# 1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks season

The 1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 70th season of operation of the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League.

## Offseason

Captain Dirk Graham retired. Defenseman Chris Chelios was named the new captain.

## Regular season

The Blackhawks had the fewest power-play opportunities during the Regular season, with 356.

### Final standings

Central Division :
| No. | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Detroit Red Wings | 82 | 62 | 13 | 7 | 325 | 181 | 131 |
| 2 | Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 40 | 28 | 14 | 273 | 220 | 94 |
| 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 247 | 252 | 80 |
| 4 | St. Louis Blues | 82 | 32 | 34 | 16 | 219 | 248 | 80 |
| 5 | Winnipeg Jets | 82 | 36 | 40 | 6 | 275 | 291 | 78 |
| 6 | Dallas Stars | 82 | 26 | 42 | 14 | 227 | 280 | 66 |
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 62 | 13 | 7 | 325 | 181 | 131 |
| 2 | Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 47 | 25 | 10 | 326 | 240 | 104 |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 40 | 28 | 14 | 273 | 220 | 94 |
| 4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 247 | 252 | 80 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 32 | 34 | 16 | 219 | 248 | 80 |
| 6 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 241 | 240 | 79 |
| 7 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 32 | 35 | 15 | 278 | 278 | 79 |
| 8 | Winnipeg Jets | CEN | 82 | 36 | 40 | 6 | 275 | 291 | 78 |
| 9 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 35 | 39 | 8 | 234 | 247 | 78 |
| 10 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 240 | 304 | 68 |
| 11 | Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 26 | 42 | 14 | 227 | 280 | 66 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 24 | 40 | 18 | 256 | 302 | 66 |
| 13 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 20 | 55 | 7 | 252 | 357 | 47 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1995–96 regular season :
October: 6–5–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 3–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1WOctober 7, 19954–3@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)1–0–0Recap
2LOctober 10, 19955–6 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)1–1–0Recap
3WOctober 12, 19955–1Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)2–1–0Recap
4LOctober 14, 19952–3@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)2–2–0Recap
5TOctober 15, 19951–1 OTCalgary Flames (1995–96)2–2–1Recap
6WOctober 17, 19956–3@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)3–2–1Recap
7LOctober 19, 19951–4Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)3–3–1Recap
8WOctober 21, 19954–1@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)4–3–1Recap
9WOctober 22, 19955–4Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)5–3–1Recap
10LOctober 26, 19951–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)5–4–1Recap
11LOctober 28, 19953–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)5–5–1Recap
12WOctober 29, 19956–3Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)6–5–1Recap :
November: 5–4–4 (home: 2–2–1; road: 3–2–3)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
13TNovember 1, 19951–1 OT@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)6–5–2Recap
14LNovember 5, 19953–7Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)6–6–2Recap
15WNovember 9, 19955–2Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)7–6–2Recap
16WNovember 11, 19954–1@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)8–6–2Recap
17TNovember 12, 19954–4 OTEdmonton Oilers (1995–96)8–6–3Recap
18LNovember 14, 19955–6 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)8–7–3Recap
19WNovember 16, 19953–1New York Rangers (1995–96)9–7–3Recap
20LNovember 19, 19952–3San Jose Sharks (1995–96)9–8–3Recap
21LNovember 22, 19952–6@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)9–9–3Recap
22WNovember 24, 19955–4 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)10–9–3Recap
23TNovember 26, 19952–2 OT@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)10–9–4Recap
24WNovember 28, 19955–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)11–9–4Recap
25TNovember 29, 19952–2 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)11–9–5Recap :
December: 8–3–3 (home: 5–2–1; road: 3–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
26TDecember 2, 19952–2 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)11–9–6Recap
27TDecember 6, 19955–5 OT@ New York Rangers (1995–96)11–9–7Recap
28LDecember 7, 19952–5Ottawa Senators (1995–96)11–10–7Recap
29WDecember 10, 19954–1Hartford Whalers (1995–96)12–10–7Recap
30LDecember 13, 19951–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)12–11–7Recap
31LDecember 15, 19951–4Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)12–12–7Recap
32WDecember 17, 19953–1Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)13–12–7Recap
33WDecember 20, 19954–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)14–12–7Recap
34TDecember 21, 19953–3 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)14–12–8Recap
35WDecember 23, 19952–0@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)15–12–8Recap
36WDecember 26, 19955–3Dallas Stars (1995–96)16–12–8Recap
37WDecember 28, 19954–3Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)17–12–8Recap
38WDecember 29, 19955–2@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)18–12–8Recap
39WDecember 31, 19955–0New Jersey Devils (1995–96)19–12–8Recap :
January: 7–3–3 (home: 4–2–1; road: 3–1–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
40WJanuary 2, 19965–2@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)20–12–8Recap
41LJanuary 4, 19961–3St. Louis Blues (1995–96)20–13–8Recap
42LJanuary 6, 19960–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)20–14–8Recap
43WJanuary 7, 19965–2Dallas Stars (1995–96)21–14–8Recap
44TJanuary 9, 19963–3 OT@ New York Islanders (1995–96)21–14–9Recap
45WJanuary 12, 19963–0Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)22–14–9Recap
46WJanuary 14, 19965–2Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)23–14–9Recap
47LJanuary 17, 19962–3Washington Capitals (1995–96)23–15–9Recap
48WJanuary 22, 19967–3@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)24–15–9Recap
49TJanuary 24, 19962–2 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)24–15–10Recap
50WJanuary 25, 19962–1San Jose Sharks (1995–96)25–15–10Recap
51TJanuary 27, 19965–5 OTDetroit Red Wings (1995–96)25–15–11Recap
52WJanuary 31, 19964–0@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)26–15–11Recap :
February: 7–4–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 4–3–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
53WFebruary 3, 19964–1@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)27–15–11Recap
54WFebruary 4, 19964–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)28–15–11Recap
55WFebruary 6, 19965–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)29–15–11Recap
56WFebruary 8, 19966–1@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)30–15–11Recap
57LFebruary 10, 19963–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)30–16–11Recap
58WFebruary 15, 19963–0Boston Bruins (1995–96)31–16–11Recap
59WFebruary 18, 19964–1Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)32–16–11Recap
60LFebruary 22, 19963–4 OTSt. Louis Blues (1995–96)32–17–11Recap
61LFebruary 23, 19960–1 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)32–18–11Recap
62LFebruary 25, 19962–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)32–19–11Recap
63WFebruary 29, 19964–3Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)33–19–11Recap :
March: 5–7–1 (home: 4–3–1; road: 1–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
64LMarch 1, 19963–5@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)33–20–11Recap
65LMarch 3, 19962–6Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)33–21–11Recap
66LMarch 5, 19960–2@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)33–22–11Recap
67LMarch 8, 19962–4Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)33–23–11Recap
68WMarch 11, 19968–4Florida Panthers (1995–96)34–23–11Recap
69WMarch 14, 19965–1Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)35–23–11Recap
70WMarch 17, 19965–1New York Islanders (1995–96)36–23–11Recap
71LMarch 20, 19962–3Calgary Flames (1995–96)36–24–11Recap
72WMarch 22, 19964–2@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)37–24–11Recap
73TMarch 24, 19962–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)37–24–12Recap
74LMarch 27, 19960–1@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)37–25–12Recap
75LMarch 29, 19962–4@ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96)37–26–12Recap
76WMarch 31, 19965–3Dallas Stars (1995–96)38–26–12Recap :
April: 2–2–2 (home: 1–1–1; road: 1–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
77WApril 3, 19965–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)39–26–12Recap
78TApril 5, 19963–3 OT@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)39–26–13Recap
79LApril 7, 19961–4Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)39–27–13Recap
80WApril 11, 19965–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)40–27–13Recap
81LApril 12, 19963–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)40–28–13Recap
82TApril 14, 19962–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (1995–96)40–28–14Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1996 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (6) Calgary Flames – Blackhawks win 4–0
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WApril 17, 19964–1Calgary FlamesBlackhawks lead 1–0Recap
2WApril 19, 19963–0Calgary FlamesBlackhawks lead 2–0Recap
3WApril 21, 19967–5@ Calgary FlamesBlackhawks lead 3–0Recap
4WApril 23, 19962–1 3OT@ Calgary FlamesBlackhawks win 4–0Recap :
Western Conference Semifinals vs. (2) Colorado Avalanche – Avalanche win 4–2
GameResultDateScoreOpponentSeriesRecap
1WMay 2, 19963–2@ Colorado AvalancheBlackhawks lead 1–0Recap
2LMay 4, 19961–5@ Colorado AvalancheSeries tied 1–1Recap
3WMay 6, 19964–3 OTColorado AvalancheBlackhawks lead 2–1Recap
4LMay 8, 19962–3 3OTColorado AvalancheSeries tied 2–2Recap
5LMay 11, 19961–4@ Colorado AvalancheAvalanche lead 3–2Recap
6LMay 13, 19963–4 2OTColorado AvalancheAvalanche win 4–2Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Blackhawks only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 7 | Chris Chelios | D | 81 | 14 | 58 | 72 | 25 | 140 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 27 | Jeremy Roenick | LW | 66 | 32 | 35 | 67 | 9 | 109 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 2 |
| 20 | Gary Suter | D | 82 | 20 | 47 | 67 | 3 | 80 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 8 |
| 10 | Tony Amonte | RW | 81 | 31 | 32 | 63 | 10 | 62 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| 92 | Bernie Nicholls | C | 59 | 19 | 41 | 60 | 11 | 60 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 4 |
| 55 | Eric Daze | LW | 80 | 30 | 23 | 53 | 16 | 18 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | Joe Murphy | RW | 70 | 22 | 29 | 51 | −3 | 86 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 33 |
| 18 | Denis Savard | C | 69 | 13 | 35 | 48 | 20 | 102 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 32 | Murray Craven | LW | 66 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 20 | 36 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 2 |
| 24 | Bob Probert | RW | 78 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 15 | 237 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −1 | 23 |
| 12 | Brent Sutter | C | 80 | 13 | 27 | 40 | 14 | 56 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −3 | 6 |
| 11 | Jeff Shantz | C | 78 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 12 | 24 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 6 |
| 4 | Keith Carney | D | 82 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 31 | 94 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | −1 | 4 |
| 25 | Sergei Krivokrasov | LW | 46 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −4 | 2 |
| 44 | Patrick Poulin‡ | LW | 38 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 7 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Eric Weinrich | D | 77 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 65 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Igor Ulanov†‡ | D | 53 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Steve Smith | D | 37 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 71 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 16 |
| 38 | James Black | C | 13 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 2 |
| 15 | Jim Cummins | RW | 52 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −1 | 180 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 19 | Brent Grieve | LW | 28 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 22 | Steve Dubinsky | C | 43 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Kip Miller | C | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Cam Russell | D | 61 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 129 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 30 | Ed Belfour | G | 50 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 36 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 39 | Enrico Ciccone† | D | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 48 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 30 |
| 31 | Jeff Hackett | G | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 40 | Ethan Moreau | LW | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 19 | Danton Cole† | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Ivan Droppa | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | Mike Prokopec | RW | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Jimmy Waite | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Brad Werenka | D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | 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 | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 30 | Ed Belfour | 50 | 22 | 17 | 10 | 1373 | 135 | 2.74 | .902 | 1 | 2956 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 323 | 23 | 2.07 | .929 | 1 | 666 |
| 31 | Jeff Hackett | 35 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 948 | 80 | 2.40 | .916 | 4 | 2000 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 5 | 5.00 | .844 | 0 | 60 |
| 29 | Jimmy Waite | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | 0 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | James Norris Memorial Trophy | Chris Chelios |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Eric Daze (Forward) |
| League (annual) | NHL First All-Star team | Chris Chelios (Defense) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Ed Belfour |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Chris Chelios |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Denis Savard |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Gary Suter |
| League (in-season) | NHL Rookie of the Month | Eric Daze (January) |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Ethan Moreau | November 11, 1995 |
| First game | Mike Prokopec | December 10, 1995 |
| 1,000th game played | Brent Sutter | February 23, 1996 |

## Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 19 | Dmitri Nabokov | Russia | Krylya Sovetov (Russia) |
| 2 | 45 | Christian Laflamme | Canada | Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 71 | Kevin McKay | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 4 | 82 | Chris Van Dyk | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) |
| 4 | 97 | Pavel Kriz | Czech Republic | Tri-City Americans (WHL) |
| 6 | 146 | Marc Magliarditi | United States | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) |
| 6 | 149 | Marty Wilford | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 7 | 175 | Steve Tardif | Canada | Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 201 | Casey Hankinson | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 9 | 227 | Michael Pittman | Canada | Guelph Storm (OHL) |