A Rocky year: Last 12 months a mixed bag for Blackhawks

When Blackhawks fans look back on 2023, they'll do so with decidedly mixed emotions.

In one way, they got just what they wanted – a shiny new toy who will be the centerpiece to a new era.

In other ways, fans were left with big lumps of coal as franchise icons departed, a beloved owner passed away and yet another scandal reared its ugly head.

Here, we'll put a bow on the last 12 months and tomorrow we'll look ahead to likely the best storylines of 2024.

Nobody was shocked when GM Kyle Davidson traded Patrick Kane to the New York Rangers on Feb. 28. But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt fans and teammates alike.

“It just sucks to lose guys, especially like (Kane),” defenseman Connor Murphy said. “The impact he's made (is) kind of hard to put into words what he means to the city and the organization.”

Kane's reunion with Artemi Panarin was anything but magical, however, as the Rangers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. After undergoing off-season hip surgery, Kane signed a one-year deal with Detroit in November. He has 5 goals and 5 assists, but the Red Wings are 2-7-1 since his arrival.

Jonathan Toews was also expected to be traded, but the recurrence of his illness made that impossible. Instead, Toews worked diligently to return and managed to play in the final seven games of 2023.

The memorable finale included Toews' 372nd career goal, which drew the Hawks within 4-3 in the second period.

Then he almost won the game in overtime, but his breakaway attempt missed the mark.

After both teams and the overflow crowd watched a stirring video montage, Toews' teammates insisted he take one more lap around United Center.

“It's almost hard to accept that love and that praise. So I tried my best to just soak it in,” Toews said. “The guys were telling me I should do one more lap. I was like, ‘That was one too many already right there.'

“It was pretty cool. It was overwhelming.”

The hockey world was stunned when it was announced on July 25 that Hawks owner Rocky Wirtz passed away after a brief illness. The team has been in the Wirtz family since 1954, and Rocky became the fifth principal owner after his father, Bill, died in 2007.

The organization held a public memorial service at United Center on Aug. 9. Dozens of former players and coaches were in attendance, including Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Dennis Savard.

Pat Foley recalled one of his first interactions with Rocky shortly after being reinstated as the Hawks' play-by-play announcer in 2007.

“He always had a way of making you feel special,” Foley said. “Didn't matter if you were the plumber or the bus driver or a CEO. He had a gift for conversing – and even in a short interaction, making people feel better than they did before they said hello to him.”

When the Blackhawks beat the odds and won the NBA draft lottery it gave them the right to draft Connor Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick, which is exactly what they did.

Bedard has lived up to expectations, notching 13 goals and 17 assists in 33 games.

Now imagine how good he'll be when the Hawks open their pocketbook and add all-star caliber talent to the roster.

After an internal investigation that lasted nearly a week, the Hawks placed forward Corey Perry on unconditional waivers and then terminated his contract. The Hawks said Perry was in violation of his contract and the team's “internal policies intended to promote professional and safe work environments.”

Perry later released a statement apologizing for his actions and saying he would seek help for his “struggles with alcohol.”

Bobby Hull, a franchise great who was also one of its most controversial, died on Jan. 30 at the age of 84.

Hull racked up 610 NHL goals, scoring 30 or more in 13 consecutive seasons before leaving for the World Hockey Association in 1972 when the league agreed to pay him $1 million.

Hull teamed up with good friend Stan Mikita to help lead the Hawks to a Stanley Cup title in 1961.

Hull also became the first player to score more than 50 goals in a season on March 12, 1966.