Chicago Blackhawks All-Decade Team of the 1990s

Although more recently accomplished talent has taken over their city, the Chicago Blackhawks had an unforgettable set of stars suit up for them through the 1990s.

The 1990s were an exciting decade for a lot of reasons and the Chicago Blackhawks made sure to align their roster accordingly. Unfortunately, as skilled as those lineups were, they ultimately failed to achieve the pinnacle of postseason success and never did capture a Stanley Cup for the city.

Chicago ranked as high as 1st overall throughout the league, while also placing as low as 24th during the 90s. They started the decade off strong, earning 106 points in both the1990-91 and 1992-93 seasons while making a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1992.

That would turn out to be the peak of their success that decade. Yet, that didn’t stop their most recognizable characters from doing all they could to stitch their names into the fabric of the franchise along the way.

Between all-star appearances, awards, and career milestones, the elite of those Blackhawks’ lineups could certainly hold their own against the NHL’s best. What’s more, is how perfectly their personas fit within the organization’s image.

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From top-line forwards who seemed to animate every play, to dependable defensemen adding unparalleled stability alongside their production, to a goalie that knew how to do all it took to keep his crease clear, the Blackhawks of the 90s were far from lacking in personality.

A lot of their best talent would, unfortunately, achieve greater accomplishments in different jerseys given that this franchise failed to hoist any Cups throughout the decade. However, they all made their mark on this city and Chicago surely left an imprint on them, as well.

These players are synonymous with the Blackhawks of the 90s and no fan could justifiably talk about those teams without mentioning these names.

C Jeremy Roenick

As a former first-round pick for the Blackhawks, Jeremy Roenick certainly did not disappoint during his time with the organization. His vibrance seemed to transcend his on-ice presence, as Roenick offered onlookers a front-row seat to the rejuvenation of this organization. He was a young star, with an arrogance backed by unparalleled production.

Between the 1990-91 and 1995-96 seasons, before he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in August 1996, Roenick played in 426 games with the Blackhawks. In that span, he accumulated 232 goals, 280 assists, and 512 points. That was good enough to see him lead his team in production for three of the six years he played there that decade.

Roenick still sits in 11th in all-time point totals for the organization. What’s most remarkable about that achievement, is that his 524 games played with the franchise is well below that of those around him on the list. Thus, illustrating his immediate and consistent impact while there.

RW Tony Amonte

After being drafted in the fourth round by the New York Rangers, Tony Amonte quickly made his presence felt throughout the league and other teams took notice. So much so that the Blackhawks thought he might be their missing piece and they traded to acquire him in March 1994, following Chicago’s failed postseason.

Unfortunately, Amonte’s impact clearly wasn’t the only thing missing that year. He was only able to accumulate one goal and three assists in the seven regular-season games he played after the move. They then experienced their quickest playoff exit to that point throughout the early years of the decade, losing in the Conference Quarter-Finals.

Amonte would get into a groove as the 1994-95 season got underway, quickly establishing himself as a top producer year in and year out. Throughout his time in Chicago that decade, between 1993-94 and 1999-00, Amonte earned 411 points in 463 games. But beyond his numbers was the unmatched excitement he brought to every play he set-up and finished.

LW Steve Larmer

Although he wouldn’t even spend half of the decade in Chicago, it would be an injustice to exclude Steve Larmer from this lineup. His 245 points through 244 games between the 1990-91 and 1992-93 seasons alone speak for itself. And that’s on top of his preceding efforts landing him in our All-Decade team of the 1980s, as well.

Larmer’s 44 goals and 57 assists combined for 101 points in the 1990-91 season, which had him atop the team’s point leaders list that year for the final time. A statistic that should not go unmentioned is the 18 game-winning goals he scored in that small three-year sample size. This is the type of stat that illustrates Larmer’s often undervalued and underappreciated impact on this franchise.

Following being part of a three-team trade in November 1993, which saw him initially dock with the Hartford Whalers, Larmer would end up joining the New York Rangers where he won his one and only Stanley Cup in 1994. He would play two more years, before retiring following the shortened 1994-95 season.

G Ed Belfour

Flying into the decade with one of the most epic rookie campaigns of the modern era, Ed Belfour took tight control of Chicago’s crease early on in his career. And his early achievements aren’t just impressive for a goalie, they hold up against the best of the best throughout the league. Before, during, and after his playing years.

In that 1990-91 season alone, he would earn the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year, William M. Jennings Trophy for the lowest goals-against average, Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the league, and be named to both the All-Rookie and All-Star teams. He did all of that in his first full year, as a foreshadow of the impression he’d leave on this franchise.

Belfour would remain a full-time Blackhawk until the 1996-97 season, suiting up 392 times for the franchise from 1990-91 and onward. He accumulated a record of 197-126-53 throughout the decade, earning a .904 save percentage, 2.59 goals-against average, and 30 shutouts. He also sits in first amongst franchise goalies in penalty minutes with 240 and second in points having accumulated 18 assists.

So, there you have it. The indisputable list of Blackhawks that stole the city’s spotlight throughout the 90s. Despite not winning the most coveted prize of all, a team lead by Roenick, Amonte, Larmer, Chelios, Suter, and Belfour would certainly hold their own against any champion.