I don't know about you, but I don't know if any other team has seen the "best of times" and the "worst of times" this century more than the Chicago Blackhawks. I mean, this team was in the dark ages in the early-to-mid 2000s before they broke out and enjoyed some dynasty seasons in the 2010s.
Then, well, you know how bad things have gotten for the Hawks at this century's first quarter mark. And not just bad, but almost unbearable if you're a fan of this team. So, let's rehash the hash and relive those worst moments below, even if you might know what's coming.
But don't worry. I also saved some of the best moments for you in the final section. And, given how poorly the Hawks played before some of those best seasons, maybe history will ultimately repeat itself.
Worst Blackhawks teams between 2001 and 2025
3 - Fans can't stand reliving the 2003-04 Blackhawks season
A lot of Blackhawks fans will remember the first half of the 2020s as one of the worst stretches in franchise history, but the 2003-04 Blackhawks were also next to hopeless. They finished with just 59 points that season, and they wouldn't take the ice again until 2005-06 rolled around because of the NHL Lockout.
That said, the draft didn't do them any good following the 2003-04 season, as the Hawks took Cam Barker in '04 before turning around and snagging Jack Skille in 2005. But it also helped ultimately set the stage for Jonathan Toews in 2006 and Patrick Kane in 2007, so I guess it was worth it.
2 - At least the 2022-23 Blackhawks helped forge a new era
The Blackhawks know when to be really bad at the right time, I'll give them that much. Their awful run in the mid-2000s helped set them up to draft Patrick Kane, and the 2022-23 season all but made sure they secured the top pick to take Connor Bedard that summer.
Still, 26 wins and the first of what would be multiple consecutive seasons finishing last in the division was an eyesore for the fanbase. But things would start looking up with a generational talent in the Windy City, right?
1 - The 2023-24 Blackhawks may've been AHL caliber
Well, they landed a generational talent in Bedard, but that's about the only thing that went right for the 2023-24 Blackhawks. Bedard showed us he could thrive with a bad team surrounding him, but when he went down for an extended time after a jaw injury, the Hawks had next to nothing.
Still, that bad season warranted them another high pick, and they used it on Artyom Levshunov. That said, it also shows that, when you rip apart an organization a few years previously, they're going to be really, really bad for a long time.
Best Blackhawks teams between 2001 and 2025
3 - 2014-15 Blackhawks completed the dynasty
You know it was hard to rank all three of these Stanley Cup seasons, especially as the 2014-15 campaign completed the dynasty. But I had to start somewhere, so I rolled with the one that brought the lowest point percentage, clocking in at 0.622.
This one also included a thrilling Western Conference Finals matchup that saw the Hawks taking the ultimate win in seven games over the Anaheim Ducks. Then, they went back and topped the Tampa bay Lightning in six games to claim that third Cup of the decade.
2 - 2009-10 Blackhawks paved the way for something great
Oh yes, a dynasty brewed here, as Patrick Kane made sure the Hawks' iced their long-awaited end to that championship drought. And they did this with a pair of stopgaps at goaltender - Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi.
That's impressive, and it foreshadowed just how good this Blackhawks team was going to get in the future. I mean, if you can win a Cup with the likes of Huet and Niemi in the net, I'm going to guess you're a pretty good hockey team.
1 - 2012-13 Blackhawks dominated just about everyone
I'm not the only one who has that opinion, as our own Ty Glenn also covered this one in great detail. And you can only wonder how much more this team would've dominated in the regular season (and playoffs) had there not been a lockout.
I'll put it this way: Remember how good the 2022-23 Boston Bruins were in the regular season? Yeah, me too. And do you remember what became of them after just one round in that season's playoffs? Yep, me too.
I highly doubt the 2012-13 Hawks would've suffered from the same fate. In fact, I'll say they would've enjoyed the same result.
