The Chicago Blackhawks professional ice hockey team is a member of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team was founded in 1926 as the Black Hawks but confusion, even within the club itself, was officially renamed the Blackhawks in 1986. They have won three Stanley Cup  Championships (1933-34, 1937-38, and 1960-61) and thirteen division titles since their foundation in 1926. The Blackhawks are one of the Original Six NHL teams along with the Boston Bruins , Montreal Canadiens , Toronto Maple Leafs , New York Rangers , and Detroit Red Wings . Chicago Stadium was home to the Blackhawks for more than 60 years and since 1994 the team has played in the United Center .

In the late 1950s, the Hawks struck gold, picking up three young prospects, forwards Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita , and defenseman Pierre Pilote , as well as obtaining star goaltender Glenn Hall .    Chicago remained a force to be reckoned with throughout the decade, with Hull's four 50-goal seasons, Mikita winning back-to-back scoring titles and MVP accolades, Pilote winning three consecutive Norris Trophies , and Hall being named the First or Second All-Star goaltender eight out of nine seasons. Hall left for the expansion St. Louis Blues for the 1967-68 season. Pilote left for the Maple Leafs for the 1968-69 season. In that season, despite Hull breaking his own previous record of 54 goals in a season with 58, the Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time since 1958 and the last time before 1998.

In the 1970’s everything changed for Chicago. In 1971 the NHL attempted to correct the imbalance in the Divisions that was created with the 1967 Expansion.  The Hawks were moved from the East Division to the West Division and became the class of the division overnight.    Chicago would win the Division title 7 times that decade. The 1980s and 1990 were moderately successful as the Hawks managed to win their division 6 times.   The Hawks finished with the leagues best record in 1990-1991 but were stunned by the lowly Minnesota North Stars in the first round.   The following year Chicago made it to the finals for the first time in 19 years and they were swept 4-0 by the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins.