#7 will be the seventh number retired in Chicago Blackhawks history. The team announced late last night that they’re retiring the number of longtime defender Chris Chelios on February 25, 2024, against Chelios’ other longtime home, the Detroit Red Wings.
Chelios joins Glenn Hall’s #1, Keith Magnuson’s and Pierre Pilote’s #3, Bobby Hull’s #9, Denis Savard’s #18, Stan Mikita’s #21, and Tony Esposito’s #35.
Since Chicago traded Chelios to Detroit in 1999, two players have donned the number. Lyle Odelein wore it for a brief stint in the early 2000s, but three-time Stanley Cup champion Brent Seabrook also wore it for his 15-year career with the club.
“We are entering a new era of Blackhawks hockey on the ice, but the importance of honoring past members of this organization is, and always will be a priority,” Blackhawks chairman Danny Wirtz said in a statement. “Chris Chelios represents not only the Blackhawks but, given his roots here, the city of Chicago.”
Wirtz is referencing the fact that Chelios was born and raised in Chicago before heading to Saskatchewan to play junior hockey in the late 1970s. He would return to the Midwest US for a two-year stint at the University of Wisconsin before turning pro with Montreal in 1983.
Chelios has one of the more storied careers in the league, spanning an incredible 26 seasons. He played until he was 48 years old, finally retiring after an eight-game stint with the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2009-10 campaign. A three-time Stanley Cup champion and a three-time Norris Trophy winner, Chelios played in parts of nine seasons for the Blackhawks throughout the 1990s and arguably had the peak of his career there, eclipsing the 70-point mark twice and winning two of his three Norris Trophies. His 395 assists and 487 points as a Blackhawk rank fourth in franchise history for a defenseman, and his 92 goals and 664 games rank fifth. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013, his first year of eligibility.
Forgot 81.
Apologies and good catch – looks like Hockey Reference needs to update their listing! link to hockey-reference.com
and Seabrook has three Stanley Cups to his career*
Not a hall of famer but eventually his #7 will join #2, #19, #88 (for sure!) in the United Center rafters……and who knows maybe Sharp’s #10, perhaps Crawford’s #50.
Chelios deserves honoring a lot more than Keith F’n Magnuson, that’s for sure.
surprised it’s lasted that long. Should’ve gotten that honor months after his HOF induction.
Any teams, beside the Rangers retire a number twice? (9 and 11)
Chicago’s one of them, actually: #3 is retired in the names of both Pierre Pilote and Magnuson (an utter travesty, given that Pilote was a three-time Norris winner and eight-time All-Star, while the only thing Magnuson ever led the league in was in losing fights and stick fouls). Montreal’s another: #5 is retired for Bernie Geoffrion and Guy Lapointe, #12 for Yvan Cournoyer and Dickie Moore, and #16 for Elmer Lach and Henri Richard.
Pilote’s was another overdue one. Best Dman in the ‘60s.
He was last a Blackhawk 25 years ago. Either he’s way too long over do or not deserving. Either way, this is wrong.