Hawks to retire Chelios' number 7 (2024)

Obviously not all of these guys are getting their numbers retired, but it's interesting. Zawaski was saying the last 4 are automatic (duh) but guys like Larmer and Belfour have strong cases. He also said Roenick might too but the off ice stuff with his mouth getting him in trouble alot may hurt him (he doesn't have the years and numbers like say Bobby Hull for example to help offset that).

Also you can argue Chelios is still the greatest American born player ever (Kane's career isn't over yet though).

Chelios attained five All-Star Team selections, won two Norris trophies, a runner-up and a third place finish while playing in seven All-Star games as a Hawk and representing Team USA as well, with a World Cup of Hockey gold medal in 1996.

I mean, that is a lot of Hawks accomplishments or during his time with the team. You could have a Hall of Famer based on what he did with his time with this team alone.

If he retired in 1999 after his trade to Detroit, nobody is questioning this.

Blackhawkswincup said:

#7 will always be Seabrook

When he is eligible his banner needs to go up

But the travesty that is treatment of #28 and #24 should have long been rectified

Both should be up there especially now that Wilson is in HOF which puts to rest that nonsense (Must be HOF crap) that already was shown to be nonsense with Magnuson

#7, #19, #24, #28, #50 and #88 should all go up

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OT, but I was pretty surprised when Wilson was elected to the HHOF. Not sure his number should be retired either. He was a pretty average defenseman in his own zone.

Hawkaholic said:

I don't think Hossa should have got his number retired either, but he has more of a case as he is a HHOFer and was a much better player than Sharp was. It doesn't matter what you think of the HHOF thing.

Sharp didn't really do anything major of note while with the Hawks, whereas at least Seabs played more than 1000 games and spent his entire playing career here.

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Sharp was a member of all three Cup winning teams and was consistently a great player...he has more playoff goals than Toews for example (bubble play in doesn't count)

Wore an A
Played over a decade
Was never an albatross.

He lead the Hawks in playoffs goal scored in both 2010 and 2013... I'd say that more major then anything Seabrook or Hossa did here.

I'm not saying it should 100% just if you are going to retire 81 for Hossa and 7 for Seabrook there really no reason to not retire Sharp's number based on what they did as Blackhawks

Blackhawkswincup said:

#7 will always be Seabrook

When he is eligible his banner needs to go up

But the travesty that is treatment of #28 and #24 should have long been rectified

Both should be up there especially now that Wilson is in HOF which puts to rest that nonsense (Must be HOF crap) that already was shown to be nonsense with Magnuson

#7, #19, #24, #28, #50 and #88 should all go up

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Screw Doug Wilson after offersheeting Hammer. He had a great shot, though

Blackhawkswincup said:

#7 will always be Seabrook

When he is eligible his banner needs to go up

But the travesty that is treatment of #28 and #24 should have long been rectified

Both should be up there especially now that Wilson is in HOF which puts to rest that nonsense (Must be HOF crap) that already was shown to be nonsense with Magnuson

#7, #19, #24, #28, #50 and #88 should all go up

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Yeah, #7 and #50 should obviously go up long before #2.

People really want #2, #7, #10, #19, #50, #81, #88 to all go up in the rafters, jesus christ, don't want to leave anyone out.

#2, #19 and #88. I'm fine with Hossa, I guess, but anyone else just waters down the merit.

In a perfect world it would just be 88, 2, 19.

Give the others another honor night but no retired numbers.

But I expect the flood gates will really open for the 100th year

If No. 7 is being retired for Chelios (something I support), I wouldn’t be against Seabrook being honored, too, since the number is going out of circulation.

Then 2, 19, 88 - and I hope one day, No. 98 will merit retirement. If so, good days are ahead.

Congrats to Chelios. However, Seabrook might not have the numbers, but he meant more to the Blackhawks than Chelios. It should be a dual player retirement.

To be honest, 7 shouldn't be retired. 88, 2, and 19 should be the three numbers retired. You can make an argument for Hossa much like Seabrook and Chelios. However, retired numbers should imply one played their vast majority of their NHL career with the Blackhawks IMO.

co*kenoPepsi said:

In a perfect world it would just be 88, 2, 19.

Give the others another honor night but no retired numbers.

But I expect the flood gates will really open for the 100th year

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Exactly. Have a Wall of Fame or something where players have a plaque but keep their number in use. Only retire the numbers for truly special, HOF-quality players. From this past era only 88, 2, and 19 should have their numbers retired. 50, 4, 81, 10, and 7 can be forever remembered by being on the Wall of Fame.

Kaners PPGs said:

Exactly. Have a Wall of Fame or something where players have a plaque but keep their number in use. Only retire the numbers for truly special, HOF-quality players. From this past era only 88, 2, and 19 should have their numbers retired. 50, 4, 81, 10, and 7 can be forever remembered by being on the Wall of Fame.

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I’m fine with 81 being retired as Hossa is a member of the HHOF. I agree with the rest of them.

jaysoneil said:

Yeah, #7 and #50 should obviously go up long before #2.

People really want #2, #7, #10, #19, #50, #81, #88 to all go up in the rafters, jesus christ, don't want to leave anyone out.

#2, #19 and #88. I'm fine with Hossa, I guess, but anyone else just waters down the merit.

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Forgot about Keith

Paul Allen said:

I’m fine with 81 being retired as Hossa is a member of the HHOF. I agree with the rest of them.

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Hossa is the biggest one on the fence for me.

Hossa was the biggest free agent signing in franchise history, was individually the biggest and best storyline of the 2009-10 season and postseason due to losing two straight Cups prior, and was an enormous part of the reason why we had a sovereignty era to begin with.

Hoss absolutely deserved to have had his number retired here.

Oh, and his contract turned the rest of the NHL into such salty whiners that they decided to disarm themselves while allowing the Hawks to retain a competitive advantage by keeping such a fantastic contract grandfathered in. Hilarity, and all because other GMs didn't want to do math and other owners were cheapskates. His contract should have a banner raising, too. Alongside Keith's.

No Fun Shogun said:

Hossa was the biggest free agent signing in franchise history, was individually the biggest and best storyline of the 2009-10 season and postseason due to losing two straight Cups prior, and was an enormous part of the reason why we had a sovereignty era to begin with.

Hoss absolutely deserved to have had his number retired here.

Oh, and his contract turned the rest of the NHL into such salty whiners that they decided to disarm themselves while allowing the Hawks to retain a competitive advantage by keeping such a fantastic contract grandfathered in. Hilarity, and all because other GMs didn't want to do math and other owners were cheapskates. His contract should have a banner raising, too. Alongside Keith's.

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I agree with this in a major way. I feel like people who really know hockey actually understand Hossa's impact on this club. I honestly believe HE was the overall key to the Hawks being able to do what they did. He was so good across all aspects of the game that it allowed everyone else to play their role well while he could exceed anywhere and cover their gaps. Hoss is the boss.

EddieTheEagle said:

I agree with this in a major way. I feel like people who really know hockey actually understand Hossa's impact on this club. I honestly believe HE was the overall key to the Hawks being able to do what they did. He was so good across all aspects of the game that it allowed everyone else to play their role well while he could exceed anywhere and cover their gaps. Hoss is the boss.

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Agreed... and I would say the same about Keith.

co*kenoPepsi said:

Sharp was a member of all three Cup winning teams and was consistently a great player...he has more playoff goals than Toews for example (bubble play in doesn't count)

Wore an A
Played over a decade
Was never an albatross.

He lead the Hawks in playoffs goal scored in both 2010 and 2013... I'd say that more major then anything Seabrook or Hossa did here.

I'm not saying it should 100% just if you are going to retire 81 for Hossa and 7 for Seabrook there really no reason to not retire Sharp's number based on what they did as Blackhawks

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He wasn't near the level of Toews (who you are trying to trash again, to no ones surprise), or Hossa, or even Seabrook in their respective careers, not even really that close. And Toews play-in goals don't count? May want to check every NHL stat website that is out there, they will disagree with you. lol Your gimmick is old, go back to the Canucks board.

He was in their time in Chicago...pretty consistently one of the teams top goal scorers, made the Canadian Olympic team.

I feel fine discounting the play in goals as those COVID seasons were a joke the Blackhawks last in the division yet they are in the playoffs? C'mon man.

But fine let's count the play in goals.

Playoff GPG as Blackhawks

Sharp: 0.36
Toews: 0.32
Hossa: 0.19

All that said, I'm fine not retiring Sharp's number as long as guys like Seabrook, Crawford don't either.

At this point, short of untimely death, the Blackhawks number retirement seems exclusive to either HOFers, Chicago cup winners, or both. Hence why guys like Larmer aren't up there, at least not until they make the HOF, while Hossa is an obvious no-brainer as a 3 time cup winner AND 1st ballot HOFer.

I wouldn't mind some kind of other celebration of guys like Sharp, Crawford, Seabrook, Hjalmarrson, etc, but I wouldn't be against them going up in the rafters either. They deserve their due, but obviously none of them are on the level of a Toews, Kane or a Keith, who are all first-ballot HOFers in addition to 3 time cup winners.

2- Keith
7 - Seabs
19 - Toews
81 - Hossa
88 - Kane

Those are my picks. I love me some Hjalmy, Sharpie, and Crow but I don't think they should be included.

I believe the 5 guys above will be in the HHOF one day.

co*kenoPepsi said:

I feel fine discounting the play in goals as those COVID seasons were a joke the Blackhawks last in the division yet they are in the playoffs? C'mon man.

But fine let's count the play in goals.

Playoff GPG as Blackhawks

Sharp: 0.36
Toews: 0.32
Hossa: 0.19

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It's ridiculous that you don't want to count the bubble playoff goals in their total playoff goal tally but then when you say, "Okay, let's count them" you switch to playoff goals per game played as Blackhawks. You're really showing your Toews hate here.

co*kenoPepsi said:

He was in their time in Chicago...pretty consistently one of the teams top goal scorers, made the Canadian Olympic team.

I feel fine discounting the play in goals as those COVID seasons were a joke the Blackhawks last in the division yet they are in the playoffs? C'mon man.

But fine let's count the play in goals.

Playoff GPG as Blackhawks

Sharp: 0.36
Toews: 0.32
Hossa: 0.19

All that said, I'm fine not retiring Sharp's number as long as guys like Seabrook, Crawford don't either.

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Seabrook played like a whole 400 more games for the Blackhawks than Sharp. Is 3rd all-time in games played. Sharp had more goals of course and even than others, but does Sharp have any iconic goal moments?

It seems rather lacking Seabrook has 3 OT winners. Did Sharp have any or any heroic game tieing or game winning goals in tight spots? It's hard to anoint Sharp on the same historic iconic point when his career is a lot less. He wasn't a lesser player, I'd say theyre equal but Seabrook has bigger moments and a team significant longevity.

I used to think a double Chelios/Seabs and Sharp/Amonte would happen but it just isn't the same case. Seabrook will deserve it especially since 7 is already being retired now with Chelios

Crawford #50 is very deserving

260-162-53
2.45 GAA
.918 Sv Pct
26 SO

Playoffs
54-42
2.38 GAA
.918 Sv Pct
5 SO

Crawford is #1 in playoff wins (Pretty much #1 in every playoff goalie metric for Hawks) and only goalie in Hawks history with multiple Stanley Cups as Hawks #1

Crawford is #3 in Wins, Games Played, Minutes played and saves behind Tony Esposito and Glenn Hall

His GAA and Sv Pct are best in franchise history among starting goalies to play for Hawks (Yes I know era makes big difference in Sv Pct especially)

Injuries at end of his career are only reason he didn't reach 300+ wins and pass Hall with regard to wins in franchise history.

His legacy is also hurt by him being robbed of 2013 Conn Smythe all because writers didn't want to give it to another goalie after Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick wins