Clubhouse Chatter: What's most memorable from the John McDonough era?

What our Sports staff has to say while waiting for the games to resume.

Three Stanley Cups.

- Barry Rozner

Aside from the Bulls' run of six titles in eight years, for Chicago sports fans, it'll be tough to top the Blackhawks' three Stanley Cup championships in six years. The John McDonough era will be remembered forever.

- Kevin Schmit

I remember him taking the Stanley Cup trophy to his alma mater, Notre Dame High School in Niles. In one of the unique gymnasiums in the state, he gave a nifty little speech to the students. He talked about how even someone like him, who did not exactly have the highest class ranking at his high school, could still get to a position like he had with the Blackhawks. So reach for your dreams.

- John Leusch

The Stanley Cup championships. It was fun to see Chicago so excited about hockey again.

- Patricia Babcock McGraw

I remember going to Blackhawks games and basically sitting in empty sections. Pre-social distancing, if you will. The Hawks were a backward organization on the sales and marketing end, and the product on the ice wasn't much better. McDonough instantly changed that when he moved from MLB to the NHL.

- Scot Gregor

Three Stanley Cups.

- John Lemon

Of course the hallmark of John McDonough's tenure with the Blackhawks would be the three Stanley Cup Finals won between 2010 and 2015 - for which former general manager Dale Tallon also deserves credit for establishing an early foundation. However, as he did with the Cubs, McDonough had a profound ability to deliver relevance to a franchise whose nightly attendance had dipped to the low thousands. Again, though, I feel Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz was the person most instrumental in that dramatic turnaround.

- Dave Oberhelman

I'm not the biggest Hawks or NHL fan but anyone who can orchestrate three championships for any Chicago pro sports franchise needs to be remembered as an icon. Maybe he could do the same for the White Sox or the Bears?

- John Radtke

John McDonough oversaw the greatest makeover in Chicago sports history. The Blackhawks were an afterthought on the local sports scene when he took over on 2007. He made common-sense moves like putting home games on television and hiring smart people who drafted good talent. Three Stanley Cup titles later, he will be remembered as one of the top front-office executives this town has ever seen.

- Jerry Fitzpatrick

John McDonough's tenure with the Blackhawks should be remembered the same way as his time with the Cubs and the Sting before that. He should be remembered for consistent success, drawing fans to games with or without (but often with) improved play on the field/ice.

- Orrin Schwarz

Image not being able to watch Blackhawks home games on free TV while they were winning three Stanley Cups in six years. Thank you, John McDonough.

- Joe Aguilar

The thing I remember about the John McDonough era is how quickly things changed after he was hired. In March 2007, our family went to a Blackhawks game with about 6,000 other fans. The United Center felt like a cavernous tomb. No energy, no emotion. Nothing. Just two years later McDonough helped bring the franchise out of the 1950s and set the place on fire. Seats that were $10 suddenly cost $75. Playoff tickets were nearly impossible to get. Standing room only at Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2015 were going for $1,000. He had plenty of help, but McDonough started it all and Hawks fans should be eternally grateful.

- John Dietz