2010–11 Chicago Blackhawks season

Off-season

Under pressure to fit the team's player salaries under the salary cap for the 2010–11 season, the team began making trades shortly after winning the Stanley Cup. On June 24, the club traded Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel and Akim Aliu to the Atlanta Thrashers for Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb, Jeremy Morin, a first-round pick (#24 overall) in 2010 and a second-round pick (#54 overall) in 2010. Later that same day, restricted free agent Colin Fraser was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for a sixth-round pick in 2010. On June 30, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for right winger Kris Versteeg from Chicago in a five-player trade. The Maple Leafs gave up forwards Viktor Stalberg, Chris DiDomenico and Philippe Paradis. Toronto also acquired the rights to 21-year-old left winger Bill Sweatt, who was a second-round pick in 2007. On July 1, the Blackhawks traded Andrew Ladd to the Atlanta Thrashers for Ivan Vishnevskiy and a second-round draft pick in 2011. On July 9, Niklas Hjalmarsson was signed to an offer sheet by the San Jose Sharks, though the Blackhawks matched the offer on July 12, thereby retaining his services and forgoing compensation from the Sharks for signing a restricted free agent. This signing again put Chicago against the salary cap wall, and as a result forced the club to forego resigning goaltender Antti Niemi, who had filed for arbitration.

Regular season

Defenseman Nick Leddy made his NHL debut on October 7, and he scored his first NHL goal on October 11. Evan Brophey made his NHL debut on October 23. Patrick Sharp had a record of 13 shots on goal, the highest shot total in a single game in Blackhawks history. Marian Hossa was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week for the week ending on October 18, and Duncan Keith was named Third Star of the Week for the week ending on November 1.

Division standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Legend:

Pre-season

Regular season

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Playoffs

The Blackhawks returned to the playoffs for the third straight season and were defending their championship of the Stanley Cup as the 8th and final seed. The Blackhawks played the Canucks for the third straight postseason. In the previous two rounds, the Blackhawks defeated the Canucks twice, four games to two. The Blackhawks were down three games to none, but managed to tie up the series facing elimination. The Blackhawks became just the seventh team in NHL history to come back to tie an 0–3 deficit in the playoffs. The Blackhawks lost in overtime in game seven to an Alex Burrows goal for a 2–1 loss.

Legend: |}

Player statistics

Skaters

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Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; GAA= Goals against average; SA= Shots against; SV= Saves; Sv% = Save percentage; SO= Shutouts

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†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Blackhawks. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.

‡Traded or released mid-season

Bold/italics denotes franchise record

Detailed records

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Blackhawks have been involved in the following transactions during the 2010–11 season.

Trades

Notes

Free agents acquired

Free agents lost

Claimed via waivers

Lost via waivers

Player signings

Draft picks

The 2010 NHL entry draft was at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on June 25 and 26, 2010. The Blackhawks picked 30th in each round. The Blackhawks were active in trading, moving up from 30th in the draft to 24th to select Kevin Hayes. Through other trades, the Blackhawks picked up three selections in the second round, and had ten selections overall in the draft.

References

References

1. (2010-11-09). "NHL Attendance - 2011". [[ESPN.com]].
2. National Hockey League. (2010). "The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011". Triumph Books.
3. Travis Hughes. (April 10, 2011). "NHL Playoffs 2011: Chicago Blackhawks Will Defend Title In Postseason After Stars Lose To Wild". SB Nation.
4. Yahoo Sports. (April 10, 2011). "Blackhawks sneak into NHL playoffs". Yahoo Sports.
5. 6ABC. (April 11, 2011). "Chicago Blackhawks make NHL playoffs". 6ABC.
6. Travis Hughes. (April 10, 2011). "NHL Playoffs 2011: Chicago Blackhawks Will Defend Title In Postseason After Stars Lose To Wild". SB Nation.
7. PHC. (June 2013). "Final Take: The 2012-2013 Chicago Blackhawks Season". Pop Hockey Culture.
8. (June 24, 2010). "Blackhawks acquire two 2010 draft picks, Jeremy Morin, Marty Reasoner and Joey Crabb from Atlanta Thrashers". Chicago Blackhawks.
9. (June 24, 2010). "Oilers acquire Fraser from Blackhawks". nhl.com.
10. (July 1, 2010). "Kris Versteeg Trade: Blackhawks Deal Versteeg To Toronto In Salary-Cap Move". Huffington Post.
11. "Inside Pulse".
12. "Blackhawks to match Hjalmarsson offer sheet".
13. James O’ Brien. (April 10, 2011). "Game of the Week: Blackhawks lose, must depend on a Stars’ loss for playoff berth". NBC Sports.
14. Joe Yerdon. (April 27, 2011). "Five Thoughts: Alex Burrows’ weird, wild, and triumphant night; A tale of two goalies". NBC Sports.
15. "Vokoun, Hossa and Getzlaf named NHL 'Three Stars' of the week".
16. "Thomas, Thornton and Keith named 'Three Stars'".
17. "Kessel leads NHL's 'Three Stars of the Week'".
18. "Toews tops February's 'Three Stars'".
19. (2010-10-24). "Blackhawks assign Nick Leddy to Rockford". Blackhawks.com.
20. (2010-10-09). "Brandon Pirri Makes NHL Debut with Blackhawks". [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]] Athletics.com.
21. (2010-10-24). "Blackhawks assign Evan Brophey to Rockford". Blackhawks.com.
22. (2010-11-02). "Blackhawks assign Ben Smith, Ryan Potulny to Rockford". Blackhawks.com.
23. (2010-11-08). "Blackhawks assign Jeremy Morin to Rockford". Blackhawks.NHL.com.
24. Rogers, Jesse. (2010-11-30). "Morin could be in Chicago to stay". [[ESPN.com]].
25. (2010-12-09). "Morin scores first NHL goal". Auburn Citizen.
26. "Blackhawks acquire two 2010 draft picks, Jeremy Morin, Marty Reasoner and Joey Crabb from Atlanta Thrashers".
27. "Blackhawks acquire sixth-round selection in 2010 NHL Entry Draft from Edmonton".
28. "Blackhawks acquire two 2010 draft picks from New York Islanders".
29. "Blackhawks acquire Jimmy Hayes from Toronto Maple Leafs".
30. "Day 2 provides more wheeling and dealing".
31. "Blackhawks acquire trio of forwards from Toronto".
32. "Blackhawks acquire Vishnevskiy and second round draft pick from Atlanta".
33. "Blackhawks acquire Jeff Taffe from Florida".
34. "Blackhawks acquire Frolik and Salak from Florida".
35. "Blackhawks acquire Chris Campoli from Ottawa".
36. "Blackhawks sign center Mathis Olimb".
37. "Blackhawks sign defenseman John Scott".
38. "Blackhawks agree to terms with three-time NHL All-Star Marty Turco".
39. "Blackhawks sign Brophey, Cullimore, Davis, Jessiman and Toivonen".
40. "Blackhawks sign RW Fernando Pisani".
41. "Blackhawks sign center Ryan Potulny".
42. "Blackhawks sign Exelby, assign to Rockford".
43. "Blackhawks sign forward Ryan Johnson".
44. "Burke adds Armstrong, not finished yet".
45. "Oilers sign Strudwick & Petiot".
46. "Dallas signs Adam Burish and Andrew Raycroft".
47. "Capitals Sign Defenseman Brian Fahey and Left Wing Kyle Greentree".
48. "Leafs Sign Three Players".
49. "Boom! John Madden Coming To Wild".
50. "Cup Winning Goaltender Coming To San Jose".
51. "Flyers claim defenseman Nick Boynton".
52. "Blackhawks sign 2009 draft pick Marcus Kruger".
53. "Blackhawks to match Hjalmarsson offer sheet".
54. "Blackhawks re-sign Bickell and Skille".
55. "Blackhawks sign defenseman Nick Leddy".
56. "Blackhawks sign forward Igor Makarov".
57. "Blackhawks re-sign defenseman Jordan Hendry".
58. "Blackhawks re-sign defenseman Nick Boynton".
59. "Blackhawks sign forward Brandon Pirri".
60. "Blackhawks sign 2009 draft pick Dylan Olsen".
61. "Blackhawks agree to multi-year contract extension with defenseman Brent Seabrook".
62. "Blackhawks sign forward Jimmy Hayes".
63. "Blackhawks sign defenseman Joe Lavin".