5 Hockey Hall of Famers Who Played for the Chicago Blackhawks

An Original 6 National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, the Chicago Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup six times since its inception in 1926. In addition to modern-day stars like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013, and 2015, Chicago has had many legendary players on its roster during the past century. Forty former Blackhawks players are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF). Many of these players, including Ed Belfour, Stan Mikita, and Bobby Hull, spent the majority of their career in Chicago.

However, some of the former Blackhawks players in the HHOF played only a couple of seasons in Chicago. Below is a look at five Hall of Famers who played three or fewer seasons in the Windy City.

Bobby Orr

A native of Parry Sound, Ontario, Bobby Orr is arguably the greatest defenseman of all-time. A three-time Hart Trophy winner as the most valuable player and eight-time Norris Trophy winner as the league’s best defenseman, Orr is synonymous with the Boston Bruins. He debuted with the team in the 1966–67 season and won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top defenseman after recording 41 points in 61 games. He won the Norris Trophy in each of the following eight seasons with Boston and recorded at least 100 points in six consecutive seasons from 1969–70 to 1974–75.

Although he’s forever remembered as a Bruin, Orr actually concluded his career with the Blackhawks. He signed with the team as a free agent in 1976, but only played 26 games across two seasons due to injury. Orr underwent more than a dozen knee surgeries throughout his career and was forced to retire in 1979 after playing just six games in the 1978–79 season.

Orr, who is still the only defenseman to ever lead the league in scoring, was inducted into the HHOF on June 12, 1971, at just 31 years old. The HHOF waived its typical three-year waiting period for Orr, making him the youngest inductee in HHOF history.

Orr, who is still the only defenseman to ever lead the league in scoring, was inducted into the HHOF on June 12, 1971, at just 31 years old. The HHOF waived its typical three-year waiting period for Orr, making him the youngest inductee in HHOF history. Orr’s impact on the sport was so important that there’s even a Bobby Orr Hall of Fame in his hometown.

Doug Gilmour

Doug Gilmour played for seven different teams during his 20-year NHL career from 1983–84 to 2002–03. Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the seventh round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, Gilmour played five seasons in St. Louis and later played for the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New Jersey Devils. He signed with the Blackhawks as a free agent in July 1998 and recorded 112 points through 135 games across two seasons with the team. Chicago traded Gilmour and J.P. Dumont to the Buffalo Sabres for Michal Grosek in March 2000.

Gilmour won the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989 and won the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in 1992–93. He was inducted into the HHOF in 2011.

Ted Lindsay

Inducted into the HHOF in 1966, Ted Lindsay was a nine-time All-Star and four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer in 1949–50 with 78 points in 69 games. Lindsay played 14 seasons of his 17-year career in Detroit and played three seasons with Chicago from 1957–58 to 1959–60. He recorded 123 points in 206 regular season games with the Blackhawks.

Lindsay, who played a key role in the creation of the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), is now the namesake of the league’s MVP award as voted by the players. Recent recipients of the Ted Lindsay Award include Kane (Blackhawks), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), and Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs).

Howie Morenz

A three-time Hart Trophy winner with the Montreal Canadiens, Howie Morenz recorded 421 points in 460 games through 12 seasons in Montreal. He won the Hart Trophy in 1928, 1931, and 1932. Chicago acquired Morenz, Marty Burke, and Lorne Chabot from the Canadiens in exchange for Lionel Conacher, Leroy Goldsworthy, and Roger Jenkins in October 1934. Morenz played just 72 games in parts of two seasons with Chicago before being dealt to the New York Rangers for Glenn Brydson. He was inducted into the HHOF in 1945.

Paul Coffey

A four-time Stanley Cup winner and three-time Norris Trophy recipient, Paul Coffey played 1,409 career regular season games in 21 seasons with eight different teams. He’s best known for his time in Edmonton, where he recorded 669 points in 532 games. Coffey’s shortest stint among the eight teams for which he played was with the Blackhawks. He was acquired by the team late in the 1998–99 season and played just 10 games. He was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes the following December. Coffey was inducted into the HHOF in 2004.