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Chicago Blackhawks: Put Kane, Toews Statues At New Facility

By Matt Barbato |

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have had two of the most decorated careers in Chicago Blackhawks mhistory. They’ve won three Stanley Cups together, each taken home a Conn Smythe trophy and both could go down as the two best players in team history by the time they’re done.

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So what’s next for Chicago’s dynamic duo? According to team owner Rocky Wirtz, a couple of sculptures may be in order.

“In the long run, we’ll see if we get a couple of more statues,” Wirtz told the Chicago Tribune while discussing the $84 million contract extensions for Kane and Toews that begin this season. “I think that they’re quality individuals. They’re never satisfied. They’re great leaders, and I think they’re terrific for the city. As the eight-year contracts go on, I think we’ll see they’re worth every penny.”

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    • As of right now, it appears appropriate for the two to have statues right outside the United Center along with the iconic Michael Jordan, as well as fellow ‘Hawks Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull. The Jordan statue was erected in 1994, the year the United Center first opened. Mikita’s and Hull’s statues were dedicated in 2011, 50 years after they led the Blackhawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup.

    But, perhaps a different location would be more ideal for the two stars. Maybe the statues would be better off being placed at the Blackhawks’ $50 million planned practice facility and community training center that is set to be built on what used to be the Malcolm X campus on the west side of Chicago.

    Although the statues wouldn’t be placed at the home of the duo’s three titles, it would make sense to offer a beautiful piece of decor to a modern facility for Chicago’s most recent stars. The facility is also expected to be used by the community 94 percent of the time, according to Wirtz, which means there would be a steady stream of foot traffic around the statues year-round.

    It would be a bit more significant if the statues were placed at a facility that the Blackhawks would own solely, unlike the United Center which is shared with the Chicago Bulls. Placing the statues in front of their own facility would represent a distinguishing symbol of how Kane and Toews helped build hockey back to prominence in the city.

    Toews and Kane statues are a long way coming, considering the two both have matching eight-year contracts kicking in this season. However, it’s never too early to start thinking about the idea, and the ‘Hawks’ new facility could be a great spot to commemorate some of the biggest stars in Chicago sports history.

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