Kane and Toews at 1,000: Authors of The Great Chicago Resurrection

I grew up cheering for the Blackhawks. It likely won’t surprise you, but I’m a kid of the 1980s, so my heroes as a young kid were Denis Savard, Doug Wilson and Steve Larmer (#retire28). They eventually gave way to Chris Chelios, Dirk Graham, Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte. But once I got out of high school (just months before Cheli was traded to Detroit), the downward spiral was beginning and playing football took my attention away from the ice for a few years.

I still paid attention as I got out of college and went to a few games, but it wasn’t the same as the old barn — or even the United Center in the early days.

In 2006, when the Blackhawks landed a top-three pick and selected a young center from Canada that a lot of people thought highly of, they got my attention again. But he went to college, so the buzz wasn’t in Chicago. Not quite yet.

The following year, for the first time in Blackhawks’ history, the franchise picked first overall. And I became a season ticket holder immediately.

That was also when I started writing about the Blackhawks with some frequency. The young kids joined a young group of players like Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp and the product on the ice was immediately different. There was dynamic playmaking back on the ice in Chicago, and I was all-in.

In the 15 years since the jumped into the NHL lineup as teenagers, Jonathan Toews has become the longest tenured captain in the history of the franchise. And Patrick Kane has become, in my humble opinion, the greatest American-born player in NHL history.

Two future Hall of Famers, drafted in consecutive years, who lived up to the hype across the board. They’re legends. Icons. And, on Sunday, they will become the 11th pair of skaters to appear in 1,000 regular season games as teammates.

Most Impactful Duo in League History?

I humbly submit here, today, that Toews and Kane are the most impactful duo in the last 25 years in the NHL, if not ever. They will become just the 11th pair to do it together, a remarkable achievement when you consider the long, storied history of the NHL.

A case has been made by more than a few people recently that Alexander Ovechkin has elevated the Washington Capitals more than any player for any team in the history of the Washington DC area. The Capitals joined the NHL in 1974, and this past March Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom became the ninth pair to appear in 1,000 games together. They are one of the two other “active” — and I use that term relatively loosely because of Backstrom’s injury issue — who have reached the benchmark together. (Note: the only other active duo to skate in 1,000 games together are LA’s Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar.)

Lots of people similarly talk about the impact of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh. They, with Marc-André Fleury and Kris Letang, have been terrific centerpieces for a Penguins franchise over the past 15 years that has three championships. But how quickly fans forget what Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr did in the early 1990s when they led the same franchise to back-to-back championships. And Geno just got to 1,000 games earlier this year against the Blackhawks.

Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman have been tremendously impactful in Tampa. They have two championships together. But the Lightning also won a title in 2004. And they’re still a few years away from getting to 1,000 together.

For my money, the only pair of players who reinvented an entire franchise the way Toews and Kane have in Chicago are Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom in Detroit. When the Wings won the first Stanley Cup of their latest golden era in 1996, they ended a 41-year drought. They didn’t appear in 1,000 games together.

Kane and Toews? Then brought an end to 49 years without a championship in Chicago. But they didn’t do it alone… and won’t stand alone on the list of teammates from this Blackhawks’ dynasty who skated together 1,000 times.

Dunc and Seabs were phenomenal, the original building blocks of the dynasty. But without 19 and 88, Marian Hossa doesn’t sign here. Patrick Sharp doesn’t sell thousands of jerseys. Corey Crawford doesn’t tell us we were f***ing right, Chicago! And people may have never learned how to spell Hjalmarsson or Byfuglien.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane authored the resurrection of the Chicago Blackhawks. And, now, as they skate in their 1,000th game together, the roster around them feels an awful lot like the one that was on the ice when I was using my three-year-expired college ID to get into games for pennies to yell at the Bruins and Red Wings with a couple thousand of my friends.

Not since Mikita and Hull have Chicagoans enjoyed two incredible players like this together in the Blackhawks’ sweater. And we’re all hoping it isn’t another 40 years before the Blackhawks win another championship.

I encourage anyone and everyone watching the game on Sunday to take a step back for a moment during this trying season to appreciate what this benchmark means. Not only for these two great players in the history of the league, but in the greater scheme of the history of the franchise.

written by

Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is the author of two books about the Blackhawks: "100 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitter/X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab

more blackhawks news

Blackhawks 0, Senators 2 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways

Remember when the Blackhawks went to California for three games and started each game like they had 45 minutes of hockey to start caring? And dug a deep hole in each game that they were only able to escape from...

Blackhawks at Senators – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

Don't look now, but the Chicago Blackhawks have won six of their last ten games. They still sit in second for the NHL draft lottery, but they're trending in the right direction; they're .500 in the month of March with...

These 3 Blackhawks Veterans Are Having Terrific Seasons

Entering Thursday night's action, the Chicago Blackhawks have the second-worst point percentage in the NHL -- even while they're 6-4-0 in their last 10 games. And they own the second-worst goal differential in the league (minus-76). It's been a long,...

28 on 28: Steve Larmer’s Rookie Season Remains the Blackhawks’ Standard

We're ten games away from the end of the 2023-24 regular season, and Connor Bedard continues to put up remarkable numbers for at age 18 in his first professional season. He will likely join Steve Larmer on the list of...

The Greatest Sports Watching Day of the Year, Next Year’s TV, an IceHogs Stunner, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Congratulations, sports fans! Today, March 28, 2024 is the greatest sports viewing day of the calendar year. Hands down, lock it up, no competition. It's Opening Day in MLB and Sweet 16 day one in the NCAA men's basketball tournament....

NHL Notes: Penguins Paradox, Torts Apologizes, Doan’s Dazzling Debut, Rangers Punch Ticket, More

It's a mid-week edition of NHL Notes and we have plenty to cover around the league. The Penguins find themselves with a tricky decision as their season draws to a close. John Tortorella dished out an apology to one of...

We Need to Talk About Jason Dickinson As a Selke Trophy Candidate — Again

Back in early February as the Blackhawks wrapped their pre-All-Star Game schedule, I wrote about Jason Dickinson's case for Selke Trophy votes. We're now ten games away from the end of Chicago's regular season, and with Dickinson reaching 20 goals...

Slaggert’s Big Night, Bedard’s Tape, Felcman to Rockford, Anderson, Tinordi, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

I'm gonna continue to smile, just like Landon Slaggert, because of his performance in last night's Blackhawks win. The former Notre Dame captain had his parents and young brother in the stands and he had one helluva game last night....

Blackhawks 3, Flames 1 — Three Stars, Key Takeaways

The message Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson was trying to get across with Monday's bag skate clearly landed. The start Chicago had on Tuesday night was a polar opposite of what they showed in the three games in California. They...

Blackhawks vs Flames – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

After a disappointing road trip that saw the Blackhawks get smoked for 7 of 9 periods, the team got a bag skate on Monday to think about their effort. They'll get back on the ice tonight in front of a...

Latest News

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

Padres vs. Giants: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The San Francisco Giants (0-1), led by Jorge Soler, visit Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (2-1) at 9:40 PM ET on Friday.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the...

How to Watch Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Live Stream or on TV

The St. Louis Cardinals (0-1), led by Paul Goldschmidt, visit Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday.The article below will give you everything you need to watch Los Angeles take on St. Louis.When...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Friday, the New York Yankees (1-0) play Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (0-1), with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 PM ET at Minute Maid Park.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch...

Rays vs. Blue Jays: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

At Tropicana Field on Friday, Aaron Civale versus Chris Bassitt will be the pitching matchup when the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) play the Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), starting at 6:50 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

more blackhawks news