The best team in Blackhawks history is easily the 2012-13 squad

The 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks had a season to remember. They won both the Presidents' Trophy (best team in regular-season) and the Stanley Cup. No team has done that since.

It was a short season, only 48 games, because of a lockout. That does not matter as the team was that dominant.

An Unbeatable Start

Chicago opened the season with a six-game winning streak. But they didn't stop there. They went 24 games without a regulation loss, going 21-0-3. It was the longest point streak to start a season in NHL history.

It was win after win night after night. Whether that was high-scoring efforts or playing good defense, the Blackhawks found a way to rack up points every game. They finished with a record of 36-7-5, with 77 points. Their goal differential was +53. They scored 155 goals and allowed just 102.

Corey Crawford (19-5-5 with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .926% and three shutouts) and Ray Emery (17-1-0 with a 1.94 goals-against average and a .922% and three shutouts) were both solid in net. Together, they won the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the league.

2013 Playoffs

The Blackhawks carried that momentum into the playoffs. In the first round, they beat the Minnesota Wild in five games. That was a one-sided battle that went in the Hawks' favor.

Then came the second round against their rivals, the Detroit Red Wings — and it was almost over from the start. Chicago lost three straight after taking Game 1. They were down 3-1 in the series, but they stormed back. They won Game 5 at home, then Game 6 on the road to force a Game 7, in which Brent Seabrook came up clutch, scoring the game-winning goal in overtime. It was one of the biggest goals in team history.

Next up were the defending Stanley Cup champions — the Los Angeles Kings. Chicago didn't let their foot off the gas pedal. They beat them in five games. Patrick Kane scored a hat trick in Game 5, including the overtime winner that sent the Hawks to the Stanley Cup Final.

2013 Stanley Cup Final

The Stanley Cup Final was a battle between two "Original Six" teams — the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins. The series was tough and physical. But the Blackhawks were the faster, deeper, and skilled team.

Game 6 was unforgettable. Chicago was down 2-1 with less than two minutes left. Bryan Bickell tied the game with 1:16 to go. Then just 17 seconds later, Dave Bolland scored the Cup-clinching goal. Five words: Two goals in 17 seconds. The Blackhawks went from being down 2-1 with under two minutes and facing either overtime or a Game 7 back in Chicago, to lifting the Cup in Boston.

Kane won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP that year, finishing with 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 23 playoff games. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson all played huge roles. Even though Joel Quenneville didn't win the Jack Adams Award that season (went to Coach Paul MacLean of the Ottawa Senators), he was most certainly the Coach of the Year in that season.

The Curse

The Presidents' Trophy has often been seen as a curse. Teams that win it rarely win the Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks did both, and they are still the last team to do it.

They did it in a lockout-shortened season. It was an odd schedule, with little rest, and had a lot of ups and downs. But it didn't matter. They were the best from day one.

Legacy of a Dynasty

That 2013 Cup was their second in four seasons. They would win a third one in 2015, but the 2012-13 team was the most dominant.

There were no weaknesses. No flaws. No issues or any of that. They were strong and their defense was elite. Their goalies were calm under pressure. Their stars showed up in big moments. Their role players stepped up when needed.

They weren't just a great team — they were a stacked team. They were fast, fearless, and full of fire. No team in franchise history had a better season from start to finish.

The results speak for themselves: best record in the league, Stanley Cup champions, and an unforgettable playoff run filled with comebacks, clutch goals, and championship reign.

That's why they're the most dominant team in Blackhawks history — and maybe one of the top best NHL teams.