After the Boston Bruins announced earlier this week that they’re putting together an all-time lineup in celebration of their centennial anniversary, I decided to spend some time this weekend discussing an all-time Blackhawks lineup. Yesterday I went through four lines of forwards, making some tough decisions.
Today, let’s turn our attention to the blue line.
The Blackhawks have had some all-time great defensemen play for the organization. Indeed, there are some Hall of Famers who spent a bit of time in Chicago (No. 4 Bobby Orr is a Blackhawks legend) who didn’t make my lineup because of their limited time in a Blackhawks’ sweater. There were some tough calls made in making up three pairs of defensemen.
When I broke down the forwards, I went position-by-position with my top four selections. On the blue line, I’m going to keep it to the pairs. You’ll understand why pretty quickly.
Top Pair: Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook
If it ain’t broke… Keith and Seabrook were incredible together for a decade. Keith won the individual hardware, but he’d probably admit that he did that because he had such tremendous partners during his time with the Blackhawks. Keith won three Stanley Cup championships, two Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe and two Olympic gold medals with the Blackhawks. Seabrook has three Stanley Cup rings, an Olympic gold and his leadership was invaluable during the dynasty years.
These two rank 1-2 in team history in gam♏es played with the organization among defensemen. The fact they did it together made it more special. There was no way I was breaking up 2-7 on m𓆉y blue line.
Second Pair: Pierre Pilote and Chris Chelios
This was harder than it probably should have been. Pilote’s number is retired by the Blackhawks; he won the Norris Trophy three times. And Chelios is a Hall of Famer who won the Norris Trophy three times in his career (twice with the Blackhawks). They’re both legitimate all-time greats. The fact that Pilote played the left side and Chelios played the right made it easier. Five Norris Trophies on a second pair? Come on! But leaving Doug Wilson off the second pair was incredibly tough.
Third Pair: Doug Wilson and Niklas Hjalmarsson
I really would have loved to keep Wilson and Bob Murray together. Murray appeared in 1,008 games with the Blackhawks — third all-time among defensemen behind only Keith and Seabrook. It was also tough not putting Keith Magnusson in my lineup somewhere; he might have to be behind the bench as one of the coaches. Wilson brings one Norr🉐is Trophy to the lineup with Hjalmarsson, giving the Blackhawks a rock solid group top to bottom.
But as a bottom pair, I wanted to put a guy with Wilson who would compliment his offensive playmaking ability. And Hjalmarsson was arguably th♎e best defensive defenseman of his generation.
Some other Hall of Famers and solid players who could have received consideration include Phil Housely, Brian Campbell, Earl Seibert, Pat Stapleton, Jack O’Callahan and Dale Tallon.
