Bobby Hull was hard to stop when he got the puck. Bobby Hull had incredible speed and a strong slap shot. He also displayed a lot of confidence.
Long before today’s biggest stars took the ice, “The Golden Jet” put on quite a show.
Hull was a Hall of Fame winger, and he was also a two-time NHL MVP. He helped the Chicago Blackhawks win their 1961 Stanley Cup. Hull was 84 years old.
The Blackhawks and the NHL Alumni Association announced Hull’s death on Monday. Neither organization provided any further information.
Hull was declared by the Blackhawks “delivered countless memories to our fans, whom he adored. Generations of Chicagoans were dazzled by Bobby’s shooting prowess, skating skill and overall team leadership that led to 604 career goals, a franchise record that remains to this day. We send our deepest sympathies to the Hull family.”
Hull, who scored 610 goals in 16 years with Chicago, Hartford, and Winnipeg, was one of NHL’s most successful forwards. Nicknamed “The Golden Jet”His speed and blonde hair earned him 303 goals during his seven-season stint with the Jets of the World Hockey Association.
Hull was a star on the ice but he also faced family and legal issues in his private life.
Hull was found guilty of attacking a police officer in an incident with Deborah, his then-wife in 1986. He also was accused of battery, but that charge was dropped after Deborah told authorities she didn’t want to testify against her husband, a state attorney told the Chicago Tribune.
Hull’s second wife, Joanne, accused him of abuse during an interview with ESPN for a 2002 show.
Russian newspapers reported that Hull claimed Adolf Hitler in 1998. “had some good ideas.”Hull dismissed the comments, calling them absurd “false and defamatory.”
Hull, his No. 9 sweater was retired by the Blackhawks in 1983. Hull was also inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame. The Blackhawks retired his No. 9 sweater that year. For a time, he had been estranged from his team before being named Blackhawks Ambassador in an event with Stan Mikita (his former teammate). Outside the United Center, Hull and Mikita are both statues.
In February 2022, the franchise declared that Hull was retiring from all official roles in the team. It called it a joint announcement.
“Bobby Hull will always be remembered as one of the greatest Blackhawks players of all time. He was a beloved member of the Blackhawks family,”Rocky Wirtz, team owner, stated in a statement.
“When I assumed leadership of the organization upon my father’s passing in 2007, one of my first priorities was to meet with Bobby to convince him to come back as an ambassador of the team. His connection to our fans was special and irreplaceable.”
Hull’s brother, Dennis, played for Chicago for most of his 14 years in the league, and Bobby’s son, Brett, spent 19 years in the NHL. Bobby and Brett won the Hart Trophy for league MVP. This was the first time a father-son pair had achieved this feat. Bobby won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1964-65 and 1965-1966. Brett was awarded in 1990-1991.
Bobby Hull was instrumental in helping the Blackhawks rise to the top after being among the worst teams for many years prior to his 1957-58 debut. In his debut campaign, he had 34 assists and 13 goals. He was second in Calder Trophy for rookie of year.
From there, it was a gradual rise. Hull posted 13 consecutive seasons with 30 goals or more from 1959-72, becoming a perennial fixture at the All-Star Game and a regular candidate for the league’s top awards.
Hull and Mikita powered Chicago to the franchise’s third championship in 1961, beating Montreal and Detroit in the playoffs. Hull scored two goals and assisted five times as the Blackhawks defeated the Red Wings in six matches in the final.
The Pointe Anne, Ontario, native remains Chicago’s career leader for regular-season and playoff goals. With 1,153 franchise points, he is just behind Mikita.
Hull was released by the Blackhawks in 1972 after the season. He was then selected by Winnipeg for the WHA draft. The Jets lured Hull away from the NHL with hockey’s first $1 million contract, according to his bio on the Hall of Fame website.
Hull was a part of the WHA and NHL mergers in 1979. He played 27 games for Winnipeg and Hartford before retiring.
Hull was credited with 560 assists in 1 063 regular-season NHL games. Hull won three Hart Trophys and the Art Ross Trophy, which is awarded to the league’s leader in points. He also received the 1965 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy that recognizes outstanding sportsmanship.
Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner, in “Hull” “a true superstar with a gregarious personality.”
“When Bobby Hull wound up to take a slapshot, fans throughout the NHL rose to their feet in anticipation and opposing goaltenders braced themselves,”Bettman spoke. “During his prime, there was no more prolific goal-scorer in all of hockey. … We send our deepest condolences to his son, fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Brett; the entire Hull family; and the countless fans around the hockey world who were fortunate enough to see him play or have since marveled at his exploits.”
This article was contributed by the Associated Press
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