# 2007–08 Chicago Blackhawks season

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.

### 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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
### 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. 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.