These 6 Former Chicago Blackhawks Players Are in the Hockey Hall of Fame
One of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Original Six franchises, the Chicago Blackhawks began play in the 1926–27 season and has since won six Stanley Cups, including three in the 21st century. The team has made the playoffs 63 times, and prior to the 2022–23 season, they had an all-time record (W-L-T-OTL) of 2840–2803–814–185.
As one of the most storied clubs in league history, Chicago has had more than 50 former players, coaches, executives, and media members inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF). Below is a look at six of its most distinguished HHOF members.
1. Ed Belfour
One of Chicago’s most recent inductees, goaltender Ed Belfour was voted into the HHOF in 2011, four years after playing his last game in the NHL with the Florida Panthers. A 17-year veteran, Belfour signed with the Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent out of the University of North Dakota in 1987 and played eight seasons with the team before he was dealt to the San Jose Sharks for Chris Terreri, Michal Sykora, and Ulf Dahlén.
Belfour won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in the 1990–91 season and finished third in Hart Trophy voting as the NHL MVP. He led all goaltenders in save percentage (.910) and GAA (2.47) that season and produced a record of 43–19–7. Belfour won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender in 1992–93. He made the year-end all-star team in three seasons during his time with the Blackhawks and concluded his tenure with the team with a 201–138–56 record to go along with a .903 save percentage and 2.65 GAA.
Belfour later played for the Sharks, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Panthers. He won the Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999.
2. Chris Chelios
A three-time Norris Trophy winner as the top defenseman in the league, Chris Chelios began his 26-year NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens after being drafted by the team in the second round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He played seven seasons in Montreal and was shipped to Chicago as part of a package for Denis Savard, another future Hall of Famer, in 1990.
Chelios played nine seasons with the Blackhawks, during which time the defenseman scored 92 goals and added 395 assists for 487 points. He won two of his three Norris Trophies with Chicago in 1992–93 and 1995–96 and finished 10th in Hart Trophy voting in the latter year. Chelios ranks ninth all-time with 1,639 regular season games played.
3. Tony Esposito
Inducted into the HHOF in 1988, Tony Esposito spent all but one of his 16 seasons in the NHL with the Blackhawks. Claimed by the team from the Canadiens in the Intra-League Draft in 1969, Esposito became an instant star with Chicago, winning the Calder Trophy and Vezina Trophy in 1969–70. He led all goaltenders in wins (38), save percentage (.932) and shutouts (15) that season.
Esposito won the Vezina Trophy three times with the Blackhawks and finished in the top 10 of Hart Trophy voting seven times. He retired following the 1983–84 season with 306 career regular season victories to go along with a .906 save percentage and 2.93 GAA. He ranks 10th all-time in wins and games played for a goaltender.
4. Bobby Hull
A two-time World Hockey Association (WHA) champion with the Winnipeg Jets, Bobby Hull played 15 seasons with the Blackhawks in the NHL from 1957–58 to 1971–72. During that time he scored 604 goals and added 549 assists for 1,153 points. He was an all-star in all but three of those 12 seasons and won the Hart Trophy and Lady Byng Trophy in 1964–65. Hull scored 39 goals and had 32 assists that season. He scored a career-best 58 goals and 107 points in 1968–69 and finished fifth in Hart Trophy voting.
5. Stan Mikita
One of the most iconic figures in Blackhawks history, Stan Mikita played his entire 22-year career with the franchise. The Czechoslovakia-born winger joined the team in 1958–59 and finished fourth in Calder Trophy voting the following season. He led the league in scoring in four of five seasons from 1963–64 to 1967–68 and won the Hart Trophy in the latter two of those seasons. Mikita is 15th all-time in career points with 1,467.
6. Denis Savard
Savard, who was dealt to the Canadiens for Chelios in 1990, was originally drafted by the Blackhawks third overall in 1980. He played 10 seasons in his first stint with Chicago and scored at least 23 goals in each of those seasons, including a career-best 47 in the 1985–86 season. He also had 87 assists in 1985–86 and finished the year with 131 points, good enough for fifth in Hart Trophy voting.
Savard returned to the Blackhawks in 1994–95 and played three more seasons with the team. He concluded his NHL career with 1,338 points in 1,196 regular season games and was inducted into the HHOF in 2000.
