Chicago Blackhawks: Jamal Mayers Days From 2018-19 Season

As the countdown to the Chicago Blackhawks 2018-19 season continues, we’ll take a look at one player who wore the same number as there are days left until October 4 when the season kicks off against the Ottawa Senators.

Chicago Blackhawks hockey will be underway just 22 days from now. With 23 to go yesterday we talked about Kris Versteeg who played two separate roles in two separate cup runs, in two separate jersey numbers, with the Chicago Blackhawks.

With 22 days to go today, the decision on who to feature was tough. Grant Mulvey was a contender, but like his Blackhawks teams weren’t able to earn a Stanley Cup, Mulvey wasn’t able to win a feature (maybe next year).

Looking at other no. 22s, Troy Brouwer made a strong case to be featured. Brouwer played a key role on the 2010 Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks. That said, Brouwer would be traded away after that season and would go on to eventually help the St. Louis Blues beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015-16 NHL playoffs, so he too is out of the running.

Finally, at long last, we arrive at our no. 22 of the day: Mr. Jamal Mayers.

Chicago Blackhawks’ Jamal Mayers

I remember loving Jamal during his time in Chicago. When thinking of Blackhawks’ key role players, Mayers is one who comes to mind almost instantly for me. What’s interesting, though, is that I’m not alone in this.

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When we asked fans who they’d like to see featured on day 22, an overwhelming amount of responses were people calling for Jamal Mayers.

This made sense at first, however the longer I sat on it the more the same question returned to my head.

Why? 

Why is Jamal Mayers, a player who only played two seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, someone who comes to mind for so many fans?

Why?

Why is Jamal Mayers, someone who didn’t play in a single playoff game during the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs, someone who is more remembered than, say, Troy Brouwer?

Especially given Brouwer played 19 games in the 2010 playoffs and scored 4 goals with 4 assists, one of which came in a big situation during the Stanley Cup final.

Well, Blackhawks fans, I think I know why.

Yeah, Jamal Mayers was a valued veteran leader in a Blackhawks locker room which needed one after getting bounced from the playoffs earlier than they would’ve liked two consecutive seasons in a row.

Yeah, it was fun to watch him throw his body around.

And oh yeah, it was fun to watch a respected enforcer throw haymakers against some of toughest opposing guys in the league.

My theory, however, transcends all of these features.

At the end of the day, Mayers was a good teammate. Plain and simple. What makes this even better, though, is that this wasn’t something you had to be on the team to know. Jamal came to Chicago after playing with the division rival St. Louis Blues for ten years (and additionally the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks).

You’d think after spending ten years of your hockey career more or less hating a team, you might not be the most willing to completely jump in playing for your rival.

Mayers didn’t care. In fact, it was quite the opposite.

Watching Mayers skate with the Blackhawks, you’d think he’d been playing with the guys for his entire career.

In that video, Jared Boll takes a dangerous run at Niklas Hjalmarsson. The Columbus Blue Jackets announcer claims he’s just “finishing a check” but I see a pretty dangerous attempt at a defenseless Hjalmarsson.

Mayers steps in almost instantly. He stands up for Hjammer and makes Boll pay for the run he took at Hjalmarsson.

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Oddly enough, of every Blackhawks player on the roster that season, Mayers was one of four players who played over 80 games. His commitment to the team and his teammates will never be forgotten.

The Chicago Blackhawks welcomed him with open arms and Mayers embraced us more than we ever could have anticipated. So much so, that when the Blues and Blackhawks played in an alumni game, Mayers put on a red sweater.

Now, Jamal Mayers can be found working Blackhawks games for NBCSN.