The 1969–70

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

season was the Hawks' 44th

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

in the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

, and the club was coming off a sixth-place finish in the East Division in 1968–69, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1957–58 season. Despite missing the playoffs, the Black Hawks had a record of 34–33–9, earning 77 points, as they had their ninth consecutive season of playing over .500 hockey. During the off-season, Chicago claimed goaltender Tony Esposito from the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

in the intra-league draft on June 11, 1969. The Hawks also named Pat Stapleton as their new team captain. The Black Hawks did not have a captain for the 1968–69 season, as the spot was not filled after former captain

Pierre Pilote Joseph Albert Pierre Paul Pilote (December 11, 1931 – September 9, 2017) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and perennial All-Star, most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League (NHL), for which he served ...

was traded during the 1968 off-season. The Black Hawks began the season very slowly, as they lost their opening five games to quickly fall into the East Division cellar. Chicago then rebounded, and after 35 games, the Hawks had a 15–15–5 record. The Black Hawks then got hot, as they went on a seven-game winning streak, and continued to play great hockey for the rest of the season, as Chicago won a franchise record 45 games, earning a club record 99 points tied with

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

for first overall. However, since Chicago won five more games, they finished in first place for the second time in franchise history and were awarded the

Prince of Wales Trophy The Prince of Wales Trophy, also known as the Wales Trophy, is a team award presented by the National Hockey League (NHL). Named for Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and then Duke of Windsor), it has been awarded for different ac ...

. Offensively, the Hawks were led by

Stan Mikita Stanley Mikita (born Stanislav Guoth; May 20, 1940 – August 7, 2018) was a Slovaks, Slovak-born Canadian ice hockey player for the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League, generally regarded as the best Centre (ic ...

, who scored a team high 39 goals, 47 assists and 86 points, as he finished third in the NHL scoring race.

Bobby Hull Robert Marvin Hull (January 3, 1939 – January 30, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His blond hair, skating speed, end-to-end rushes, and ability to shoot t ...

had another solid season, scoring 38 goals and 67 points, while

Pit Martin Hubert Jacques "Pit" Martin (December 9, 1943 – November 30, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who served as captain for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1975 to 1977. He was an NHL All-Star and ...

had 30 goals and 63 points. Team captain Pat Stapleton led the defense with 42 points, while Keith Magnuson had a club record 213 penalty minutes, along with a club high +38 rating. In goal, Tony Esposito emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the league, as he won a club record 38 games, while posting a 2.17 GAA and a team record 15 shutouts. Esposito was awarded the

Calder Memorial Trophy The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League (NHL)." It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL. Serving ...

and the

Vezina Trophy The Vezina Trophy ( ) is awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the thirty-two List of NHL general managers, NHL general managers vote to dete ...

for his efforts. The Hawks opened the playoffs against the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

in the East Division semi-finals. The Red Wings finished the season with a 40–21–15 record, earning 95 points, which was good for third in the East Division. The series opened with two games at

Chicago Stadium Chicago Stadium was an indoor arena in Chicago from 1929 to 1995. When it was built, it was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000. It was the home of the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and ...

, and the Black Hawks used home ice to their advantage, as they defeated Detroit by scores of 4–2 in both games to take the early series lead. The series shifted to the

Detroit Olympia Detroit Olympia, also known as Olympia Stadium, was a multi-purpose arena in Detroit. Nicknamed "The Old Red Barn", it was best known as the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from its opening in 1927 to 1979. Hist ...

for the next two games, however, Chicago stayed hot, as they once again won both games by scores of 4–2 to sweep the series and advance to the next playoff round. Chicago faced the

in the East Division finals. Both teams finished the season with 99 points, however, since Boston had a record of 40–17–19, which was five wins less than Chicago, the Black Hawks were awarded home ice advantage. The Bruins had defeated the

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

in their opening round. The series opened in Chicago, however, it was the Bruins who took control of the series, winning both games at Chicago Stadium by scores of 6–3 and 4–1 to take the series lead. The series moved to the

Boston Garden The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928, as "Boston Madison Square Garden" (later ...

for the next two games, and the Bruins easily knocked off the Black Hawks, winning the third game by a 5–2 score, then clinching the series with a 5–4 victory in the fourth game, sweeping the Black Hawks.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Regular season

, - , 1 , , October 11 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–7 , ,

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

, , 0–1–0 , , 0 , - , 2 , , October 12 , ,

Oakland Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967 to 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. The ...

, , 2–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–2–0 , , 0 , - , 3 , , October 15 , ,

, , 4–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–3–0 , , 0 , - , 4 , , October 18 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–4 , ,

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

, , 0–4–0 , , 0 , - , 5 , , October 19 , ,

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

, , 4–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–5–0 , , 0 , - , 6 , , October 22 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–1 , ,

, , 0–5–1 , , 1 , - , 7 , , October 25 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 5–0 , ,

, , 1–5–1 , , 3 , - , 8 , , October 29 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–3 , ,

, , 1–6–1 , , 3 , - , - , 9 , , November 1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–1 , ,

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

, , 2–6–1 , , 5 , - , 10 , , November 5 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–6–1 , , 7 , - , 11 , , November 8 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–1 , ,

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

, , 4–6–1 , , 9 , - , 12 , , November 9 , ,

, , 0–9 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 5–6–1 , , 11 , - , 13 , , November 15 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 6–6–1 , , 13 , - , 14 , , November 16 , ,

, , 0–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 7–6–1 , , 15 , - , 15 , , November 19 , ,

, , 1–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 7–6–2 , , 16 , - , 16 , , November 21 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 7–6–3 , , 17 , - , 17 , , November 23 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 8–6–3 , , 19 , - , 18 , , November 26 , ,

, , 0–6 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 9–6–3 , , 21 , - , 19 , , November 29 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–5 , ,

, , 9–7–3 , , 21 , - , 20 , , November 30 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 10–7–3 , , 23 , - , - , 21 , , December 3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–3 , ,

, , 10–7–4 , , 24 , - , 22 , , December 4 , ,

, , 1–0 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 10–8–4 , , 24 , - , 23 , , December 6 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–6 , ,

, , 10–9–4 , , 24 , - , 24 , , December 7 , ,

, , 1–5 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 11–9–4 , , 26 , - , 25 , , December 10 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 5–8 , ,

, , 11–10–4 , , 26 , - , 26 , , December 13 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–4 , ,

, , 11–11–4 , , 26 , - , 27 , , December 14 , ,

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

, , 1–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 12–11–4 , , 28 , - , 28 , , December 17 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–3 , ,

, , 12–12–4 , , 28 , - , 29 , , December 19 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–0 , ,

, , 13–12–4 , , 30 , - , 30 , , December 21 , ,

, , 0–4 , , Chicago Black , , 14–12–4 , , 32 , - , 31 , , December 25 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–4 , ,

, , 14–12–5 , , 33 , - , 32 , , December 27 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–0 , ,

, , 15–12–5 , , 35 , - , 33 , , December 31 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–2 , ,

, , 15–13–5 , , 35 , - , - , 34 , , January 3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–6 , ,

, , 15–14–5 , , 35 , - , 35 , , January 4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–4 , ,

, , 15–15–5 , , 35 , - , 36 , , January 7 , ,

, , 0–7 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 16–15–5 , , 37 , - , 37 , , January 10 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 6–2 , ,

, , 17–15–5 , , 39 , - , 38 , , January 11 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 18–15–5 , , 41 , - , 39 , , January 14 , ,

, , 0–5 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 19–15–5 , , 43 , - , 40 , , January 17 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–0 , ,

, , 20–15–5 , , 45 , - , 41 , , January 18 , ,

, , 1–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 21–15–5 , , 47 , - , 42 , , January 22 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–3 , ,

, , 22–15–5 , , 49 , - , 43 , , January 24 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–4 , ,

, , 22–16–5 , , 49 , - , 44 , , January 25 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 22–17–5 , , 49 , - , 45 , , January 28 , ,

, , 2–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 22–17–6 , , 50 , - , 46 , , January 31 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 5–0 , ,

, , 23–17–6 , , 52 , - , - , 47 , , February 1 , ,

, , 4–7 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 24–17–6 , , 54 , - , 48 , , February 4 , ,

, , 4–8 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 25–17–6 , , 56 , - , 49 , , February 7 , ,

, , 4–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 25–17–7 , , 57 , - , 50 , , February 8 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 25–18–7 , , 57 , - , 51 , , February 11 , ,

, , 1–7 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 26–18–7 , , 59 , - , 52 , , February 14 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 5–2 , ,

, , 27–18–7 , , 61 , - , 53 , , February 15 , ,

, , 4–6 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 28–18–7 , , 63 , - , 54 , , February 18 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–5 , ,

, , 28–19–7 , , 63 , - , 55 , , February 19 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 29–19–7 , , 65 , - , 56 , , February 21 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 30–19–7 , , 67 , - , 57 , , February 22 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 31–19–7 , , 69 , - , 58 , , February 26 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–2 , ,

, , 32–19–7 , , 71 , - , 59 , , February 28 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–3 , ,

, , 32–20–7 , , 71 , - , - , 60 , , March 1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–1 , ,

, , 33–20–7 , , 73 , - , 61 , , March 3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–1 , ,

, , 34–20–7 , , 75 , - , 62 , , March 6 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–2 , ,

, , 35–20–7 , , 77 , - , 63 , , March 8 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 3–2 , ,

, , 36–20–7 , , 79 , - , 64 , , March 10 , ,

, , 0–0 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 36–20–8 , , 80 , - , 65 , , March 14 , ,

, , 4–7 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 37–20–8 , , 82 , - , 66 , , March 15 , ,

, , 2–5 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 38–20–8 , , 84 , - , 67 , , March 18 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 7–4 , ,

, , 39–20–8 , , 86 , - , 68 , , March 19 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–3 , ,

, , 39–21–8 , , 86 , - , 69 , , March 21 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 5–3 , ,

, , 40–21–8 , , 88 , - , 70 , , March 22 , ,

, , 0–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 41–21–8 , , 90 , - , 71 , , March 26 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–0 , ,

, , 42–21–8 , , 92 , - , 72 , , March 28 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–1 , ,

, , 42–21–9 , , 93 , - , 73 , , March 29 , ,

, , 0–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 43–21–9 , , 95 , - , - , 74 , , April 1 , ,

, , 5–2 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 43–22–9 , , 95 , - , 75 , , April 4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–1 , ,

, , 44–22–9 , , 97 , - , 76 , , April 5 , ,

, , 2–10 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 45–22–9 , , 99 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 8 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 9 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–0 , - , 3 , , April 11 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–2 , ,

, , 3–0 , - , 4 , , April 12 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–2 , ,

, , 4–0 , - , - , 1 , , April 19 , ,

, , 6–3 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–1 , - , 2 , , April 21 , ,

, , 4–1 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 0–2 , - , 3 , , April 23 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 2–5 , ,

, , 0–3 , - , 4 , , April 26 , , Chicago Black Hawks , , 4–5 , ,

, , 0–4 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Goaltending

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Goaltending

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1969 NHL amateur draft held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth () is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in Canada after the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Lo ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

References

Sources

Hockey-Reference
*

*National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:1969-70 Chicago Black Hawks season Chicago Blackhawks seasons

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...