1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks season

1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks
1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks
Division	2nd Central
Conference	3rd Western
1995–96 record	40–28–14
Home record	22–13–6
Road record	18–15–8
Goals for	273
Goals against	220
Team information
General manager	Bob Pulford
Coach	Craig Hartsburg
Captain	Chris Chelios
Arena	United Center
Average attendance	20,390
Minor league affiliate(s)	Indianapolis Ice; Columbus Chill
Team leaders
Goals	Jeremy Roenick (32)
Assists	Chris Chelios (58)
Points	Chris Chelios (72)
Penalty minutes	Bob Probert (237)
Plus/minus	Keith Carney (+31)
Wins	Ed Belfour (22)
Goals against average	Jeff Hackett (2.40)
	← 1994–95 1996–97 →

The 1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 70th season of operation of the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League.

Offseason

Captain Dirk Graham retired.^[1] Defenseman Chris Chelios was named the new captain.

Regular season

The Blackhawks had the fewest power-play opportunities during the Regular season, with 356.^[2]

Final standings

Central Division
No.		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	Detroit Red Wings	82	62	13	7	325	181	131
2	Chicago Blackhawks	82	40	28	14	273	220	94
3	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	34	36	12	247	252	80
4	St. Louis Blues	82	32	34	16	219	248	80
5	Winnipeg Jets	82	36	40	6	275	291	78
6	Dallas Stars	82	26	42	14	227	280	66

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference^[3]
R		Div	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Detroit Red Wings	CEN	82	62	13	7	325	181	131
2	Colorado Avalanche	PAC	82	47	25	10	326	240	104
3	Chicago Blackhawks	CEN	82	40	28	14	273	220	94
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	CEN	82	34	36	12	247	252	80
5	St. Louis Blues	CEN	82	32	34	16	219	248	80
6	Calgary Flames	PAC	82	34	37	11	241	240	79
7	Vancouver Canucks	PAC	82	32	35	15	278	278	79
8	Winnipeg Jets	CEN	82	36	40	6	275	291	78

9	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	PAC	82	35	39	8	234	247	78
10	Edmonton Oilers	PAC	82	30	44	8	240	304	68
11	Dallas Stars	CEN	82	26	42	14	227	280	66
12	Los Angeles Kings	PAC	82	24	40	18	256	302	66
13	San Jose Sharks	PAC	82	20	55	7	252	357	47

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Playoffs

Schedule and results

Regular season

1995–96 regular season^[4]

October: 6–5–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 3–3–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
1	W	October 7, 1995	4–3	@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	1–0–0	Recap
2	L	October 10, 1995	5–6 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	1–1–0	Recap
3	W	October 12, 1995	5–1	Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)	2–1–0	Recap
4	L	October 14, 1995	2–3	@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)	2–2–0	Recap
5	T	October 15, 1995	1–1 OT	Calgary Flames (1995–96)	2–2–1	Recap
6	W	October 17, 1995	6–3	@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)	3–2–1	Recap
7	L	October 19, 1995	1–4	Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)	3–3–1	Recap
8	W	October 21, 1995	4–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	4–3–1	Recap
9	W	October 22, 1995	5–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)	5–3–1	Recap
10	L	October 26, 1995	1–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	5–4–1	Recap
11	L	October 28, 1995	3–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)	5–5–1	Recap
12	W	October 29, 1995	6–3	Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)	6–5–1	Recap

November: 5–4–4 (home: 2–2–1; road: 3–2–3)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
13	T	November 1, 1995	1–1 OT	@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)	6–5–2	Recap
14	L	November 5, 1995	3–7	Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	6–6–2	Recap
15	W	November 9, 1995	5–2	Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)	7–6–2	Recap
16	W	November 11, 1995	4–1	@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)	8–6–2	Recap
17	T	November 12, 1995	4–4 OT	Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	8–6–3	Recap
18	L	November 14, 1995	5–6 OT	@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	8–7–3	Recap
19	W	November 16, 1995	3–1	New York Rangers (1995–96)	9–7–3	Recap
20	L	November 19, 1995	2–3	San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	9–8–3	Recap
21	L	November 22, 1995	2–6	@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	9–9–3	Recap
22	W	November 24, 1995	5–4 OT	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	10–9–3	Recap
23	T	November 26, 1995	2–2 OT	@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)	10–9–4	Recap
24	W	November 28, 1995	5–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	11–9–4	Recap
25	T	November 29, 1995	2–2 OT	@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)	11–9–5	Recap

December: 8–3–3 (home: 5–2–1; road: 3–1–2)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
26	T	December 2, 1995	2–2 OT	@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	11–9–6	Recap
27	T	December 6, 1995	5–5 OT	@ New York Rangers (1995–96)	11–9–7	Recap
28	L	December 7, 1995	2–5	Ottawa Senators (1995–96)	11–10–7	Recap
29	W	December 10, 1995	4–1	Hartford Whalers (1995–96)	12–10–7	Recap
30	L	December 13, 1995	1–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	12–11–7	Recap
31	L	December 15, 1995	1–4	Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)	12–12–7	Recap
32	W	December 17, 1995	3–1	Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	13–12–7	Recap
33	W	December 20, 1995	4–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	14–12–7	Recap
34	T	December 21, 1995	3–3 OT	Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	14–12–8	Recap
35	W	December 23, 1995	2–0	@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)	15–12–8	Recap
36	W	December 26, 1995	5–3	Dallas Stars (1995–96)	16–12–8	Recap
37	W	December 28, 1995	4–3	Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	17–12–8	Recap
38	W	December 29, 1995	5–2	@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)	18–12–8	Recap
39	W	December 31, 1995	5–0	New Jersey Devils (1995–96)	19–12–8	Recap

January: 7–3–3 (home: 4–2–1; road: 3–1–2)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
40	W	January 2, 1996	5–2	@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)	20–12–8	Recap
41	L	January 4, 1996	1–3	St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	20–13–8	Recap
42	L	January 6, 1996	0–3	@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	20–14–8	Recap
43	W	January 7, 1996	5–2	Dallas Stars (1995–96)	21–14–8	Recap
44	T	January 9, 1996	3–3 OT	@ New York Islanders (1995–96)	21–14–9	Recap
45	W	January 12, 1996	3–0	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	22–14–9	Recap
46	W	January 14, 1996	5–2	Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	23–14–9	Recap
47	L	January 17, 1996	2–3	Washington Capitals (1995–96)	23–15–9	Recap
48	W	January 22, 1996	7–3	@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)	24–15–9	Recap
49	T	January 24, 1996	2–2 OT	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	24–15–10	Recap
50	W	January 25, 1996	2–1	San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	25–15–10	Recap
51	T	January 27, 1996	5–5 OT	Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	25–15–11	Recap
52	W	January 31, 1996	4–0	@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	26–15–11	Recap

February: 7–4–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 4–3–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
53	W	February 3, 1996	4–1	@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)	27–15–11	Recap
54	W	February 4, 1996	4–1	@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	28–15–11	Recap
55	W	February 6, 1996	5–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	29–15–11	Recap
56	W	February 8, 1996	6–1	@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	30–15–11	Recap
57	L	February 10, 1996	3–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)	30–16–11	Recap
58	W	February 15, 1996	3–0	Boston Bruins (1995–96)	31–16–11	Recap
59	W	February 18, 1996	4–1	Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)	32–16–11	Recap
60	L	February 22, 1996	3–4 OT	St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	32–17–11	Recap
61	L	February 23, 1996	0–1 OT	@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)	32–18–11	Recap
62	L	February 25, 1996	2–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)	32–19–11	Recap
63	W	February 29, 1996	4–3	Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	33–19–11	Recap

March: 5–7–1 (home: 4–3–1; road: 1–4–0)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
64	L	March 1, 1996	3–5	@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)	33–20–11	Recap
65	L	March 3, 1996	2–6	Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	33–21–11	Recap
66	L	March 5, 1996	0–2	@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)	33–22–11	Recap
67	L	March 8, 1996	2–4	Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)	33–23–11	Recap
68	W	March 11, 1996	8–4	Florida Panthers (1995–96)	34–23–11	Recap
69	W	March 14, 1996	5–1	Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)	35–23–11	Recap
70	W	March 17, 1996	5–1	New York Islanders (1995–96)	36–23–11	Recap
71	L	March 20, 1996	2–3	Calgary Flames (1995–96)	36–24–11	Recap
72	W	March 22, 1996	4–2	@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)	37–24–11	Recap
73	T	March 24, 1996	2–2 OT	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)	37–24–12	Recap
74	L	March 27, 1996	0–1	@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)	37–25–12	Recap
75	L	March 29, 1996	2–4	@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)	37–26–12	Recap
76	W	March 31, 1996	5–3	Dallas Stars (1995–96)	38–26–12	Recap

April: 2–2–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 1–1–1)

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record	Recap
77	W	April 3, 1996	5–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	39–26–12	Recap
78	T	April 5, 1996	3–3 OT	@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)	39–26–13	Recap
79	L	April 7, 1996	1–4	Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	39–27–13	Recap
80	W	April 11, 1996	5–2	Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)	40–27–13	Recap
81	L	April 12, 1996	3–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)	40–28–13	Recap
82	T	April 14, 1996	2–2 OT	St. Louis Blues (1995–96)	40–28–14	Recap

Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1996 Stanley Cup playoffs^[4]

Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (6) Calgary Flames – Blackhawks win 4–0

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Series	Recap
1	W	April 17, 1996	4–1	Calgary Flames	Blackhawks lead 1–0	Recap
2	W	April 19, 1996	3–0	Calgary Flames	Blackhawks lead 2–0	Recap
3	W	April 21, 1996	7–5	@ Calgary Flames	Blackhawks lead 3–0	Recap
4	W	April 23, 1996	2–1 3OT	@ Calgary Flames	Blackhawks win 4–0	Recap

Western Conference Semifinals vs. (2) Colorado Avalanche – Avalanche win 4–2

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Series	Recap
1	W	May 2, 1996	3–2	@ Colorado Avalanche	Blackhawks lead 1–0	Recap
2	L	May 4, 1996	1–5	@ Colorado Avalanche	Series tied 1–1	Recap
3	W	May 6, 1996	4–3 OT	Colorado Avalanche	Blackhawks lead 2–1	Recap
4	L	May 8, 1996	2–3 3OT	Colorado Avalanche	Series tied 2–2	Recap
5	L	May 11, 1996	1–4	@ Colorado Avalanche	Avalanche lead 3–2	Recap
6	L	May 13, 1996	3–4 2OT	Colorado Avalanche	Avalanche win 4–2	Recap

Legend: Win Loss

Player statistics

Scoring

Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
† = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.
‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.

No.	Player	Pos	Regular season						Playoffs
No.	Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
7	Chris Chelios	D	81	14	58	72	25	140	9	0	3	3	2	8
27	Jeremy Roenick	LW	66	32	35	67	9	109	10	5	7	12	6	2
20	Gary Suter	D	82	20	47	67	3	80	10	3	3	6	1	8
10	Tony Amonte	RW	81	31	32	63	10	62	7	2	4	6	2	6
92	Bernie Nicholls	C	59	19	41	60	11	60	10	2	7	9	3	4
55	Eric Daze	LW	80	30	23	53	16	18	10	3	5	8	4	0
17	Joe Murphy	RW	70	22	29	51	−3	86	10	6	2	8	1	33
18	Denis Savard	C	69	13	35	48	20	102	10	1	2	3	0	8
32	Murray Craven	LW	66	18	29	47	20	36	9	1	4	5	−1	2
24	Bob Probert	RW	78	19	21	40	15	237	10	0	2	2	−1	23
12	Brent Sutter	C	80	13	27	40	14	56	10	1	1	2	−3	6
11	Jeff Shantz	C	78	6	14	20	12	24	10	2	3	5	−2	6
4	Keith Carney	D	82	5	14	19	31	94	10	0	3	3	−1	4
25	Sergei Krivokrasov	LW	46	6	10	16	10	32	5	1	0	1	−4	2
44	Patrick Poulin‡	LW	38	7	8	15	7	16	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	Eric Weinrich	D	77	5	10	15	14	65	10	1	4	5	2	10
6^[a]	Igor Ulanov†‡	D	53	1	8	9	12	92	—	—	—	—	—	—
5	Steve Smith	D	37	0	9	9	12	71	6	0	0	0	−2	16
38^[b]	James Black	C	13	3	3	6	1	16	8	1	0	1	−1	2
15	Jim Cummins	RW	52	2	4	6	−1	180	10	0	0	0	−1	2
19	Brent Grieve	LW	28	2	4	6	5	28	—	—	—	—	—	—
22	Steve Dubinsky	C	43	2	3	5	3	14	—	—	—	—	—	—
14	Kip Miller	C	10	1	4	5	1	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
8	Cam Russell	D	61	2	2	4	8	129	6	0	0	0	−1	2
30	Ed Belfour	G	50	0	2	2		36	9	0	0	0		4
39	Enrico Ciccone†	D	11	0	1	1	5	48	9	1	0	1	−1	30
31	Jeff Hackett	G	35	0	1	1		8	1	0	0	0		0
40^[c]	Ethan Moreau	LW	8	0	1	1	1	4	—	—	—	—	—	—
19	Danton Cole†	RW	2	0	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—	—
6^[d]	Ivan Droppa	D	7	0	0	0	2	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
23	Mike Prokopec	RW	9	0	0	0	−4	5	—	—	—	—	—	—
29	Jimmy Waite	G	1	0	0	0		0	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	Brad Werenka	D	9	0	0	0	−2	8	—	—	—	—	—	—

Goaltending

No.	Player	Regular season										Playoffs
No.	Player	GP	W	L	T	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI	GP	W	L	SA	GA	GAA	SV%	SO	TOI
30	Ed Belfour	50	22	17	10	1373	135	2.74	.902	1	2956	9	6	3	323	23	2.07	.929	1	666
31	Jeff Hackett	35	18	11	4	948	80	2.40	.916	4	2000	1	0	1	32	5	5.00	.844	0	60
29	Jimmy Waite	1	0	0	0	8	0	0.00	1.000	0	31	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	James Norris Memorial Trophy	Chris Chelios	^[5]
	NHL All-Rookie Team	Eric Daze (Forward)	^[6]
	NHL First All-Star team	Chris Chelios (Defense)	^[6]
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Ed Belfour^[e]	^[8]
		Chris Chelios^[e]
		Denis Savard^[f]
		Gary Suter^[g]
	NHL Rookie of the Month	Eric Daze (January)	^[11]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Ethan Moreau	November 11, 1995	^[12]
First game	Mike Prokopec	December 10, 1995	^[12]
1,000th game played	Brent Sutter	February 23, 1996	^[13]

Transactions

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.^[14]

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	19	Dmitri Nabokov	Russia	Krylya Sovetov (Russia)
2	45	Christian Laflamme	Canada	Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
3	71	Kevin McKay	Canada	Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
4	82	Chris Van Dyk	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
4	97	Pavel Kriz	Czech Republic	Tri-City Americans (WHL)
6	146	Marc Magliarditi	United States	Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6	149	Marty Wilford	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
7	175	Steve Tardif	Canada	Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
8	201	Casey Hankinson	United States	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
9	227	Michael Pittman	Canada	Guelph Storm (OHL)

Notes

^ Ulanov wore number 45 through December 10. He first wore number 6 on December 6.
^ Black wore number 34 in his first game.
^ Moreau wore number 23 in his first game.
^ Droppa wore number 3 on April 12.
^ ^a ^b Belfour and Chelios were voted to the starting lineup.^[7]
^ Savard was selected by the commissioner.^[9]
^ Suter did not play and was replaced by Larry Murphy of the Toronto Maple Leafs.^[10]

References

"Chicago Blackhawks 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
"1995-96 Chicago Blackhawks Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.

^ "Blackhawks' Graham Joins Coaching Ranks After Retiring As Player | The Spokesman-Review". www.spokesman.com. August 8, 1995. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
^ "1995-96 NHL Summary".
^ "1995-1996 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
^ ^a ^b "1995-96 Chicago Blackhawks Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
^ "James Norris Memorial Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Postseason All-Star Teams". NHL.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
^ "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
^ "1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
^ "RANFORD SENT TO BRUINS". Washington Post. January 12, 1996. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
^ Clark, Cammy (January 19, 1996). "Hamrlik rides in style with his star treatment". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved August 28, 2023. On the Western Conference team, Toronto defenseman Larry Murphy replaced Chicago's Gary Suter, who injured his knee in a 3-2 loss to Washington Wednesday.
^ "NHL Rookies of the Month". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
^ "1995-96 NHL Debuts". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
^ Markus, Robert (February 23, 1996). "SUTTER TO LOG 1,000TH NHL GAME". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
^ "1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.