Golden Years in Chicago Return for Bobby Hull

CHICAGO -- "Other than the 15 years I skated up and down the rink at Chicago Stadium," said Bobby Hull, "I have never known happiness like I do today."

After a bitter and complete separation of more than 35 years, "The Golden Jet" has returned to his beloved Blackhawks as a team ambassador with fellow Chicago hockey legends Stan Mikita, Tony Esposito and Denis Savard. When Rocky Wirtz assumed the role as team chairman in October 2007 after the death of his father Bill, one of his first moves was to reconnect the fanbase and the franchise with its Original Six roots.

Although he owns a home in Florida, Hull rarely misses a Blackhawks game at the United Center. I spoke with the Hall of Famer in Chicago on Thursday night. Actually, I was more than happy to just sit back and listen.

"I never thought for a million years that I'd be a member of the Blackhawks family again," said Hull, who turned 71 in January. "I thank my lucky stars that Rocky Wirtz took over the team and that he and (team president) John McDonough reached out to me.

"To be honest with you, I'd figured I'd burned all the bridges I could. But Rocky and his management team, they understand that if you're not proud of your past, you're not going to have a future. They first contacted me and Mr. Mikita a little over two years ago, and I'm telling you -- I'm not going away. I'm making up for lost time."

Did you really have no connection with the Blackhawks after leaving for Winnipeg in 1972?

"None," said Hull. "Just bitter feelings and silence. The only time I was ever at a game in Chicago was to watch my son Brett. If you don't mind me saying so, Brett was the greatest pure goal scorer to ever play in the NHL. I say that even with the greatest amount of respect and admiration for your guy, Mr. Mike Bossy."

After a brief, friendly debate on goal scorers, Hull discussed his departure from the Blackhawks.

"I'd given the Blackhawks my blood and sweat for 15 years! I told them I thought I had five years -- five good years -- left in my body. They didn't even offer me one year."
"I don't know how more clear-cut it can be," said Hull, who scored 610 goals in 1,063 games with the Blackhawks. "They never offered me a contract. Do you really think I wanted to leave Chicago, the greatest city with the greatest sports fans in the world? I had five kids and a very extravagant wife. I'd be nuts to want to leave. I'd given the Blackhawks my blood and sweat for 15 years! I told them I thought I had five years -- five good years -- left in my body. They didn't even offer me one year.

"So the World Hockey Association started up and Winnipeg courted me. They asked me how much I wanted. I had no serious intention of going there. I figured there wasn't a cowboy alive who deserved to make a million dollars playing hockey. So I told Winnipeg I wanted a million dollar bonus. They agreed to it! Instead of being happy, I was thinking I was an idiot for not asking for $20 million. So the Jets gave me a contract for a million bucks, plus $250,000 a year for as long as I wanted to play. I signed the deal and had no regrets."

You never heard from the Blackhawks again?

"Just once. The day after I signed with Winnipeg ... well, I guess the Blackhawks didn't take them or me seriously. Some guy, a lawyer I figure, showed up at my house. He said, "Here is a five-year contract for a total of $1.25 million. Read it over, sign it and send it back in the mail by the end of the day. I gave it right back to the gentleman and said, 'Bring this back to Mr. Wirtz and tell him to stick it where the sun don't shine.'"

Just like that, the Blackhawks and their greatest player entered a divorce that spanned four decades. Until now.

"The way this organization has been rebuilt is just tremendous," said Hull. "Rocky knew some things were wrong with the way the franchise was being run and he didn't hesitate to fix them. The home games were finally broadcast on TV. The team became part of the community again. The players are treated first-class, because management knows the game is all about the players.

"There's a reason why these young guys like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith have come together so quickly to be a strong team. They're very talented young men, but the management -- Rocky, John McDonough, Stan Bowman and the staff -- they treat the players so well. Because of that, these kids want to play for each other, the organization and the fans. I'm telling you, it is something to watch. When they're attacking on offense, not sitting back, no team can beat them.

"Now the fans have responded. The United Center is filled every night. Those fans were always there, just waiting for the team to show them they cared. I knew the fans were there, but after all those years I honestly started to believe the Blackhawks might never be special again."

Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet, was unmistakably emotional.

"Every time I wake up in the morning, it's a blessed day," he said. "It's not just because I'm back in Chicago. It's that the Blackhawks matter again."