Thess is the eighth consecutive playoffs that feature the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s been quite a ride so far – but it had to start somewhere.
That particular somewhere was seven years ago today.
7 years ago today, 5 current #Blackhawks (2-4-7-19-88) made their SC Playoff debuts. Chicago has played 119 playoff tilts since 2009
— Adam Rogowin (@AdamRogowin) April 16, 2016
Breaking a five-year drought, the Blackhawks’ newly-assembled core broke into the post-season for the first time, and the fourth-seeded Blackhawks defeated the fifth seed Calgary Flames 3-2 in Game 1 for their first playoff victory.
How much has changed since then? Well for one thing, the only Blackhawks who were on that team seven years ago, as well as on the team that just evened up their first round series in 2016, are the five players mentioned above – Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Seabrook, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Kane – plus the recently re-acquired Andrew Ladd. Everyone else on that old Hawks roster has moved on.
Seven years ago today, Toews picked up his first-ever playoff point: an assist on a Cam Barker goal. Barker actually had two points. As did Martin Havlat, who scored the overtime winner.
What a time to be alive, eh? Toews got his first playoff goals in Game 2, and Kane and Seabrook picked up their first points. Hjalmarsson’s first point didn’t come until Game 5, and Keith didn’t even score until the first game of Round 2.
Look at them now: the only ones to survive roster reconstruction throughout eight consecutive playoffs, and three-time Stanley Cup Champions, each.