Chicago Blackhawks Greatest 100- #1 Jonathan Toews And Patrick Kane

I know you see the title and say what a cop out, but this is what I really think about the Chicago Blackhawks Greatest players of all-time.

The Chicago Blackhawks were a doormat of a franchise and yes they had already drafted Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook and had Patrick Sharp on the roster, but it wasn’t until the Blackhawks selected Jonathan Toews 3rd overall in the 2006 NHL Draft and followed it up with Patrick Kane with the 1st overall pick in the 2007 draft that the tide began to turn for the Blackhawks from doormat to Stanley Cup Champions.

The thing is the transformation didn’t take long with both Toews and Kane getting to the NHL in the 2007-2008 season and turning the team around immediately, and not only were they winning games. They were a fun team to watch once again.

Of course, for fans outside of Chicago who may have turned off the Blackhawks years ago in disgust of Bill Wirtz and constantly losing from 1996-2007, the welcome back to the Hawks was the Winter Classic in 2009 at Wrigley Field. It wasn’t just an outdoor game, it was a celebration that the Hawks were good again and were being led by two teenagers.

Toews was named Captain before the 2008-2009 season, and since he became the leader of the franchise the Hawks haven’t missed the playoffs yet even when they weren’t the most talented bunch like in 2010-2011.

Kane’s welcome to the big stage moment came in overtime of Game #6 of the Stanley Cup Final when he scored an overtime winner to end the Blackhawks 49 year Championship drought.

Kane won the game, but it was the Captain that won the Conn Smythe as Playoff MVP.  Of course it didn’t take Kane too long to add a Conn Smythe to his mantle winning it over a deserved Corey Crawford in 2013.

More from All Time Blackhawks

• Blackhawks’ Legend Niklas Hjalmarsson Retires After 14 Seasons
• Blackhawks: The five longest tenured captains in team history
• Blackhawks News: Andrew Shaw Retires At Age 29
• Best Blackhawks Goalie of All-Time: Esposito, Hall, or Crawford?
• The Jersey Numbers Never Worn in Blackhawks History

Kane and Toews are two different players, but it always feels like they wouldn’t be this great unless they were always together.  This may not be the exact record, but the Hawks are something like 65-6-4 when both Toews and Kane score in the same game, and at last check were 32-0 in the last 32 occurrences.

I could go on and on about these two players.  Toews with the Leadership and Kane with the showmanship, but the thing that makes them great is their will to win.  Never have I felt the Blackhawks are ever out of a game no matter what the score is because these two can just will the team to victory.

Toews offense slipped last year a bit, so I’m looking forward to a bounce back season, while Kane will be without Artemi Panarin for the first time in 3 seasons.  The thing is they are both great and they will find a way to succeed no matter what.

Every year they continue to climb in the franchise all-time record books,  the question is where will they end up. One thing is for sure, they will have numbers in the rafters and statues on the sidewalk when it’s all said and done!

Next: Blackhawks Greatest 100- #2 Stan Mikita

That’s it, that’s the list! Tomorrow is opening night! I hope you enjoyed the list and the travel down memory lane!