Chicago Blackhawks: Top Post-Lockout Rivals, Part II

Sep 17, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks goalie

(50) and Detroit Red Wings right wing

(44) look for the puck during the first period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3: Detroit Red Wings

Blackhawks’ record against since 2005: 30-30-8 (includes playoffs)

Past irritants: Jordin Tootoo, Darren McCarty, everyone who stuck around for what felt like 25 years

Recent irritants: Justin Abdelkader, Todd Bertuzzi, Johan Franzen

I know, putting the Red Wings at anything other than No. 1 is probably sacrilege. But hear me out. This is one of those rivalries that is born out of respect. Sure, it probably wasn’t always that way. Some Blackhawks fans still might not feel like it’s the case. But I’ve come to respect the Red Wings as an organization because they tend to do things the right way, and they just keep chugging along.

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That’s why being rivals with them and defeating them is such a blast. And why losing to them stings all the way to my core. These are Original Six rivals that have been through pretty much everything you can go through in hockey. You don’t want the Blackhawks to pulverize them — you just want the Blackhawks to dominate them in a straight-up game of hockey.

Growing up, I could remember more names of Detroit players than Chicago ones. Thankfully that has changed. But in recent memory, we saw a moment of the Red Wings going through a final championship run while the Blackhawks were up and coming (2009), and the teams met in the playoffs. The same thing happened in 2013, but with the roles reversed. It has created some great recent moments.

Unfortunately, the Red Wings were moved to the Eastern Conference, and meetings between Chicago and Detroit are now a lot more rare. But that just makes them more enjoyable when they do happen. This rivalry can’t fall much further on this list because of the history behind it.

Next: Who's No. 2?

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