1995–96 Chicago Blackhawks season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1995–96
Year:	1995
Team:	Chicago Blackhawks
Record:	40–28–14
Homerecord:	22–13–6
Roadrecord:	18–15–8
Conferencerank:	3rd
Divisionrank:	2nd
Goalsfor:	273
Goalsagainst:	220
Attendance:	20,390
Pointsleader:	Chris Chelios (72)
Goalsleader:	Jeremy Roenick (32)
Assistsleader:	Chris Chelios (58)
Pimleader:	Bob Probert (237)
Plusminusleader:	Keith Carney (+31)
Winsleader:	Ed Belfour (22)
Gaaleader:	Jeff Hackett (2.40)

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.^[1] Defenseman Chris Chelios was named the new captain.

Regular season

The Blackhawks had the fewest power-play opportunities during the Regular season, with 356.^[2]

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |1||W||October 7, 1995||4–3 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||1–0–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|2||L||October 10, 1995||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||1–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |3||W||October 12, 1995||5–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||2–1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|4||L||October 14, 1995||2–3 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||2–2–0 || |- align="center" |5||T||October 15, 1995||1–1 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||2–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |6||W||October 17, 1995||6–3 || align="left"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||3–2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|7||L||October 19, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||3–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |8||W||October 21, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||4–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |9||W||October 22, 1995||5–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||5–3–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|10||L||October 26, 1995||1–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||5–4–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|11||L||October 28, 1995||3–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||5–5–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |12||W||October 29, 1995||6–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||6–5–1 || |-|- align="center" |13||T||November 1, 1995||1–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||6–5–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|14||L||November 5, 1995||3–7 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||6–6–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |15||W||November 9, 1995||5–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||7–6–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |16||W||November 11, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||8–6–2 || |- align="center" |17||T||November 12, 1995||4–4 OT|| align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||8–6–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|18||L||November 14, 1995||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||8–7–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |19||W||November 16, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||9–7–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|20||L||November 19, 1995||2–3 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||9–8–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|21||L||November 22, 1995||2–6 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||9–9–3 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |22||W||November 24, 1995||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||10–9–3 || |- align="center" |23||T||November 26, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||10–9–4 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |24||W||November 28, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||11–9–4 || |- align="center" |25||T||November 29, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||11–9–5 || |-|- align="center" |26||T||December 2, 1995||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||11–9–6 || |- align="center" |27||T||December 6, 1995||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||11–9–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|28||L||December 7, 1995||2–5 || align="left"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||11–10–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |29||W||December 10, 1995||4–1 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1995–96) ||12–10–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|30||L||December 13, 1995||1–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||12–11–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|31||L||December 15, 1995||1–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||12–12–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |32||W||December 17, 1995||3–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||13–12–7 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |33||W||December 20, 1995||4–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||14–12–7 || |- align="center" |34||T||December 21, 1995||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||14–12–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |35||W||December 23, 1995||2–0 || align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||15–12–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |36||W||December 26, 1995||5–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||16–12–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |37||W||December 28, 1995||4–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||17–12–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |38||W||December 29, 1995||5–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||18–12–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |39||W||December 31, 1995||5–0 || align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||19–12–8 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |40||W||January 2, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||20–12–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|41||L||January 4, 1996||1–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||20–13–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|42||L||January 6, 1996||0–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||20–14–8 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |43||W||January 7, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||21–14–8 || |- align="center" |44||T||January 9, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||21–14–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |45||W||January 12, 1996||3–0 || align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||22–14–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |46||W||January 14, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||23–14–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|47||L||January 17, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||23–15–9 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |48||W||January 22, 1996||7–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||24–15–9 || |- align="center" |49||T||January 24, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||24–15–10 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |50||W||January 25, 1996||2–1 || align="left"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||25–15–10 || |- align="center" |51||T||January 27, 1996||5–5 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||25–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |52||W||January 31, 1996||4–0 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||26–15–11 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |53||W||February 3, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||27–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |54||W||February 4, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||28–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |55||W||February 6, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||29–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |56||W||February 8, 1996||6–1 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||30–15–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|57||L||February 10, 1996||3–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||30–16–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |58||W||February 15, 1996||3–0 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||31–16–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |59||W||February 18, 1996||4–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||32–16–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|60||L||February 22, 1996||3–4 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||32–17–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|61||L||February 23, 1996||0–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||32–18–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|62||L||February 25, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||32–19–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |63||W||February 29, 1996||4–3 || align="left"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||33–19–11 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|64||L||March 1, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||33–20–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|65||L||March 3, 1996||2–6 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||33–21–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|66||L||March 5, 1996||0–2 || align="left"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||33–22–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|67||L||March 8, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||33–23–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |68||W||March 11, 1996||8–4 || align="left"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||34–23–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |69||W||March 14, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||35–23–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |70||W||March 17, 1996||5–1 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||36–23–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|71||L||March 20, 1996||2–3 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||36–24–11 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |72||W||March 22, 1996||4–2 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||37–24–11 || |- align="center" |73||T||March 24, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||37–24–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|74||L||March 27, 1996||0–1 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||37–25–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|75||L||March 29, 1996||2–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||37–26–12 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |76||W||March 31, 1996||5–3 || align="left"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||38–26–12 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |77||W||April 3, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||39–26–12 || |- align="center" |78||T||April 5, 1996||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||39–26–13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|79||L||April 7, 1996||1–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||39–27–13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" |80||W||April 11, 1996||5–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||40–27–13 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"|81||L||April 12, 1996||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||40–28–13 || |- align="center" |82||T||April 14, 1996||2–2 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||40–28–14 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 1 ||W|| April 17, 1996 || 4–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Blackhawks lead 1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 2 ||W|| April 19, 1996 || 3–0 || align="left"| Calgary Flames || Blackhawks lead 2–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 3 ||W|| April 21, 1996 || 7–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames || Blackhawks lead 3–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 4 ||W|| April 23, 1996 || 2–1 3OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames || Blackhawks win 4–0 || |-|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 1 ||W|| May 2, 1996 || 3–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Blackhawks lead 1–0 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 2 ||L|| May 4, 1996 || 1–5 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Series tied 1–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| 3 ||W|| May 6, 1996 || 4–3 OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Blackhawks lead 2–1 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 4 ||L|| May 8, 1996 || 2–3 3OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Series tied 2–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 5 ||L|| May 11, 1996 || 1–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche lead 3–2 || |- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"| 6 ||L|| May 13, 1996 || 3–4 2OT|| align="left"| Colorado Avalanche || Avalanche win 4–2 || |-|-| Legend:

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.

	Player		scope=colgroup colspan=6	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=6	Playoffs
7		D	81	14	58	72	25	140	9	0	3	3	2	8
27		LW	66	32	35	67	9	109	10	5	7	12	6	2
20		D	82	20	47	67	3	80	10	3	3	6	1	8
10		RW	81	31	32	63	10	62	7	2	4	6	2	6
92		C	59	19	41	60	11	60	10	2	7	9	3	4
55		LW	80	30	23	53	16	18	10	3	5	8	4	0
17		RW	70	22	29	51	−3	86	10	6	2	8	1	33
18		C	69	13	35	48	20	102	10	1	2	3	0	8
32		LW	66	18	29	47	20	36	9	1	4	5	−1	2
24		RW	78	19	21	40	15	237	10	0	2	2	−1	23
12		C	80	13	27	40	14	56	10	1	1	2	−3	6
11		C	78	6	14	20	12	24	10	2	3	5	−2	6
4		D	82	5	14	19	31	94	10	0	3	3	−1	4
25		LW	46	6	10	16	10	32	5	1	0	1	−4	2
44		LW	38	7	8	15	7	16
2		D	77	5	10	15	14	65	10	1	4	5	2	10
6		D	53	1	8	9	12	92
5		D	37	0	9	9	12	71	6	0	0	0	−2	16
38		C	13	3	3	6	1	16	8	1	0	1	−1	2
15		RW	52	2	4	6	−1	180	10	0	0	0	−1	2
19		LW	28	2	4	6	5	28
22		C	43	2	3	5	3	14
14		C	10	1	4	5	1	2
8		D	61	2	2	4	8	129	6	0	0	0	−1	2
30		G	50	0	2	2		36	9	0	0	0		4
39		D	11	0	1	1	5	48	9	1	0	1	−1	30
31		G	35	0	1	1		8	1	0	0	0		0
40		LW	8	0	1	1	1	4
19		RW	2	0	0	0	0	0
6		D	7	0	0	0	2	2
23		RW	9	0	0	0	−4	5
29		G	1	0	0	0		0
3		D	9	0	0	0	−2	8

Goaltending

	Player	scope=colgroup colspan=10	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=9	Playoffs
30		50	22	17	10	1373	135	2.74	.902	1	2956	9	6	3	323	23	2.07	.929	1	666
31		35	18	11	4	948	80	2.40	.916	4	2000	1	0	1	32	5	5.00	.844	0	60
29		1	0	0	0	8	0	0.00	1.000	0	31	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (annual)	James Norris Memorial Trophy	Chris Chelios	^[3]
	NHL All-Rookie Team	Eric Daze (Forward)	^[4]
	NHL First All-Star team	Chris Chelios (Defense)
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Ed Belfour	^[5]
Chris Chelios
Denis Savard
Gary Suter
NHL Rookie of the Month	Eric Daze (January)	^[6]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Ethan Moreau	November 11, 1995	^[7]
	Mike Prokopec	December 10, 1995
1,000th game played	Brent Sutter	February 23, 1996	^[8]

Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.^[9]

Round		Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	19	Dmitri Nabokov		Krylya Sovetov (Russia)
2	45	Christian Laflamme		Beauport Harfangs (QMJHL)
3	71	Kevin McKay		Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
4	82	Chris Van Dyk		Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
4	97	Pavel Kriz		Tri-City Americans (WHL)
6	146	Marc Magliarditi		Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6	149	Marty Wilford		Oshawa Generals (OHL)
7	175	Steve Tardif		Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
8	201	Casey Hankinson		University of Minnesota (WCHA)
9	227	Michael Pittman		Guelph Storm (OHL)

See also

• 1995–96 NHL season

References

• Web site: Chicago Blackhawks 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 14, 2023.
• Web site: 1995-96 Chicago Blackhawks Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts . Hockey-Reference.com . August 14, 2023.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blackhawks' Graham Joins Coaching Ranks After Retiring As Player The Spokesman-Review . www.spokesman.com . August 15, 2023 . August 8, 1995.
2. Web site: 1995-96 NHL Summary.
3. Web site: James Norris Memorial Trophy . records.nhl.com . August 28, 2023.
4. Web site: Postseason All-Star Teams . NHL.com . August 28, 2023.
5. Web site: 1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters . Hockey-Reference.com . August 29, 2024.
6. Web site: NHL Rookies of the Month . Hockey-Reference.com . August 28, 2023.
7. Web site: 1995-96 NHL Debuts . Hockey-Reference.com . October 6, 2024.
8. Web site: Markus . Robert . SUTTER TO LOG 1,000TH NHL GAME . Chicago Tribune . August 28, 2023 . February 23, 1996.
9. Web site: 1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . www.hockeydb.com . August 28, 2023.