1988–89 Chicago Blackhawks season
| 1988–89 Chicago Blackhawks | |
|---|---|
| Division | 4th Norris |
| Conference | 8th Campbell |
| 1988–89 record | 27–41–12 |
| Home record | 16–14–10 |
| Road record | 11–27–2 |
| Goals for | 297 |
| Goals against | 335 |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Bob Pulford |
| Coach | Mike Keenan |
| Captain |
Denis Savard (Oct-Mar) Dirk Graham (Mar-May) |
| Alternate captains |
Keith Brown Doug Wilson |
| Arena | Chicago Stadium |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Steve Larmer (43) |
| Assists | Denis Savard (59) |
| Points | Steve Larmer (87) |
| Penalties in minutes | Dave Manson (352) |
| Wins | Alain Chevrier (13) |
| Goals against average | Alain Chevrier (3.51) |
The 1988–89 Chicago Blackhawks season saw the Blackhawks finish in fourth place in the Norris Division with a record of 27 wins, 41 losses, and 12 ties for 66 points. In the playoffs, they defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to two in the Division Semifinals and the St. Louis Blues four games to one in the Division Finals. However, they lost the Campbell Conference Finals four games to one to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames.
The biggest move the Blackhawks made on the ice in the offseason was drafting Boston native Jeremy Roenick with the number 8 pick. Roenick completed his junior year of high school before the draft, and made his NHL debut later that season scoring 18 points in 20 games. The biggest move the Blackhawks made off the ice was GM Bob Pulford replacing Bob Murdoch as Coach with Mike Keenan. The Keenan years resulting in some of the most exciting hockey in Chicago since the Hull/Mikita years - both on the ice (as the Hawks would reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992) and off the ice (as Keenan feuded with virtually every star on the team).
The Blackhawks had several prolongated losing streaks - opening the season by losing seven of the first nine, then losing nine straight from mid-November to mid-December, then finishing the year losing nine of the last 13. The Hawks struggled in shorthanded-situations, allowing the most regular season power play goals in the league, with 122.
Offensively, Steve Larmer led the team with 43 goals and 87 points. Dennis Savard led the team in assists with 59, and was second in overall points with 82. In January 1988, the Blackhawks acquired Dirk Graham from Minnesota for Curt Fraser, in what would be one of the organization's better trades. Doug Wilson and Dave Manson led the defense in scoring with 62 and 54 points respectively.
In goal, the Blackhawks struggled to find the right netminder. Darren Pang started the season but his 4.38 goals against average resulted in only a 10-11-6 record. The Blackhawks acquired Alain Chevrier from Winnipeg in January 1989 and he faired slightly better with a 3.51 goals against average and a 13-11-2 record. The Hawks were hoping that 1987's first round draft choice Jim Waite would be the answer, but he failed to win a game, ending with a 0-7-1 record and a 5.22 goals against average. By year-end, they were forced to rely on an undrafted rookie named Eddie Belfour who only had a 4-12-3 record, but did have a respectable 3.87 goals against average.
...
Wikipedia