Chicago Blackhawks Greatest 100- #24 Bob Murray #23 Billy Reay

The Chicago Blackhawks greatest 100 list is getting close to the home stretch, but we are still on the turn. Today we look back at a defenseman and an All-Time coach. 

At #24, we have Bob Murray who is only one of four Chicago Blackhawks players to ever lace up the skates over 1,000 times in franchise history, if Brent Seabrook plays the entire season he would be the 5th to join this pretty small fraternity.

Murray was always the slow old guy on the Chicago Blackhawks defense in my memory, but if you look at his career totals he really wasn’t that bad as I remember.

Murray picked up 382 assists in the late 1970’s and 1980’s which let’s be honest was the time to pick up a lot of points no matter where you played. In Contrast Brent Seabrook only has 312 career assists.

Murray played in the 1980’s for the most part which included 5 runs to the Conference Championships, but they were always the bridesmaid.

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When Murray finally retired he eventually became the General Manager of the Chicago Blackhawks because even though Bill Wirtz was a penny pincher, he always was loyal to those that were loyal to him.  Of course when the team was putrid in the late 90’s Murray was fired, and he’s been the Anaheim Ducks G.M ever since.

Billy Reay won the Stanley Cup as a player twice with the Montreal Canadiens during his playing days, but during his 14 years as the Chicago Blackhawks head coach he wasn’t ever able to hoist the Cup.

His best shot was in 1971 when the Chicago Blackhawks had Game #7 of the Stanley Cup Final on home ice at Chicago Stadium and a 2 goal lead late in the 2nd period, but somehow the Canadiens were able to get three pucks behind Tony Esposito and win the 71 Stanley Cup.

Reay is the all-time leader in games coached, wins, and losses as a Chicago Blackhawks head coach, but his inability to win the big game will be what most remember about him the most.

Two Great Chicago Blackhawks in the list today!

Next: Blackhawks Critics need to smell the coffee

The best part is we are only 23 days away from opening night!