Blackhawks Number History, 6-10

As we’ve hit the slow part of the National Hockey League’s offseason, with most rosters being set and very little business left to take care of, it’s a good time for history lessons. The Chicago Blackhawks have a century’s worth of history lessons to teach, so we’re only going to scratch the surface over the next few weeks.

Our Blackhawks Number History series will look at every number ever worn over the 100 seasons of hockey. We’ll feature the best player to wear each number, as well as give you some fun history nuggets and tidbits. We looked at numbers 1-5 earlier this week, and today we jump ahead to numbers 6-10.

No. 6 – Bob Murray

Number of players to wear No. 6: 50
First to wear No. 6: Doug McCaig
Last to wear No. 6: Sam Rinzel
The rest of the No. 6s: Mike Buchanan, Fred Hucul, Clare Martin, Ed Kryzanowski, Hillary Menard, Larry Zeidel, Gord Hollingworth, Benn Woit, Ian Cushenan, Frank Martin, Norm Johnson, Doug Barkley, Reggie Flemming, Larry Mickey, Fred Stanfield, Jack Stanfield, Lou Angotti, Dave Richardson, Bill Orban, Len Frig, Randy Hold, Roger Wilson, Bob Murray, Frantisek Kucera, Robert Dirk, Gary Suter, Gerald Diduck, Ivan Droppa, Igor Ulanov, Michal Sykora, Anders Eriksson, Remi Royer, Sylvain Cote, Kevin Dean, Phil Housley, Anton Babchuk, Jaroslav Spacek, Lasse Kukkonen, Magnus Johansson, Jordan Hendry, Sean O’Donnell, Mike Kostka, Adam Clendening, Trevor Daley, Michal Kempny, Cody Franson, Olli Maatta, Jake McCabe
Fun Fact: 6 is the most-worn number in franchise history.

Bob Murray set the standard for Blackhawks defensemen in the 70s and 80s. He was the fourth player in team history to play 1,000 games. He was the franchise leader in games played for defensemen until he was passed by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. He amassed 1,008 games over his 15 seasons with the team. The two-time NHL All-Star scored 132 goals and 514 points, while finishing his career with a plus-22 rating. He was a bigger offensive threat early in his career with five straight seasons of at least 10 goals between 1976-77 and 1980-81.

Murray remained with the organization after hanging up his skates. He was hired as director of player personnel in 1991 and eventually worked his way up to general manager in 1997. He was fired 22 games into the 1999-2000 season. He moved on to the Anaheim Ducks, where he helped build their 2007 Stanley Cup championship roster.

No. 7 – Chris Chelios

Number of players to wear No. 7: 20
First to wear No. 7: Doug Bentley
Last to wear No. 7: Brent Seabrook
The rest of the No. 7s: Jimmy Peters, Larry Wilson, Red Sullivan, Wally Hergesheimer, Ted Lindsay, Bobby Hull, Murray Hall, Phil Esposito, Pit Martin, Doug Lecuyer, Glen Sharpley, Mile Zaharko, Ken Yaremchuk, Tom McCurchy, Mark LaVarre, Everrett Sanipass, Chris Chelios
Fun Fact: Five members of the Hockey Hall of Fame have worn No. 7 for the Blackhawks. It could get bumped up to six in the near future.

Choosing the best No. 7 in franchise history was tough. This could be the most difficult decision in this series. It came down between Chris Chelios and Brent Seabrook. Yes, Seabrook played more games, won three Stanley Cups, and had a career full of big moments. However, Chelios wasn’t only the best defenseman on the Blackhawks; he was one of the best in the entire league during his time in Chicago. He was acquired for a legend and became one himself.

While Seabrook hit the ultimate team goals, Chelios achieved more individually. He won two Norris Trophies with the Blackhawks and played in six All-Star Games, while Seabrook played in one All-Star Game, and the highest he ever finished in Norris voting was 13th. Chelios could do it all; play elite defense, lead the offensive charge, and be the toughest guy on the ice. His 1,495 penalty minutes are still the most in franchise history. His name and number have taken their place in the rafters of the United Center, but Seabrook will likely join him up there soon enough.  

No. 8 – Jim Pappin

Number of players to wear No. 8: 31
First to wear No. 8: Bill Mosienko
Last to wear No. 8: Ryan Donato
The rest of the No. 8s: Tony Leswich, Ed Kachur, Danny Lewicki, Wayne Hicks, Murray Balfour, Camille Henry, Larry Mickey, Bill Hay, Gerry Goyer, Jim Pappin, Joey Johnston, Jim Harrison, Terry Ruskowski, Mike Filder, Curt Fraser, Tony Tanti, Trent Yawney, Cam Russell, Anders Eriksson, Dave Manson, Steve Poapst, Anton Babchuk, Tony Salmelainen, Matt Walker, Kim Johnsson, Nick Leddy, Nick Schmaltz, Dominik Kubalik, Jack Johnson, Ryan Donato
Fun Fact: Mosienko was wearing No. 8 when he netted the fastest hat trick in NHL history, scoring three goals in 21 seconds against the New York Rangers in 1952.

There have been some talented players to wear No. 8 in Blackhawks history, but Jim Pappin had the most longevity and success in that jersey. He was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968 for Hall of Fame defenseman Pierre Pilote. While Pilote played one season for the Maple Leafs before retiring, Pappin played seven seasons for the Blackhawks. He scored 216 goals and 444 points in 488 regular-season games.

In 1972, Pappin set a franchise record by scoring two goals in six seconds against the Philadelphia Flyers. He set a career-high with 41 goals and 92 points during the 1972-73 season. He scored at least 30 goals in four of his seven seasons in Chicago. He scored 26 goals and 52 points in 69 playoff games. He was a big part of the Blackhawks’ runs to the Stanley Cup Final in 1971 and 1973. In 1971, he had 10 goals and 14 points and scored eight goals and 15 points two years later.

No. 9 – Bobby Hull

Number of players to wear No. 9: 9
First to wear No. 9: Roy Conacher
Last to wear No. 9: Bobby Hull
The rest of the No. 9s: Steve Wituik, Pete Conacher, Nick Mickoski, Dutch Reibel, Tod Sloan, Bronco Horvath, Len Lunde
Fun Fact: 9 was the third number Hull wore in his career, after 16 and 7.

While No. 7 was the toughest choice, No. 9 is one of the easiest. When you have a statue of your likeness in front of the United Center, you’re the best player to wear your number. Bobby Hull is the greatest goal scorer in franchise history, and an iconic name in NHL lore. His 604 goals are the most scored by any Blackhawk. He is fifth all-time with 549 assists and third with 1,153 points. He is responsible for five of the eight 50-goal seasons in team history.

No. 10 – Dennis Hull

Number of players to wear No. 10: 16
First to wear No. 10: Pete Babando
Last to wear No. 10: Patrick Sharp
The rest of the No. 10s: Vic Lynn, Lou Jankowski, Ed Stanford, Forbes Kennedy, Ron Murphy, Dennis Hull, Art Stratton, John Miszuk, Jack Stanfield, Reg Kerr, Jeff Larmer, Dave Donnelly, Brian Noonan, Tony Amonte
Fun Fact: Patrick Sharp’s 42 playoff goals are the most scored by a No. 10 in team history.

There has been a lot of recent success for the No. 10. Patrick Sharp won three Stanley Cups wearing it, while Tony Amonte was a goal-scoring force before him. However, Dennis Hull’s overall Blackhawks career was superior. While he never got the glory or hit the individual heights that his older brother Bobby hit, he still had a career worthy of being inducted into the Blackhawks Hall of Fame one day.

Hull played 959 games over his 13 seasons in Chicago, scoring 303 goals and 654 points. He registered seven seasons of at least 25 goals. His best years came on the MPH line along with Pit Martin and Pappin. He had seasons of 40, 30, 39, and 29 goals playing on this line. He played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union and scored two goals and four points in his four games. The “Silver Jet” played in five NHL All-Star Games and led the Blackhawks with nine goals and 24 points during their run to the 1973 Stanley Cup Final.

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