. It’s a fun way to pass the time and take a stroll down Memory Lane as we head towards opening night on October 9th in Dallas.

Stan Mikita (1958-1980)

Games- 1,394

Goals-541

Assists-926

Points-1,437

Penalty Minutes-1,270

Playoffs

Games-155

Goals-59

Assists-91

Points-150

Penalty Minutes-169

Stanley Cup Championship-1961

Stan Mikita is Mr. Blackhawks and looking at the record books whether it’s regular season or postseason it’s Mikita’s name at the top of the list. He’s scored the most points, assists, and games played in Blackhawks history.

Mikita didn’t start out like a superstar with a pretty average beginning to his career, but the 1961 season was really his breakout season including the playoffs which we all know ended up with the Hawks winning the Stanley Cup.

Mikita was hard-nosed and was well-known for his vicious stick work,while being tough was also known for his finesse game and tremendous vision on the ice which blended well with Bobby Hull, after 61 Mikita became the leader of the original Scooter line with Ken Wharram and Ab McDonald and Mikita’s play went from good to great and the accolades and the award starting coming annually for Mikita. Here’s a list of some of those accomplishments

4x Art Ross Trophy (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968)
2x Hart Memorial Trophy (1967, 1968)
2x Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1967,1968)
The only player in NHL history to win the Hart, Art Ross, and Lady Byng trophies in the same season, doing so in consecutive seasons, in 1966–67 and 1967–68
Played in NHL All-Star Game (1964, 1967-1969, 1971-1975)

The only blemish on the record is that the only Cup won was in 61 with the 71 team coming closest and the biggest heart breaking loss with the Hawks losing in Game #7 of the Finals to the Montreal Candiens at the Chicago Stadium. Mikita also made the Finals in 65 and 73 coming up empty every time.

When Mikita retired it didn’t take very long for him to enter the Hall of Fame in 1983 and he was the first Blackhawks to have his number retired and his #21 hangs from the rafters at the United Center and of course his statue sits outside the UC.