Chicago Blackhawks Greatest 100- #55 Ed Litzenberger

The Chicago Blackhawks have had many great men lead their teams into battle, but only a very select few have been Captains of the Chicago Blackhawks and won a Stanley Cup. Ed Litzenberger was one of those select few.

Ed Litzenberger came up through the Montreal Canadiens, but was traded midway through his rookie season to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1955 when the Blackhawks were truly at their worst.

Litzenberger scored 40 points in his final 44 games as a rookie to take home the Calder trophy as the leagues rookie of the year.

Litzenberger was a huge man at 6 foot 3 inches which was really tall in the 1950’s.  He wasn’t a big time hitter but described by many as a gentle giant.

His game really came into shape when he was placed on a line with the very young Bobby Hull, and with the Golden Jet Litzenberger started filling out the stat sheet as the Chicago Blackhawks started their slow climb from worst to first in the Original 6 NHL.

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While the franchise was rebuilding, Litzenberger’s  leadership skills were evident to the team as they made him Captain.

The team completed it’s transformation from loser to Stanley Cup Champions in 1961 with the Chicago Blackhawks first Stanley Cup Championship since 1938.  Litzenberger scored once and added 3 assists in the Hawks march to the Cup.

The real odd thing about the story is that during the summer of 1961 with the Cup in Chicago, the Blackhawks traded Litzenberger to the Detroit Red Wings, the team they just beat to win the Cup.

Imagine the Blackhawks back in 2010 after winning the Cup for the first time in 49 years trading Toews to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Litzenberger didn’t stay in Detroit long, and ended up going to Toronto and you know just winning three straight Stanley Cups for the Maple Leafs before leaving the NHL for good after the 1964 season.

Litzenberger was a great leader and Champion and that’s why he’s 55th on our list this year.

Next: When will the Chicago Blackhawks Defense Support Arrive?

Only 55 days left until the season kicks off!