Bickell signs one-day contract to retire with Blackhawks
Bryan Bickell was hoping to hold it together during his news conference Wednesday to announce he'd signed a one-day contract with the Blackhawks so he could retire as a member of the organization.
But the big man just couldn't do it.
Asked what some of his favorite memories of being a Hawk were - aside from scoring the tying goal during Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 - Bickell took a deep breath and said:
"There's so many to think of. Getting drafted, playing your first game, winning your first Cup. That was a huge honor to win it a couple times. Having a family here. It's something I'm going to have forever."
Bickell, who wept during those last two sentences, then picked up his daughter Kinslee and noticed something sitting on the podium: "Oh, you guys have tissues here. That's great."
Tears mixed with laughter and joy. That sums up Bickell's career so perfectly.
This was a feel-good moment for Bickell, the 31-year-old winger who captured Chicago's hearts during his time here. He was an integral part of the 2013 Stanley Cup team, scoring nine goals during that epic championship run.
Two years later the Hawks won it all again, but he played in just one game of the Stanley Cup Final because he didn't feel right. Those feelings continued to fester and Bickell was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November 2016.
"Every day, every month's getting better," Bickell said. "There's good days, there's bad days but there's more good days than bad. The technology they come out with every month, every year is outstanding. Hopefully one day we can find a cure, and we're going to help out to try to do that."
Bickell added he wants to inspire and help others with MS "any way he can." In retirement, he also hopes to help young, aspiring hockey players.
Bickell opened his news conference thanking the Blackhawks, his family and the media. He was sincerely touched by the outpouring of support when news broke late Tuesday that he would be able to retire as a Hawk.
"Seeing all the texts and (some from) the media; just all the respect for me and the team has built in the city. ... It's an honor to be part of it," Bickell said. "To finish here, it's awesome."
Slap shots:
The Hawks placed Marian Hossa on long-term injured reserve Wednesday and signed defenseman Cody Franson to a one-year deal. They also recalled Alex DeBrincat and Gustav Forsling from Rockford. ... Joel Quenneville said Jordin Tootoo has an upper-body injury that occurred at some point during training camp. Tootoo is on LTIR. ... The Hawks traded Kyle Baun to Montreal for F Andreas Martinsen. The 27-year-old Martinsen, who played in 64 games in the NHL last season for Colorado (55) and Montreal (9), was assigned to Rockford.
Chris Boden is replacing Judd Sirott as the radio studio host for WGN 720-AM. Sirott is headed to Boston to do radio play-by-play for the Bruins.