1988–89 Chicago Blackhawks season


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.

Offseason

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 and off the ice.

NHL Draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club Team
18Jeremy Roenick Thayer Academy
350Trevor Dam London Knights
471Stefan Elvenes Rogle BK
592Joe Cleary Stratford Cullitons
6113Justin Lafayette Ferris State University
7134Craig Woodcroft Colgate University
8155Jon Pojar Roseville High School
9176Matt Hentges Edina High School
10197Daniel Maurice Chicoutimi Sagueneens
11218Dirk Tenzer St. Paul's School
12239Andreas Lupzig EV Landshut
S13Todd Wolf Colgate University

Regular season

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 fared 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.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Player stats

Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
Steve Larmer8043448754
Denis Savard58235982110
Dirk Graham8033457889
Troy Murray79213051113
Wayne Presley72211940100
Steve Thomas4521194069
Adam Creighton4315142992
Rick Vaive3012132560
Mike Hudson417162320
Jeremy Roenick2099184
Brian Noonan454121628
Bob Bassen494121662
Duane Sutter757916214
Mike Eagles475111644
Everett Sanipass506915164
Dan Vincelette6611415119
David Mackey2312378
Bill Gardner61120
Mike Stapleton70117
Jari Torkki41010
Bill Watson30114
Steve Ludzik61018
Mike Rucinski10000
Wayne Van Dorp800023
Warren Rychel200017
Greg Gilbert40000

Defensemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
Doug Wilson6615476269
Dave Manson79183654352
Trent Yawney6951924116
Keith Brown742161884
Steve Konroyd57571240
Bob Murray1524627
Gary Nylund2332563
Bob McGill68044155
Bruce Cassidy90224
Mario Doyon71126
Marc Bergevin1100018
Glen Cochrane600013
Kent Paynter10002
Jim Playfair700028

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
PlayerGPWLTSOGAA
Alain Chevrier271311203.51
Darren Pang351011604.38
Ed Belfour23412303.87
Chris Clifford100000.00
Jimmy Waite1107105.22

Playoffs

Despite their awful 27-41-12 record, the Blackhawks made the playoffs by finishing in fourth place in the weak Norris Division. After three straight years of first-round defeats in the playoffs, the Blackhawks would raise their level of play considerably by stunning the Detroit Red Wings in six games. Denis Savard's 13 points in the series tied a team record shared by Hull and Mikita.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Detroit Red Wings
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
April 5Chicago Blackhawks2Detroit Red Wings3
April 6Chicago Blackhawks5Detroit Red Wings4
April 8Detroit Red Wings2Chicago Blackhawks4
April 9Detroit Red Wings2Chicago Blackhawks3
April 11Chicago Blackhawks4Detroit Red Wings6
April 13Detroit Red Wings1Chicago Blackhawks7

Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 2
Staying hot in the Norris Finals the Hawks would beat the St. Louis Blues in five games.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
DateAwayScoreHomeScore
April 18Chicago Blackhawks3St. Louis Blues1
April 20Chicago Blackhawks4St. Louis Blues5
April 22St. Louis Blues2Chicago Blackhawks5
April 24St. Louis Blues2Chicago Blackhawks3
April 26Chicago Blackhawks4St. Louis Blues2

Chicago wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1
After a great playoff run, the Blackhawks Cup dreams would end up in ashes as they would be beaten by the eventual Stanley Cup champions Calgary Flames in five games. Denis Savard and Steve Larmer led the team throughout the playoffs averaging more than a point a game. Dave Manson set a team record that still stands with 84 penalty minutes in the playoffs.
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames
DateAwayScoreHomeScoreNotes
May 2Chicago Blackhawks0Calgary Flames3
May 4Chicago Blackhawks4Calgary Flames2
May 6Calgary Flames5Chicago Blackhawks2
May 8Calgary Flames2Chicago Blackhawks1
May 10Chicago Blackhawks1Calgary Flames3

Calgary wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 1