1969 – 70 Chicago Black Hawks season The 1969 – 70 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks ' forty - fourth season in the NHL , and the club was coming off a sixth place finish in the East Division in 1968 – 69 , failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1957 – 58 season . Despite missing the playoffs , the Black Hawks had a record of 34 - 33 - 9 , earning 77 points , as they had their ninth consecutive season of playing over . 500 hockey . During the off - season , Chicago claimed goaltender Tony Esposito from the Montreal Canadiens in the intra - league draft on June 11 , 1969 . The Hawks also named Pat Stapleton as their new team captain . The Black Hawks did not have a captain for the 1968 – 69 season , as the spot was not filled after former captain Pierre Pilote was traded during the 1968 off - season . The Black Hawks would begin the season very slow , as they lost their opening five games to quickly fall into the East Division cellar . Chicago would then rebound , and after 35 games , the Hawks had a 15 - 15 - 5 record . The Black Hawks would then get hot , as they went on a seven game winning streak , and continued to play great hockey for the rest of the season , as Chicago won a franchise record 45 games , earning a club record 99 points , and finished in first place for the second time in franchise history . The Hawks and Boston Bruins both finished the year with 99 points , however , since Chicago won five more games , they were awarded the Prince of Wales Trophy . Offensively , the Hawks were led by Stan Mikita , who scored a team high 39 goals , 47 assists and 86 points , as he finished third in the NHL scoring race . Bobby Hull had another solid season , scoring 38 goals and 67 points , while Pit Martin had 30 goals and 63 points . Team captain Pat Stapleton led the defense with 42 points , while Keith Magnuson had a club record 213 penalty minutes , along with a club high + 38 rating . In goal , Tony Esposito emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the league , as he won a club record 38 games , while posting a 2 . 17 GAA and a team record 15 shutouts . Esposito was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy and the Vezina Trophy for his efforts . The Hawks opened the playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings in the East Division semi - finals . The Red Wings finished the season with a 40 - 21 - 15 record , earning 95 points , which was good for third in the East Division . The series opened with two games at Chicago Stadium , and the Black Hawks used home ice to their advantage , as they defeated Detroit by scores of 4 - 2 in both games to take the early series lead . The series shifted to the Detroit Olympia for the next two games , however , Chicago stayed hot , as they once again won both games by scores of 4 - 2 to sweep the series and advance to the next playoff round . Chicago would face the Boston Bruins in the East Division finals . Both teams finished the season with 99 points , however , since Boston had a record of 40 - 17 - 19 , which was five wins less than Chicago , the Black Hawks were awarded home ice advantage . The Bruins had defeated the New York Rangers in their opening round . The series opened in Chicago , however , it was the Bruins who took control of the series , winning both games at Chicago Stadium by scores of 6 - 3 and 4 - 1 to take the series lead . The series moved to the Boston Garden for the next two games , and the Bruins easily knocked off the Black Hawks , winning the third game by a 5 - 2 score , then clinching the series with a 5 - 4 victory in the fourth game , sweeping the Black Hawks . Draft picks . Chicago ' s draft picks at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal , Quebec .