2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks pulled off the biggest trade of the franchise when the franchise signed Marian Hossa to a 12-year $62.8 million contract. Stan Bowman has replaced Dale Tallon as the GM of the Club.
In October, the team traded Aaron Johnson to the Calgary Flames for Kyle Greentree. The team also signed a number of free agents to include Hossa, Rob Klinkhammer, Jonathan Carlsson, Alec Richards, Tomas Kopecky, John Madden, Richard Petiot, Mark Cullen and Danny Bois.
As of this writing, the Blackhawks were 37-14-4 and in first place in the Central Division of the Western Conference.
Previous Seasons
Chicago fans can finally revel in the fact that their Blackhawks are in not the NHL basement anymore. And what a climb back up! Blackhawks tickets this season might stretch as far as the playoffs. Yes, the Blackhawks are still a few seasons off from being a dominant force on the ice, but they definitely have the potential to be contenders. Let’s examine the positives: Chicago’s blue line core is definitely impressive – and their progress up as well! The Blackhawks also have future first-liners Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, and if Russian goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin keeps motivated, it will be exciting for fans to see what Chicago can do this season.
Chicago Blackhawks tickets are looking for a turnaround in 2005-06. Despite the acquisition of goalie Nikolai Khabibulin and defensive standout Adrian Aucoin, the 2005-2006 Chicago Blackhawks' low point totals have relegated the team to the doldrums of the National Hockey League. Head coach Trent Yawney hopes that this season can mark an end to the franchise's history of failure, but he will need to secure a plan for improved offensive production before Chicago Blackhawks hockey tickets can mean more than watching the Blackhawks lose.
After Chicago's entrance to professional hockey in 1926 as one of the “Original Six” franchises in the league, the team struggled through its first five years of existence. However, the Blackhawks eventually turned themselves around to win the Stanley Cup in 1934. Despite undergoing numerous coaching changes, Chicago was able to establish a sense of greatness during the following years. The team's success continued during their early history with another championship in 1938 over the Toronto Maple Leafs that surprised the entire league. However, the team struggled through much of the 1940s and 1950s. After another appearance in the league's finals, the team only managed to make the playoffs twice between 1945 and 1958. Near the end of the 1950s, the team acquired goalie Glenn Hall and won their third Stanley Cup. Hall's defensive presence was the missing component for the team's path to winning.
However, the title in 1961 is the Blackhawks' most recent year of considerable success. While the team made many trips to the playoffs throughout the 1980s, the Blackhawks failed to advance further than the third round of the postseason. In the early 1990s, the team performed especially well due to center Jeremy Roenick's offensive attack and Chris Chelios' defensive abilities. The team won the honor of the President's Trophy in 1991, but even then the Blackhawks suffered through more postseason difficulties. The Blackhawks appeared in the conference finals in 1992 with a talented young goalie, Dominik Hasek, but could not overpower the Pittsburgh Penguins in the conference finals. Despite bringing more talent to the team, Chicago still failed to develop into the Stanley Cup contender that it had been years ago. Over the past five seasons, the Blackhawks have missed the playoffs four times.
For the 2005-2006 season, the one thing Blackhawks ticket holders hope to see is Dale Tallon, the team's new general manager, reorganize the Blackhawks' struggling roster. Through the remainder of Aucoin's first year as team captain, the Blackhawks will work to give fans in the United Center some reason to cheer. Rookie Pavel Vorobiev's year appears to be the good choice for right wing and a good addition to the team, and veterans Tyler Arnason and Mark Bell are enjoying moderately successful offensive seasons. While the Blackhawks have a history of losing, Coach Yawney hopes that his first season at the helm can be the teams' last year of problems on the ice.
ABOUT THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
In 1997, the Hartford Whalers relocated to North Carolina, becoming the Carolina
Hurricanes. The team was originally founded in 1971 as part of the World Hockey
League, but moved to the National Hockey League in 1979.
As the NHL Whalers the team earned one Division Championship. As the Hurricanes they have three Division Championships, two Conference Championships, and one Stanley Cup to their credit. The Carolina team has been to the playoffs a total of five times.
Although the team was not supposed to move until 1998, the owner of the team decided to move the team early because of difficulties getting a lease and construction deal in Hartford. Their new home in Carolina was supposed to be the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Raleigh. However, the arena was not constructed for two more years, forcing the team to play home games in Greensboro which is 90 minutes away. Fans refused to drive that far and locals did not like the team coming in to replace their hometown minor league team. Attendance was down, and the team suffered.
In 1999, the Carolina Hurricanes played their first game in their new hometown and their brand new arena, The Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena as it was known then. In 2002, naming rights were bought by RBC, a large bank, changing the name of the arena to the RBC Center.
The arena seats 18,176 fans for hockey and cost 158 million to build. It was paid for partly by the Hurricanes, and partly by a hotel and restaurant tax levied by the state. In 2009, the arena got a new HD Daktronics scoreboard to replace the old one and is in the process of overhauling the whole entertainment system to bring it up to current league standards.
Out in the community, the whole Carolina Hurricanes franchise is active in helping those less fortunate. The players, staff, coaches, and families are all active participants in activities and efforts that benefit the area’s kids and their families.
The Kids 'N Community Foundation is run by the team to help improve the lives of children through education, fitness, and helping the underserved. Each year the Hurricanes donate at least a million dollars in contributions and cash to organizations whose vision matches those of the foundation. They are of course involved in many other charities and activities each year, many of which also benefit children. The Hurricanes are one team that gives as much as possible back to their community.
Whether it is on the ice or off, the Carolina Hurricanes are one of the most loved and loving teams in the league. They provide great entertainment on the ice, and when they’re not scoring they are out in the community giving back to their fans.
