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NHL trades are made to shake things up or make a team better. Some are substantially better and make noise in the playoffs. For the Chicago Blackhawks and their storied history, they have made many trades that changed the outlook of the franchise. Some for the better and some for the worse. Throughout its history, Chicago has made three trades that spark the most conversation, with two working in their favor. We look back at those three and which two had the most positive impact.
Blackhawks trade Esposito to Boston
One of the earliest and most impactful trades made by Chicago was the move that sent forwards Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge, and Fred Stanfield to the Boston Bruins. In exchange, the Blackhawks received Gilles Marotte, Pit Martin, and Jack Norris. This 1967 trade sent waves through the league and became one of the earliest lopsided trades in NHL history. Esposito, Hodge, and Stanfield became scoring machines and led Boston to two Stanley Cups
Esposito signed with Chicago as a teenager and was a solid player throughout his time in Chicago. In his final 69 games with the Blackhawks, he would register 21 goals and 41 assists for 62 points, not knowing the offensive outburst that would be coming with his new team. Esposito blossomed into an elite player while Hodge and Stanfield became household names. His first season in Boston saw Esposito score 35 goals and 49 assists for 84 points, leading the team in all three categories. In the 1968-69 season, he posted 49 goals and 77 assists for 126 points and played on one of the best lines during that time, playing wing with Wayne Cashman and Hodge.
Esposito, Hodge, and Stanfield would combine to score 2,095 points for the Bruins. Marotte and Martin would combine for 700 points, while goaltender Norris would post a record of 3-3 with a 4.43 goals-against average and an .862 save percentage. Boston wins this trade easily with their new stars, winning Stanley Cups in 1969/70 and again in 1971/72.
Blackhawks acquire Chelios
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Chris Chelios was a budding star as a defenseman, bringing a little bit of everything to the game. Blackhawks star Denis Savard was already a proven star and a fan favorite among the Blackhawks faithful. However, Chicago traded the star to Montreal in exchange for Chelios and a second-round pick. After the dust settled, Chicago came out on top in the deal, and it was not close.
Chelios went on to play close to a decade in the Windy City, capturing two Norris Trophies for the league's best defenseman. He quickly became the best defenseman in franchise history. Over his career in Chicago, he posted 92 goals and 395 assists for 487 points, accumulated 1,495 penalty minutes, eight All-Star Games, and a total of 664 games.
Savard played well with the Canadians but not to the level Chelios did in Chicago. Savard posted 72 goals and 107 assists for 179 points in 201 games. He would participate in one All-Star game and win one Stanley Cup in Montreal. He would make his return to Chicago for the 1994-94 season.
Blackhawks acquire power forward Secord
On December 18, 1980, Chicago made yet another move that would benefit them greatly. They traded defenseman Mike O'Connell to the Bruins in exchange for forward Al Secord. A feisty player with offensive potential, Secord would play on a line with Savard and Steve Larmer, playing the enforcer role. Secord would make the most of his time in Chicago the first time. He would rank third in all-time penalty minutes with 1,426 penalty minutes when he was said and done. He would have two stints in the Windy City (1981-87, 1988-90), recording 199 goals and 352 assists for 551 points. In the 1981-82 season, Secord became the only player in NHL history to record 40 goals and 300 penalty minutes. For O' Connell, he would register 70 goals and 199 assists for 269 points, a plus-64 rating, and was also named to the 1984 All-Star Game. While O'Connell was good for Boston, the Blackhawks won this trade also.
While Chicago has also had its fair share of trades that either set them back or simply did not work out, the trades for Secord and Chelios definitely put Blackhawks hockey back on the map. Chelios is a Hall of Fame defenseman because of his time in Chicago, and Secord played a role that came into play at important times. These are the trades that put an organization over the top and put them into contention for a Stanley Cup.
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This article was originally published on blackhawkup.com as Looking back at the 3 biggest trades in Blackhawks history .
