Chicago Blackhawks Greatest 100- #91 Bill Wirtz

When you think of the top 100 Chicago Blackhawks of All-time you think of Greatest as in the best, but when you talk about Bill Wirtz it’s the Greatest as in the worst! 

Ok, if you have were a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks before 2007 then the name Bill Wirtz is probably the worst name in franchise history period.

For starters most fans of the Blackhawks know, back in the day the only way to watch the Chicago Blackhawks at the Chicago Stadium was in person.  Dollar Bill never let any home games to be televised on local TV or cable because he was “trying to protect season ticket holders”.  This is the reason Pat Foley or Lloyd Pettit before him became so important in franchise history because they painted the picture of the old barn.

Secondly, Wirtz was so cheap.  He would have loved the salary cap as it is know, and if he was still in charge the team would most assuredly be at the cap floor not at the very top of the cap year in and year out.

Bill Wirtz is the reason that Bobby Hull ended his great career in Winnipeg instead of the Blackhawks.  He refused to pay the Hawks superstar when he was at the height of his powers.

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It’s interesting that there was a tweet today about Bill Wirtz and a huge trade that he nixed that would have been a huge blockbuster.

Could you have imagined Eric Lindros with Jeremy Roenick when both of them were at the height of their powers, and Dominik Hasek would have been a Hall of Famer with the Hawks instead of the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings.  Just another reason why the Hawks were never able to win a Stanley Cup with the cheapskate Wirtz in charge of the organization.

There are endless stories of things to complain about the Wirtz Administration, but the worst part is that when he left this world the Chicago Blackhawks were considered the worst pro sports team in all 4 major sports.  I know I had lost interest with the Hawks during that era living in Florida and always seeing them at the bottom of the standings.

One thing you can’t take away from the Wirtz family is that Bill joined his father Arthur in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977.

I’m sure you have a story or reason to dislike Dollar Bill, let’s here them in the comments section!

Next: The Importance Of Richard Panik

Only 91 Days until the season kicks off at the United Center on October 5th! Is It October yet?