2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks season

2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks
2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks
Division	3rd Central
Conference	10th Western
2007–08 record	40–34–8
Home record	23–16–2
Road record	17–18–6
Goals for	239
Goals against	235
Team information
General manager	Dale Tallon
Coach	Denis Savard
Captain	Vacant
Alternate captains	Martin Lapointe (Oct–Feb); Robert Lang (Oct, Feb–Apr); Patrick Sharp (Oct, Feb–Apr); Tuomo Ruutu (Nov); Brent Sopel (Nov, Feb–Apr); Brent Seabrook (Dec); Jonathan Toews (Dec); Adam Burish (Jan); Duncan Keith (Jan); Patrick Kane (Apr)
Arena	United Center
Average attendance	16,814 (82%); Total: 689,377
Team leaders
Goals	Patrick Sharp (36)
Assists	Patrick Kane (51)
Points	Patrick Kane (72)
Penalty minutes	Adam Burish (214)
Plus/minus	Duncan Keith (+30)
Wins	Nikolai Khabibulin (20)
Goals against average	Nikolai Khabibulin (2.55)
	← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The 2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 82nd season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. It began on October 4, 2007, against the Minnesota Wild. The 2007 season also marked the team's first winning season in six years.

Key dates prior to the start of the season:

The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23. The Blackhawks had the first overall selection – using it to select Patrick Kane of the London Knights.
The free agency period began on July 1.
Captain Adrian Aucoin is traded to the Calgary Flames.

Regular season

On Saturday, November 17, 2007, the Blackhawks scored three short-handed goals in a 5–3 win over the Detroit Red Wings.^[1]

Divisional standings

Central Division
		GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Detroit Red Wings	82	54	21	7	257	184	115
2	Nashville Predators	82	41	32	9	230	229	91
3	Chicago Blackhawks	82	40	34	8	239	235	88
4	Columbus Blue Jackets	82	34	36	12	193	218	80
5	St. Louis Blues	82	33	36	13	205	237	79

Conference standings

Western Conference
R		Div	GP	W	L	OTL	GF	GA	Pts
1	p – Detroit Red Wings	CE	82	54	21	7	257	184	115
2	y – San Jose Sharks	PA	82	49	23	10	222	193	108
3	y – Minnesota Wild	NW	82	44	28	10	223	218	98
4	Anaheim Ducks	PA	82	47	27	8	205	191	102
5	Dallas Stars	PA	82	45	30	7	242	207	97
6	Colorado Avalanche	NW	82	44	31	7	231	219	95
7	Calgary Flames	NW	82	42	30	10	229	227	94
8	Nashville Predators	CE	82	41	32	9	230	229	91
8.5
9	Edmonton Oilers	NW	82	41	35	6	235	251	88
10	Chicago Blackhawks	CE	82	40	34	8	239	235	88
11	Vancouver Canucks	NW	82	39	33	10	213	215	88
12	Phoenix Coyotes	PA	82	38	37	7	214	231	83
13	Columbus Blue Jackets	CE	82	34	36	12	193	218	80
14	St. Louis Blues	CE	82	33	36	13	205	237	79
15	Los Angeles Kings	PA	82	32	43	7	231	266	71

Divisions: PA – Pacific, CE – Central, NW – Northwest
bold – qualified for playoffs, y – division winner, p – Presidents' Trophy winner

Schedule and results

October: 6–6–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–2–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts	Recap
1	October 4	Chicago	0–1	Minnesota		Khabibulin	18,568	0–1–0	0	Recap
2	October 6	Detroit	3–4	Chicago	SO	Khabibulin	18,768	1–1–0	2	Recap
3	October 10	San Jose	2–1	Chicago		Khabibulin	10,122	1–2–0	2	Recap
4	October 12	Chicago	3–2	Detroit		Khabibulin	17,696	2–2–0	4	Recap
5	October 13	Dallas	1–2	Chicago	OT	Lalime	11,868	3–2–0	6	Recap
6	October 17	St. Louis	3–1	Chicago		Khabibulin	10,002	3–3–0	6	Recap
7	October 19	Colorado	3–5	Chicago		Khabibulin	13,519	4–3–0	8	Recap
8	October 20	Chicago	6–4	Toronto		Lalime	19,314	5–3–0	10	Recap
9	October 23	Columbus	7–4	Chicago		Khabibulin	10,884	5–4–0	10	Recap
10	October 25	Chicago	1–3	Boston		Khabibulin	10,290	5–5–0	10	Recap
11	October 27	Atlanta	3–2	Chicago		Lalime	15,789	5–6–0	10	Recap
12	October 31	Chicago	5–4	Dallas		Khabibulin	14,756	6–6–0	12	Recap

November: 8–3–2 (home: 5–1–0; road: 3–2–2)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts	Recap
13	November 3	Chicago	3–2	St. Louis		Khabibulin	19,150	7–6–0	14	Recap
14	November 4	Nashville	5–2	Chicago		Khabibulin	12,086	7–7–0	14	Recap
15	November 7	Columbus	2–5	Chicago		Lalime	9,717	8–7–0	16	Recap
16	November 9	St. Louis	2–4	Chicago		Lalime	16,149	9–7–0	18	Recap
17	November 11	Detroit	2–3	Chicago		Khabibulin	19,045	10–7–0	20	Recap
18	November 14	Chicago	2–4	Columbus		Lalime	13,622	10–8–0	20	Recap
19	November 15	Chicago	4–5	Nashville	OT	Khabibulin	15,353	10–8–1	21	Recap
20	November 17	Chicago	5–3	Detroit		Khabibulin	20,066	11–8–1	23	Recap
21	November 22	Chicago	2–1	Calgary		Khabibulin	19,289	12–8–1	25	Recap
22	November 24	Chicago	2–3	Edmonton	SO	Khabibulin	16,839	12–8–2	26	Recap
23	November 25	Chicago	0–2	Vancouver		Lalime	18,630	12–9–2	26	Recap
24	November 28	Tampa Bay	1–5	Chicago		Khabibulin	11,122	13–9–2	28	Recap
25	November 30	Phoenix	1–6	Chicago		Khabibulin	16,234	14–9–2	30	Recap

December: 5–6–1 (home: 4–4–1; road: 1–2–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts	Recap
26	December 1	Chicago	1–3	St. Louis		Lalime	19,150	14–10–2	30	Recap
27	December 5	Vancouver	3–2	Chicago		Khabibulin	12,444	14–11–2	30	Recap
28	December 7	Anaheim	5–3	Chicago		Khabibulin	17,734	14–12–2	30	Recap
29	December 9	Calgary	3–2	Chicago		Khabibulin	13,382	14–13–2	30	Recap
30	December 12	Los Angeles	6–3	Chicago		Khabibulin	12,534	15–13–2	32	Recap
31	December 15	Chicago	1–3	Buffalo		Khabibulin	18,690	15–14–2	32	Recap
32	December 16	Florida	3–1	Chicago		Lalime	12,926	15–15–2	32	Recap
33	December 19	Nashville	2–5	Chicago		Khabibulin	14,151	16–15–2	34	Recap
34	December 22	Chicago	4–3	Ottawa	OT	Khabibulin	20,171	17–15–2	36	Recap
35	December 23	Edmonton	2–3	Chicago		Khabibulin	20,151	18–15–2	38	Recap
36	December 26	Nashville	2–5	Chicago		Khabibulin	20,511	19–15–2	40	Recap
37	December 30	Los Angeles	3–2	Chicago	OT	Khabibulin	21,715	19–15–3	41	Recap

January: 4–9–1 (home: 1–4–0; road: 3–5–1)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts	Recap
38	January 1	Chicago	2–9	Los Angeles		Khabibulin	16,916	19–16–3	41	Recap
39	January 3	Chicago	2–4	Phoenix		Khabibulin	12,252	19–17–3	41	Recap
40	January 4	Chicago	1–2	Anaheim		Khabibulin	17,174	19–18–3	41	Recap
41	January 6	Detroit	3–1	Chicago		Khabibulin	21,869	19–19–3	41	Recap
42	January 8	Chicago	3–4	Montreal	OT	Lalime	21,273	19–19–4	42	Recap
43	January 9	Dallas	3–1	Chicago		Khabibulin	15,469	19–20–4	42	Recap
44	January 11	Minnesota	5–2	Chicago		Khabibulin	21,139	19–21–4	42	Recap
45	January 13	Chicago	3–2	Nashville	SO	Lalime	12,484	20–21–4	44	Recap
46	January 16	St. Louis	1–6	Chicago		Lalime	17,570	21–21–4	46	Recap
47	January 18	Chicago	2–1	Colorado	SO	Lalime	18,007	22–21–4	48	Recap
48	January 19	Chicago	2–1	Phoenix	SO	Lalime	18,073	23–21–4	50	Recap
49	January 22	Chicago	2–3	San Jose		Lalime	17,136	23–22–4	50	Recap
50	January 24	Columbus	1–0	Chicago		Khabibulin	16,094	23–23–4	50	Recap
51	January 30	Chicago	3–6	Colorado		Khabibulin	15,348	23–24–4	50	Recap

February: 7–4–2 (home: 3–0–0; road: 4–4–2)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts	Recap
52	February 2	Chicago	2–3	San Jose	SO	Khabibulin	17,496	23–24–5	51	Recap
53	February 6	Chicago	1–4	Edmonton		Lalime	16,839	23–25–5	51	Recap
54	February 7	Chicago	3–1	Calgary		Khabibulin	19,289	24–25–5	53	Recap
55	February 10	Chicago	2–3	Vancouver	SO	Khabibulin	18,630	24–25–6	54	Recap
56	February 13	Chicago	7–2	Columbus		Khabibulin	14,918	25–25–6	56	Recap
57	February 14	Chicago	6–1	Nashville		Lalime	16,937	26–25–6	58	Recap
58	February 17	Colorado	1–2	Chicago		Lalime	21,715	27–25–6	60	Recap
59	February 19	Chicago	1–5	St. Louis		Lalime	19,150	27–26–6	60	Recap
60	February 20	Minnesota	0–3	Chicago		Khabibulin	17,812	28–26–6	62	Recap
61	February 23	Chicago	6–5	Los Angeles	OT	Lalime	18,118	29–26–6	64	Recap
62	February 24	Chicago	3–6	Anaheim		Lalime	17,174	29–27–6	64	Recap
63	February 27	Phoenix	0–1	Chicago		Lalime	14,799	30–27–6	66	Recap
64	February 28	Chicago	4–7	Dallas		Lalime	18,584	30–28–6	66	Recap

March: 8–5–2 (home: 5–3–1; road: 3–2–1)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts	Recap
65	March 2	Vancouver	1–4	Chicago		Lalime	19,670	31–28–6	68	Recap
66	March 4	Chicago	4–2	Minnesota		Lalime	18,568	32–28–6	70	Recap
67	March 5	Anaheim	0–3	Chicago		Crawford	16,666	33–28–6	72	Recap
68	March 7	San Jose	3–2	Chicago		Lalime	21,908	33–29–6	72	Recap
69	March 9	Edmonton	6–5	Chicago	OT	Lalime	20,619	33–29–7	73	Recap
70	March 11	Chicago	1–3	Detroit		Crawford	18,632	33–30–7	73	Recap
71	March 12	Carolina	3–0	Chicago		Crawford	18,210	33–31–7	73	Recap
72	March 14	Chicago	6–3	Columbus		Lalime	15,699	34–31–7	75	Recap
73	March 16	Calgary	4–2	Chicago		Lalime	20,717	34–32–7	75	Recap
74	March 19	Washington	0–5	Chicago		Khabibulin	20,942	35–32–7	77	Recap
75	March 22	Chicago	1–2	Nashville	SO	Khabibulin	17,113	35–32–8	78	Recap
76	March 23	St. Louis	3–4	Chicago	OT	Khabibulin	19,146	36–32–8	80	Recap
77	March 26	Chicago	0–4	Columbus		Khabibulin	14,454	36–33–8	80	Recap
78	March 29	Chicago	4–3	St. Louis		Lalime	19,150	37–33–8	82	Recap
79	March 30	Columbus	4–5	Chicago	SO	Khabibulin	20,885	38–33–8	84	Recap

April: 2–1–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 0–1–0)
#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	OT	Decision	Attendance	Record	Pts	Recap
80	April 2	Detroit	2–6	Chicago		Khabibulin	21,365	39–33–8	86	Recap
81	April 4	Nashville	1–3	Chicago		Lalime	21,929	40–33–8	88	Recap
82	April 6	Chicago	1–4	Detroit		Khabibulin	20,066	40–34–8	88	Recap

Playoffs

Chicago failed to qualify for the playoffs for the 5th consecutive season.

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

	Regular season					Playoffs
Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Patrick Kane	76	21	51	72	50
Patrick Sharp	74	36	26	62	49
Robert Lang	71	21	33	54	44
Jonathan Toews	64	24	30	54	38
Dustin Byfuglien	63	19	17	36	55
Jason Williams	19	7	11	18	10
Andrew Ladd	57	14	16	30	31
Duncan Keith	76	12	20	32	44
Martin Havlat	37	10	17	27	22
Brent Seabrook	76	9	18	17	85

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

	Regular season									Playoffs
Player	GP	TOI	W	L	OT	GA	SO	SV%	GAA	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
Nikolai Khabibulin	45	2,587	20	18	6	110	2	.910	2.55
Patrick Lalime	31	1,768	15	12	2	85	1	.894	2.88

Awards and records

Records

Milestones

Regular season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Patrick Kane Magnus Johansson	1st NHL game	October 4, 2007
Robert Lang	800th NHL game	October 4, 2007
Patrick Kane Magnus Johansson	1st NHL assist 1st NHL point	October 6, 2007
Jonathan Toews	1st NHL game 1st NHL goal 1st NHL point	October 10, 2007
Sergei Samsonov	600th NHL game	October 12, 2007
Patrick Sharp	200th NHL game	October 12, 2007
Jonathan Toews	1st NHL assist	October 12, 2007
Patrick Kane	1st NHL goal	October 19, 2007
Dave Bolland	1st NHL assist 1st NHL point	October 31, 2007
Jim Vandermeer	200th NHL game	October 31, 2007

Transactions

The Blackhawks have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.

Trades

June 16, 2007	To Montreal Canadiens Jassen Cullimore Tony Salmelainen	To Chicago Blackhawks Sergei Samsonov
June 22, 2007	To Calgary Flames Adrian Aucoin Seventh-round pick in 2007	To Chicago Blackhawks Andrei Zyuzin Steve Marr
August 11, 2007	To Chicago Blackhawks Kevyn Adams	To Phoenix Coyotes Radim Vrbata
October 11, 2007	To Chicago Blackhawks Conditional seventh-round pick in 2008	To New York Rangers P. A. Parenteau
December 18, 2007	To Chicago Blackhawks Ben Eager	To Philadelphia Flyers Jim Vandermeer
January 17, 2008	To Chicago Blackhawks Craig Adams	To Carolina Hurricanes Conditional draft pick in 2009.
February 26, 2008	To Chicago Blackhawks Sixth-round pick in 2008	To Ottawa Senators Martin Lapointe
February 26, 2008	To Chicago Blackhawks Andrew Ladd	To Carolina Hurricanes Tuomo Ruutu

Free agents

Player	Former team	Contract terms
Yanic Perreault	Toronto Maple Leafs	1 year, $1.5 million
Robert Lang	Detroit Red Wings	2 years, $8 million
Wade Flaherty	Vancouver Canucks

Player	New team
Jeff Hamilton	Carolina Hurricanes
Craig MacDonald	Tampa Bay Lightning
Michal Handzus	Los Angeles Kings

Draft picks

Chicago's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.^[2] The Blackhawks had the first overall pick in the draft.

Round	#	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	1	Patrick Kane	Right wing	United States	London Knights (OHL)
2	38	Bill Sweatt	Left wing	United States	Colorado College (WCHA)
2	56	Akim Aliu	Center	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
3	69	Maxime Tanguay	Center	Canada	Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
3	86	Josh Unice	Goaltender	United States	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
5	126	Joe Lavin	Defense	United States	U.S. National Team Development Program (NAHL)
6	156	Richard Greenop	Center	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Farm teams

Rockford IceHogs

The Rockford IceHogs, who will be moving up from the United Hockey League, are the new American Hockey League affiliate of the Blackhawks in 2007–08.

Toledo Walleye

The Toledo Walleye are the Blackhawks affiliate in the ECHL.

References

Player stats: Chicago Blackhawks player stats on espn.com
Game log: Chicago Blackhawks game log on espn.com
Team standings: NHL standings on espn.com

^ "Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings Box Score — November 17, 2007".
^ 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com ^{[dead link‍]}

[1] "Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings Box Score — November 17, 2007".

[2] 2007 NHL Entry Draft Results nhl.com ^{[dead link‍]}

[1]

[2]