Setting aside the theory (one I very much subscribe to) that the worst players in the league in 2022 would absolutely dominate the league to a frightening degree if they were instantly transported to the 1960s, nobody in franchise history can match Kane’s skills, his showmanship or his resume. That’s not a slight on Stan Mikita or Bobby Hull - or even his contemporaries during the Stanley Cup years.
Kane is the greatest player in Blackhawks history. With that in mind, let’s break down the power rankings for future jersey retirements, from the locks to the long shots. Eyeballing it, there’s room for 10 more without bumping into the team banners for the Blackhawks and Bulls. On the north side of the United Center, there are just seven numbers hanging from the rafters - Glenn Hall (1), Pierre Pilote (3), Keith Magnuson (3), Bobby Hull (9), Denis Savard (18), Stan Mikita (21) and Tony Esposito (35) - awkwardly spaced because there’s so much room.
But now, a crowded United Center ceiling is looking a lot more plausible. For years, I assumed Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith would have their jerseys retired, and there’d be an additional banner commemorating “The Core,” the seven three-time champions. Regardless, it’s hard to look at Hossa’s honor and not think the door suddenly has been opened for future jersey retirements - both to honor the modern-era stars and to right some wrongs from the past.
The Blackhawks are going to be bad for a while, and jersey-retirement ceremonies sell tickets.The new regime, led by team CEO Danny Wirtz and president of business operations Jaime Faulkner, simply has a different mindset about retiring jerseys than John McDonough did.Perhaps a Stanley Cup (or three) in Chicago and a plaque in Toronto is simply the bar to clear. Hossa was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.
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