Chicago Blackhawks Odds

The fastest game on ice has just become that much better here in Illinois. Sports betting has the official green light in the state so you can now legally bet on the NHL.

We don’t have to look too far to find the team at the top of everyone’s mind. The Chicago Blackhawks, with a trio of Stanley Cup victories since the turn of the century, have a passionate and devoted following across the state.

Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith continue to lead the way as the club looks to recapture some of the magic of its glory days. Jonathan Toews and Kirby Dach won’t be with the Blackhawks to start the season, but will some new stars emerge?

You’ll can bet right along with every bounce of the puck this season and we’ve got you covered right here. You can bet on individual Blackhawks games and player props, and even live bet the action as it plays out. There’s also a big futures market for the NHL, too, so you can place an NHL bet on the ‘Hawks to hoist the Stanley Cup again.

Betting on NHL player props and futures in Illinois

For even more ways to bet on the Blackhawks this season, you can check out props and futures wagers. Props bets are available on each of the individual games, and you’ll even find some of the season-long variety.

For the games, many props will revolve around the performance of individual players, such as:

• How many total points will Andrew Shaw have — over/under 1.5?
• Will Patrick Kane score a goal in the game — yes/no?
• Who will have more total hits plus shots — Duncan Keith or Shea Theodore?

Many props will also revolve around game or team circumstances, for instance:

• Will overtime be needed to decide the game — yes/no?
• Which side will record more shots — Blackhawks or Red Wings?

As mentioned, you’ll also find some season-long props inside of the NHL futures market, for example:

• League leaders — goals, points, wins, etc.
• How many total goals for Kane this year — over/under 35.5?

The futures market doesn’t end there. There are lots of wagers you can place on events that won’t occur until the end of the season, including the:

• Stanley Cup winner
• Division and conference winners
• Team to make or miss playoffs
• Regular-season win and point totals
• Individual player award trophies: Hart, Vezina, Calder, etc.

A number of the top attractions in the futures market stay active all year round. For example, odds for the winner of next year’s Stanley Cup will be released soon after the current edition is in the books.

You can place bets right away, and also stay engaged all year to scout for further opportunities. Futures are a great way to stay engaged with the NHL throughout the season, and a handy research tool as you project out the coming year.

NHL online betting rules in Illinois

Betting rules for hockey are pretty standard at legal online sportsbooks. However, there are occasional oddball events that may impact your wagers. Here’s the gist of what you need to know:

• Bets can revolve around regulation time or include overtime and shootouts. They’ll be clearly listed by the operator; however, take the time to verify your wager.
• Shootout goals generally don’t count for player props.
• The settlement of bets is based on official NHL statistics.
• Canceled games will be considered void and wagers will be refunded.

While these are the standard rules, certain situations may vary by operator. It’s always a good rule of thumb to review the house rules for the sport you are betting on for specifics. If you have questions after reviewing the terms and conditions, you can always reach out to the operator via various customer support options.

Chicago Blackhawks schedule for 2020-21

The 2019-20 regular season was a little shorter than normal, though the postseason was expanded. The 2021 season began on Jan. 13 and is going to consist of 56 games, down from the usual 82.

You can find the schedule in its entirety here.

Blackhawks’ season recap

The Blackhawks closed out the 2019-20 regular season with a mark of 32-30-8. That was good enough for 72 points over 70 games played, but the club found itself in the Central Division’s basement.

Following the condensed regular season in 2020, the NHL opened the doors for an expanded run of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Twenty-four teams participated, including Chicago. The Blackhawks were the last seed in the Western Conference and paired up with the Edmonton Oilers in the qualifying round.

Despite being underdogs heading into the series, the Blackhawks surprised with a 6-4 win in the opening game behind a pair of goals from Toews. Edmonton bounced back next time out to knot the series up with a 6-3 victory.

Chicago took control from there and didn’t look back, closing out the best-of-five set with a 4-3 win in Game 3 and a 3-2 victory in Game 4. The Blackhawks surprised a lot of folks by making it to the first round to face the Vegas Golden Knights.

The club from Sin City proved to be too much for Chicago to handle. Vegas dominated the best-of-seven series, closing it out in five games with a 4-3 win. While it was a disappointing end to the season, the Blackhawks can still hang their hats on an unexpected playoff berth and success in the qualifying round. We’ll see if any momentum carries over into the 2020-21 campaign.

Chicago Blackhawks 2020 NHL draft selections

The most recent NHL entry draft was held Oct. 6-7, 2020. The Blackhawks had eight picks over the two-day event. Here’s a quick look at the newest members of the Chicago Blackhawks roster:

• Round 1: Lukas Reichel, LW, Berlin (DEL)
• Round 2: Drew Commesso, G, US Under-18 (USAH-NTDP)
• Round 3: Landon Slaggert, C, USNTDP (USHL)
• Round 3: Wyatt Kaiser, D, Andover High School (MIN)
• Round 4: Michael Krutil, D, Sparta Praha (Czech)
• Round 5: Isaak Phillips, D, Sudbury (OHL)
• Round 6: Chad Yetman, C, Erie (OHL)
• Round 7: Louis Crevier, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

In the past decade, Chicago was one of the top clubs in the NHL. Naturally, that translated into lower draft positions for the franchise. The club also traded away a pair of higher picks during its quest for Stanley Cup wins.

The story has been a little different over the past few seasons as the team continues to restock the coffers. Here are the players selected in the first round by the Blackhawks over the past 10 years:

• 2019: Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)
• 2018: Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas IF Gavle (Sweden)
• 2018: Nicolas Beaudin, D, USNDT (USHL)
• 2017: Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland (WHL)
• 2014: Nick Schmaltz, C, Green Bay (USHL)
• 2013: Ryan Hartman, RW, Plymouth (OHL)
• 2012: Teuvo Teravainen, LW, Jokerit Helsinki (SM-Liiga)
• 2011: Mark McNeill, C, Prince Albert (WHL)
• 2011: Phillip Danault, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL)
• 2010: Kevin Hayes, RW, Nobles School (MA)

Chicago Blackhawks scoring leaders

If we look over the past decade of Blackhawks hockey, we find a number of familiar names at the top of the scoring charts. Here are the team leaders for each of the past 10 seasons in the major categories:

Blackhawks head coaching history

On the head coaching front, the Blackhawks benefited tremendously from the lengthy run of Joel Quenneville. He led the team from 2008-18, a period of outstanding success in Chicago history as the team snagged a trio of Stanley Cups.

Here’s a look at how the past five head coaches for the team have fared on an overall basis:

Who is the captain of the Blackhawks?

The captain’s “C” is not handed out lightly in NHL circles. Players who get named as team leaders are generally cornerstone players of the franchise. That has certainly been the case with the Blackhawks.

Since the turn of the century, only five players have served as official team captain. Here’s the list along with the years they spent with the “C” on their jerseys:

1. Jonathan Toews: 2008-present
2. Martin Lapointe: 2007-08
3. Adrian Aucoin: 2005-07
4. Alexei Zhamnov: 2002-04
5. Tony Amonte: 2000-02

Best goalies in Blackhawks history

Chicago has several stellar players in net throughout the team’s history, including franchise icons such as Glenn Hall, Tony Esposito and Ed Belfour. There has been a good amount of stability over the past decade as well, but a changing of the guard may be in order for the coming campaign.

Here’s a look at the goaltenders over the past 10 seasons who have suited up in net for the Blackhawks, along with the number of games played:

• 2019-20: Corey Crawford, 40; Robin Lehner, 33; Malcolm Subban, 1
• 2018-19: Crawford, 39; Cam Ward, 33; Collin Delia, 16
• 2017-18: Anton Forsberg, 35; Crawford, 28; Jeff Glass, 15; Jean-Francois Berube, 13; Delia, 2; Scott Foster, 1
• 2016-17: Crawford, 55; Scott Darling, 32
• 2015-16: Crawford, 58; Darling, 29; Michael Leighton, 1
• 2014-15: Crawford, 57; Darling, 14; Antti Raanta, 14
• 2013-14: Crawford, 59; Raanta, 25; Nikolai Khabibulin, 4; Kent Simpson, 1
• 2012-13: Crawford, 30; Ray Emery, 21; Carter Hutton, 1
• 2011-12: Crawford, 57; Emery, 34
• 2010-11: Crawford,  57; Marty Turco, 29

Chicago Blackhawks home games

How to watch, listen, live stream Blackhawks games

NBC Sports Chicago is the broadcast home for Blackhawks games. The channel is available on numerous cable, satellite and streaming packages throughout Illinois. Pat Foley calls the play-by-play action. Former NHL star Eddie Olczyk serves as the primary analyst, while Steve Konroyd chips in.

National broadcasts of select games also are available on the NHL’s national broadcast partners: NBC, NBC Sports Network and NHL Network. Subscription service ESPN+ also carries some NHL games throughout the season.

The flagship radio station for Blackhawks games is WGN Radio AM 720, which is based out of Chicago. John Wiedeman handles the play-by-play call on the radio side, while Troy Murray is on board as the analyst.

The audio feed is also picked up by a number of affiliates across the state, so be sure to check your local listings for the exact location on the dial. Additionally, radio broadcasts of Blackhawks games are available on NHL.com and via the TuneIn radio app.

Best Chicago Blackhawks bars in Illinois

If you’re looking to head out to catch the game, you have plenty of options to explore. Even better, the legalization of sports betting in Illinois means that you can place your wagers on the go via an app on your phone.

You’ll also be able to live bet as the action plays out on the ice. There are a number of stellar sports bars throughout Illinois. Here are a handful that know how to do Blackhawks games right.

Note: Please check Illinois health mitigation protocols before visiting your local pub or restaurant.

O’Malley’s Pub & Eatery

Near Phillips Park Golf Course in Aurora, O’Malley’s is a great spot to get food and drink. The menu features traditional comfort fare, and there are plenty of TVs and drink specials available as you soak in the game.

• Address: 701 Hill Ave., Aurora, IL 60505
• Phone: 630-898-8700
• Website: www.omalleysaurora.com
• Hours: Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Finley Dunne’s Tavern

A neighborhood pub in the Lakeview area of Chicago, Finley Dunne’s is an old-school, casual-style spot. Featuring typical bar food and drink specials, it’s a great place to kick back and catch the Blackhawks’ action.

• Address: 3458 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60657
• Phone: 773-477-7311
• Website: finleydunnes.com
• Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Fridays, 2 p.m.-2 a.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Hawkeye’s Bar & Grill

Happy to be known as a dive bar, Hawkeye’s is a neighborhood pub in Chicago. You’ll find food and drink specials plus a festive atmosphere as you get set to enjoy the game.

• Address: 1458 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60607
• Phone: 312-226-3951
• Website: hawkeyesbarandgrill.com
• Hours: Seven days a week, 11 a.m.-midnight

Chubby Bullfrog Bar & Grill

If you’re in the West Dundee area, be sure to check out the Chubby Bullfrog. One of several official Blackhawks bars across the state, this spot features craft beers, a full menu, karaoke, darts and more.

• Address: 1494 Spring Hill Mall, West Dundee, IL 60118
• Phone: 847-428-7080
• Website: www.thechubbybullfrog.com
• Hours: Tuesdays to Thursdays, 4 p.m.-12 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, noon-10 p.m.; closed on Mondays

Bar Down Sports Grill

Located in the Barrington Square Mall Shopping Center in Hoffman Estates, Bar Down features daily specials, a lengthy happy hour during the week and plenty of screens to catch the Blackhawks game.

• Address: 2354 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
• Phone: 847-310-3227
• Website: bardownsportsgrill.com
• Hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 11 a.m.-midnight; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Regardless of where you plan to go to watch the Chicago Blackhawks game, it’s always a good idea to call ahead and verify the hours of operation.

Chicago Blackhawks team history

The Blackhawks are one of the Original Six franchises in the NHL. The other members of that prestigious group are the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Games between these clubs are among the many highlights of the NHL regular season. Overall, the Blackhawks have found a good deal of success with plenty of playoff appearances and six Stanley Cups titles.

However, there was also a lengthy drought in between the third and fourth Stanley Cup victories, which spanned from 1961 through 2010. Here are some of the key details and notable facts about this iconic NHL franchise:

• Founded: 1926
• Stanley Cups: 1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015
• Conference Championships: 1992, 2010, 2013, 2015
• Division Titles: 16, last one in 2016-17
• Presidents Trophies: 1990-91, 2012-13
• Playoff Appearances: 63 in 93 seasons
• Retired Numbers: Seven (six numbers) — Glenn Hall, Keith Magnuson, Pierre Pilote, Bobby Hull, Denis Savard, Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito
• Longest Home Winning Streak: 13 games in 1970
• Longest Overall Winless Streak: 15 games in 1928-29
• Longest Overall Undefeated Streak: 30 games in 2012-13
• Most Games Played: Mikita, 1,394
• Most Goals in a Season: Hull, 58 in 1968-69
• Most Goals in a Single Game: Grant Mulvey, five in 1982
• Longest Shootout: 11 rounds vs. Columbus Blue Jackets in 2009