How the Chicago Blackhawks turned superstars into a dynasty, and a dynasty into a nightmare

The Chicago Blackhawks turned superstars into a dynasty, and a dynasty into an impossible standard. By the time the “Baby Blackhawks” lost to Detroit in the 2009 Western Conference Finals, Forbes Magazine already hailed the franchise as “the greatest sports-business turnaround ever.”
Three Cups in five years, led by two young superstars and a dynamic core of supporting players. Chicago had already completed one dynasty, and there was no reason this group couldn’t keep going at a Championship level. But, even superstars can’t do it alone.
Written and produced by Steven Godfrey
Edited by Charlotte Atkinson
Graphics by Tyson Whiting
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[@yelraf1064]

The fact that they gave Aldrich a recommendation when he applied for a high school coaching job - and the subsequent assault of a kid - is what takes their negligence from unacceptable to utterly disgusting. How dare they.

[@wildcatlh]

Exactly. Allowing it to continue on the team for the sake of the Cup run was bad enough. That's something far worse. I'm not sure how a human being can live with themselves after that.

[@JamesKlemm87]

It infuriates me that not one of them is going to be charged criminally for accessory to child rape. Every single person who helped get him that job knew the end result of that hiring and simply did not care if they ruined a kids life.

[@stosh21]

They didn't write him a recommendation letter. As much as it was mishandled, the fact that this glaring piece of false info keeps getting repeated is ridiculous.

[@bagofgroceries]

They should be contracted yesterday

[@wildcatlh]

@@stosh21 They might as well have written a letter of recommendation. An NHL coach going to a high school. No hint of anything wrong from the team.

[@MrGUnit27]

One more thing to note: In late 2021, not long after Kyle Beach revealed himself as the John Doe in the investigation, the Hockey Hall of Fame did the sensible thing and removed Brad Aldrich's name from the Stanley Cup (there are a series of X's where his name used to be).

[@redred222]

it never should have been on there in the first place the team knew what he did and never informed the hall of fame thats how crap the team was at the time, kyle could have been a great player imagine trying to play a sport you know hate, and then everyone saying your a bust, and players on your own team making fun of you over it, and players from other teams knew too

[@victorsalazar1273]

The hockey hall of fame did it from the request from the owner

[@joeydoherty368]

@@redred222 It’s amazing how they could cover this up and go on and win it all. I don’t know how someone like Coach Q could sleep at night, let alone lead a team to 3 Championships knowing what happened. One of the GOATs who will now be remembered for such an ugly coverup. It’s really sad and infuriating.

[@mikeamber2528]

@Lefroy If you're gonna troll, at least make it believable.

[@TheBulbasaurKing]

@Lefroy they covered up the scandal for over a decade

[@tylerhergert5781]

The dynasty ended when Nashville swept Chicago in 2017. That officially ended the reign of the Hawks. Chicago always seemed to play the longest playoff games. There wasn’t a more thrilling feeling than staying up until after midnight watching the Hawks playoff games on a school night. It helped introduce me to the greatest playoff in all of sport.

[@choppacrewboysgaming6178]

nah it ended in 2020 with the lost to vegas that team beat out mcdavid and the oilers and people forget that.

[@bobbob-iv4we]

@@choppacrewboysgaming6178 the dynasty was definitely over before that

[@choppacrewboysgaming6178]

@@bobbob-iv4we nah they were still good made it far than other teams they showed they can still play in the plsyoffs. panarin and the new guys werent a part of it

[@michaeljjordan5866]

Dude 2015 against Anaheim I wasn’t able to finish a single game they were going so late

[@dabund2]

Facts, I remember they were the #1 seed in the West in 2017. Everyone thought they were going to make it to the Stanley Cup again and then they got swept.

[@andrewmellen8092]

I’m a Hawks fan and it sucks knowing my childhood memories of 3 cups have been tainted by the awful managements handling of the Beach situation

[@MazeDaGr8]

Yeah I feel bad for you blackhawks fan, you supported this team threw & threw and they pay you back with this

[@andrewmellen8092]

@@MazeDaGr8 yeah it sucks man. I grew up going to games where no one was in the arena, I watched this team grow into a juggernaut and loved everything about them…and then when they started losing I still loved them and then this came out and it made me question everything I thought I knew about my childhood

[@JWex-jy7sk]

It just sickens you when growing up hearing names like Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville, and John McDonough were guys who fans highly praised for building 3 cups in 5 years. Then you hear a story of what happened to Kyle Beach and all three men just saying…”We’re just gonna pretend like we didn’t have this conversation until after the playoffs is over and if anyone asks Aldrich didn’t do a thing.”

[@Bedangles]

It really sucks, but it's only up from here right

[@proa007]

@@Bedangles Not yet. They haven't suffered enough. And this is coming from a Blackhawks fan. When Kane and Toews finally leave, maybe things can start fresh, but we still have Mr. Foot-in-Mouth running this team so...

[@prezidentjeff]

To have found a player like Artemi Panerin outside of the draft, during a rather critical time of your re-tool, & then to lose him for pretty much nothing is mind-blowing. They're still recovering from that blunder.

[@scottbecker4367]

Yeah, losing Panerin, Hossa, and Hjalmmarsson all in quick succession pretty much tanked them.

[@anthonybernardi4929]

It's hard to think of a bigger trade blunder in recent hockey history (or hell, even sports history)

[@anthonysuches153]

They couldn't afford him. They had to trade him but just did the wrong trade

[@redlion45]

@@anthonybernardi4929 the isles trading the picks that became Jason Spezza, and Zdeno Chara to the sens for Alexei Yashin is bigger in my opinion

[@tommarchitelli1479]

Do I have to keep saying the same thing about Bowman's awful trades? This one may have been his worst!

[@workaccount8732]

A key piece of the Bickell trade to Carolina was they included Teuvo Teravainen who is now one of the most important pieces of their team

[@nickeichstaedt9379]

I don't know about you, but I always felt like Tuevo was a little redundant on the Hawks since he essentially plays the same role with a similar skill set as Kane, just not as good. I get that he turned out to be a boarder line all-star and that we probably could have gotten more for him, but I never thought it was irrational to want to spend the money we would've needed to give him elsewhere.

[@geoffthureson5790]

Teravainen was the sweetener to get Carolina to take Bickell. Bickell was injured with a big contract, there was no reason to trade for him unless the Blackhawks sent something worthwhile.

[@user-ek7yc5zm1v]

@@nickeichstaedt9379 good thing hockey teams only use one line

[@CarolinaBlood704]

Damn right.

[@nickeichstaedt9379]

@@user-ek7yc5zm1v good thing the NHL doesn't have a salary cap and expensive one dimensional players can lead you to Stanley Cups

[@tylerleggett5088]

After watching every episode in this series, I'm convinced teams aren't supposed to repeat and now realize how difficult it is to even win a championship. I was a teenager when the pistons, red wings, and tigers were contenders.

[@lucashenderson2775]

Yeah. It hurts in the moment to see your favorite teams fall short repeatedly in the case of the Tigers or not win more in the case of the Wings and Pistons, but when you look back 5-10 years especially if they're rebuilding and you'll wish for those days again.

[@DevinEMILE]

Which is why stuff like the 90s bulls, the Patriots for the last 20 years. Was so impressive

[@lucashenderson2775]

@@DevinEMILE Absolutely. That's why those teams stand out above all else.

[@chinmayhejmadi7902]

Sigh, the Pens are heading to this fate, aren't we

[@lucashenderson2775]

@@chinmayhejmadi7902 Yes but you did get 3 Cups in the space of 9 years, so silver linings.

[@xanzibar5374]

I’m a Flyers fan. We waited 45 years for another cup and still have to get one. The Patrick Kane goal was painful enough, but the scandal just rubs salt to the wound. NHL fans thought Rocky taking over the team was a whole new beginning from the terror of Dollar Bill.

[@thedude3065]

one owner was apathetic and let the team rot the other let the team thrive and enabled a monster

[@skippythealien9627]

as a businessman, Rocky is miles ahead of his shitty dad Dollar Bill. As a person, he's basically the same piece of crap. him getting angry at the reporter for asking questions about the blackhawks trying a new culture was the last straw for me

[@McSorleyFan33]

Dollar Bill is still worst

[@spookyghostwriter3110]

Laughs in Toronto man.

[@ironman4122]

Have you ever seen the flyers win the Cup?!👏👏Have you ever seen the flyers win the Cup?!👏👏Oh they’ve done a lot of crying, but unless you’re close to dying. Then you’ve never seen the flyers win the Cup! LGP 🖤💛🏒🥅🐧

[@christianedwards6364]

growing up in Chicago that run was magical. for a long time we used to say the cubs, bears, and bulls may suck but at least we have the hawks. the belief in that team was amazing. its truly sad to see the downfall of the team and even worse letting a predator go unpunished and allowed to continue his ways on kids this time. it's shocking to see what we thought was a peak franchise fail in such a way

[@skippythealien9627]

well said my friend. it'd be bad enough if it was just the Hawks going from great to mediocre. what makes this embarrassing and difficult is knowing about the sexual assault cover up i'm hoping they can turn the page on all of this and move on. all that being said, the most important thing is to think about Kyle Beach

[@theguycisterninoyelledat6272]

Being from Chicago I know how you feel

[@richardrice8076]

Yet the Crosby Malkin Penguins roll on having made the playoffs every year they've been there. The Hawks went from champs to chumps in 7 years.

[@keithpodhradsky1314]

Well, you probably weren't around in the 90s but in the 80s the Hawks did not draw flies because of crap teams and Dollar Bill Wirtz.

[@lukeh4946]

Bulls were good too, till drose got hurt. Good thing we have bedzy now and chicago hockey will be back in no time

[@nickeichstaedt9379]

Correction: Artemi Panarin won rookie of the year with the Blackhawks in 2015-16 Edit: Also the Blackhawks made the 2020 playoffs as the 12th seed after beating Edmonton in the play-in, before getting clobbered by Vegas.

[@michaelkeller5927]

Yeah it's pretty discrediting they missed that

[@sawyertuide7636]

The 2020 one didn’t rlly matter though They got destroyed by VGK after an underwhelming season and that could be an upswing, but considering recent circumstances, I wouldn’t give it to them.

[@nickeichstaedt9379]

@@sawyertuide7636 Oh I agree it was a fluke that couldn't have happened without COVID, and it was more Edmonton choking than it was Chicago winning. I was just pointing out that it was factually incorrect.

[@jackhennings3561]

@@sawyertuide7636 lmao im pretty sure the hawks lost by 1 goal 3 out of the 4 losses, didn't really get clobbered

[@sawyertuide7636]

@@jackhennings3561 Yeah but it was a gentleman’s sweep, and while it’d be an upswing in any other circumstance… Yeah.

[@mage4242]

That sweep by Nashville was extra brutal when you know that they got shut out TWICE at home back to back. As the 1 seed and heavy favourites. Pekka Rinne was just too good

[@sominboy2757]

Ah a man of culture I see

[@thenightmaricsenpai524]

"Pekka Rinne is too good right now"

[@pomerlain8924]

Looking back on it, that sweep really hammered the point home that the Hawks were done as contenders.

[@scottbecker4367]

They had been on the decline since 2013. The fact that they won in 2015 was a testament to how good that team was. They were not as good after two years of decline, and they were still the best in the league.

[@joeydoherty368]

Not just shutout. They were slaughtered in those games.

[@user-pc7xq6dz2i]

The thing that is really damning for the team and for Quenneville’s reputation is that in his own words he thought that winning hinged on covering up the scandal. He didn’t think they could do the right thing and still be successful. That would be a controversial and debatable take from a journalist, analyst, or fan, but the fact that it’s coming from him is the nail in his own legacy’s coffin. It severely weakens any argument that their success on the ice can be kept separate from their wrongdoing off it, if they don’t even believe it themselves.

[@landocalrizzzian]

Hiring bowman based on name recognition turned out to be the move that doomed the franchise. In hindsight I’d be hard pressed to say he really gets any credit for the success of the franchise in the 2010’s. Seemed like he rode a wave he didn’t start.

[@brianjones7660]

we say He blew the whistle on the train Tallon built...

[@tommarchitelli1479]

Amen to that!

[@tommarchitelli1479]

Very, very true!

[@deathboy126]

Once Pete Carroll leaves the Seahawks, you should do a collapse video of the Legion of Boom Seattle Seahawks

[@mmicb0b]

I think they should do one now

[@coruscant100]

It may already be in production. However, i wouldn't be surprised if they're waiting for Pete Caroll to be shown the door before putting it out. The Seahawks' collapse is something I look forward to seeing the most. It's a tale of how egos, bad decisions, and bad drafting can destroy a team.

[@SimuLord]

I think now that Russell Wilson's gone, that Collapse has the cherry on its sundae already.

[@williamhaber4382]

Subscribe to this upcoming story as an East Coast transplant living in Seattle

[@kylejenkins4731]

He getting fired after this year no doubt and that’ll be a good one good idea!

[@chicagodude8888]

They were the quintessential Chicago champions. They were the best and most dominant franchise for 6 seasons, win 3 cups, Bulls won 6 in 8 seasons, including 72 wins, 85 Bears were arguably the best team in NFL history, 05 White Sox had the most dominant postseason run in MLB history, Cubs were unquestionably the best team in 2016, and now we'll wait another 30-50 year's before they win another cup.

[@TheSphynx311]

Ah, good ol' Chicago sports

[@lukegangl8644]

I guess you could gargle all of that

[@GasparLewis]

So you're saying Chicago has a tendency to suddenly catch fire, but then burn itself out?

[@flyingscotsman32]

85 bears the best in league history?????

[@kyleerrington943]

I don’t know about most dominant team for 6 seasons… kings during that time frame might have something to say about that

[@AwfulLotOfSmoke]

This team got me and my mother into Hockey, I’ll never forget the joy this team brought her. RIP Mom❤️

[@matthewlo7868]

Your mom ain’t dead. She lives on in your heart bro!

[@NHLfreak87]

Thank you for not glossing over the assualt of Kyle Beach, and for offering up resources to anyone else who might be struggling. It's incredibly important that you do, so thanks again.

[@Schm1dtstorm]

@Lefroy Go plant a tree to make up for the oxygen you waste.

[@iso33]

@Lefroy exactly. As much of a hawks fan that I am, I just wanna see this era left behind. They need a reset.

[@casperaaron5530]

@Lefroy for the record, I’m aware that you’re trolling. However, let me make some stuff clear to anyone who might be on the fence about agreeing with you. It is absolutely possible to assault someone bigger than you are. It’s absolutely possible to be assaulted as a man. In situations like that, people tend to badly freeze up or dissociate, physical size has nothing to do with that reaction. The knowledge that people will make comments exactly like yours is a huge part of why so many male victims don’t come forwards. They know they’ll be mocked and doubted and told they’re lying. The cycle goes like this They’re lying. If it did happen, it wasn’t that bad If it was that bad, they should have fought back If they couldn’t fight back, they probably deserved it. No one deserves to be assaulted. If you want assaults on men to stop, we need to make it safer for victims to come forwards and for perpetrators to face consequences. Not make gross comments about how gay men are inherently predators or how the victims should have done more to avoid someone else deciding to assault them.

[@HammerJammer81]

Dear Chicago Fans, The Incident mentioned towards the end isnt your fault. You do not need to apologize on behalf of your team. BlackHawks fans are still a great Fanbase of a Great Historic Organization. The punishments were handed out and I really hope Beech (sp?) is getting the justice and supports he deserves. Here's hoping your new generation of players know enough to speak up and not remain silent. EDIT (I wasnt gonna put this but) Go Leafs Go

[@Kuffdad]

It’s very unfortunate it happened. It just sucks that even though besides Wirtz every staff member is gone, the organization we are proud of will be seen as frowned upon bc of something done 13 years ago. Getting Bedard just brings more fuel to other fans around the league and it sucks as hawks fans we gotta be reminded that our org did a terrible thing.

[@dynamoproductions5]

You can barely call them punishments. Bowman got to leave, technically, on his own accord and Aldrich was able to find employment again and continue preying on innocent children. Kevin Cheveldayoff is still the GM in Winnipeg. No "punishment" can reimburse the lost career of Kyle Beach. Rocky Wirtz just passed away and good riddance, in all honesty. The buck stops at the very top of the food chain and he absolutely refused to take any accountability over the situation until his dying breaths. Rest in hell, Rocky.

[@mackielunkey2205]

@@KuffdadWirtz died, so that’s something.

[@Rezin8Gaming]

support? this man should be in prison, not be getting support.

[@parkerdolson2157]

I remember as a Kings fan those 5 years where we traded the cup back and forth were insane. Some of the greatest series ever. Sucks that it came from all this bs

[@stevenbcarter5811]

...most painful loss in my Chicago sports life was that OT Game 7 goal by Alec Martinez...great rivalry, those WCF playoffs were the real SC series...much respect to that Kings team!

[@ChiefBlue4298]

@@stevenbcarter5811 the Blackhawks could’ve 3-peated if not for Alec Martinez

[@CountSalazar]

@@ChiefBlue4298seriously man! They could of had 4 cups in 5 years!!!! If the Hawks would of gone to the finals for sure they would of also beat the rangers. The kings and Hawks had the same type of team, aggressive D, and deadly offence. Goaltending was also great. Rangers had great goaltending by Lundqivst but the D wasn't as good as hakws or kings.

[@narski82]

Blackhawks sth for 10 years. I left the uc pissed one time. Alec Martinezs shot bouncing off Nick Leddys back.

[@geoff3103]

@@stevenbcarter5811 that one DEF hurt the most since everyone knew whomever won the west would win the Cup since the Rangers were such lightweights. Wasn't so much the goal as the missed opportunity to lump up the Rangers. And thats exactly what the Kings did.

[@KelleyEngineering]

Y'know what I think one of the best unsung qualities of Secret Base? The Narrators. All of them have amazing cadences and tones that makes me watch and absorb the videos even when I don't care about that particular sport.

[@pretzelhunt]

they make great sports journalism.

[@kimblandino]

Would prefer if they just hired exclusively women to do their narrations.

[@pretzelhunt]

@@kimblandino there's apps for that, bro (bro?)

[@kimblandino]

@@pretzelhunt I mean I get that they are going for an ASMR kinda feel with the tone of the commentary but it kinda ruins it for me when its a dude ya feel

[@pretzelhunt]

@@kimblandino fair enough. think it takes on the tone of story; in this case, it got sorta really dark, and ends with 'nightmare'. I never personally picked up ASMR vibes off SB (excepting one or two seemingly accidents), but the mic'ing has certainly improved since early on.

[@danaunderhill8367]

I feel like People forget that Bickell was diagnosed with MS shortly after the trade to Carolina. It makes sense why his production plummeted

[@AEMoreira81]

And his career ended soon after that, being unable to continue.

[@MrOctober44]

Ugh. That sucks. Poor guy. 😔

[@KiloOne]

I knew this was coming. This past season was a nightmare season unlike any before it. No fanbase deserves this

[@UserName-ts3sp]

yes. seethe and give us your first round pick too

[@patrickcasey3618]

They have youth but Stan Bowman tried to fully skip rebuild

[@bubbabear244]

No, but the owner does for actively hiding sexual abuse.

[@codnewbgamer]

We appreciate the sympathy

[@SimuLord]

The multiple-Cup run was a deal with the Devil and everything since 2015 has been the Devil coming around to collect.

[@alexisisanarieka4311]

I'm a new Blackhawks fan, lived in Chicago all my life and started watching last season. It sucks that I missed the days of the dynasty, but knowing what happened to Kyle Beach I feel better I missed that time. I hope Kyle Davidson can build a healthy hockey culture on the ice and a good working culture off it so we both can see a good Blackhawks team and ensure what happened to Kyle Beach never happens again. I was a sexual assault victim too, what happened to him really pissed me off and the reactions from Rocky Wirtz in particular, among others, we're appaling. I hope he sells the team and lets his son Danny fix this mess.

[@tdaniels6160]

Seems like Danny is gonna be more hands on than his dad, which I like

[@krispicman3850]

Buddy everyone is a new black hawks fan.

[@alexisisanarieka4311]

@@tdaniels6160 I hadn't heard that but if that's true that's a very good thing.

[@NightRanger77]

Ah feel sorry for you if you’ve stayed in the same place all your life

[@abakella]

@@tdaniels6160 With the Blackhawks and the Wirtz family, it's like a generation chain. Arthur Wirtz died in 1983, his son Bill took over the team and improved it. Bill died in 2006, his son Rocky took over the team and improved it. And now it looks like Rocky's son Danny will take over soon

[@austinemms9772]

Every member of the Blackhawks team who knew about that abuse and stayed quiet are just as guilty as Brad Aldrich is. Every single one of them don’t deserve any success until Rocky Wirtz sells the team.

[@samortmann5003]

It was honestly worse than staying quiet. The abuse was apparently an open secret and Beach had been taunted by his locker room for the abuse he received, and Joel Quennville wrote a LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION TO WORK WITH KIDS.

[@chriscollins611]

Fr

[@slydEvil35]

They knew AND mocked him for it. They took the slogan ONE GOAL literally and wouldn’t let any moral duty to protect another human being get in the way.

[@SouthSydeChySox]

I’ll never forget that interview Wirtz did a month or two ago where he scolded a reporter for asking him about it and Wirtz basically saying “that’s in the past, we’re moving on and you should too.” Dude is the epitome of a scumbag.

[@southsider3542]

Saying every member of the Blackhawks knew about it is a lie. The two guys who said that later backtracked and said they exaggerated

[@Donutinator24]

Thank you guys so much for doing more hockey on here, especially tackling something that hasn't gotten near enough attention regarding Kyle Beach I know yall get requests constantly but if a Rewinder about Patty Kane's OT goal against Philly comes out I would be very appreciative. Thanks for all of the hard work ❤

[@corbinstotts5900]

My favorite hockey moment of all time

[@kennyg2213]

I mean 17 seconds is a pretty strong candidate for it or even the seabs OT goal against Detroit after being down 3-1 is a pretty strong reminder case too. Especially the year they had leading up to those two points

[@brandonthompson8640]

no no no! i dont need to relive that pain lol

[@bagofgroceries]

Patty Kane the homophobe and rapist doesn’t get a Rewinder. Every single action of this dynasty is now tainted, and should be given a second look, including his allegations of Rape.

[@kennyg2213]

@@bagofgroceries you must be talking about the rape allegations that the New York DA found inconsistencies with the accusers testimony and eyewitness testimony. Oh and the inconsistencies in the actual evidence. That was a three month long investigation and really doesn’t warrant a second look.

[@ianwalling]

While the collapse of the franchise from a purely hockey stand point holds up on its own, thank you for bringing up the Kyle Beach situation. That part of the collapse is even more important and I am glad that it wasn't glossed over. It has changed everyone's view of this team.

[@McSorleyFan33]

Coach Q and the players aren’t to blame for the beach situation

[@samortmann5003]

I really can't look at this dynasty and the people involved the same way after how they treated Kyle Beach.

[@munchenonyou3774]

neither can we in Chicago. we feel betrayed and like our support and memories with this team mean nothing now. Chicago doesnt often win titles. especially in hockey so this stings.

[@southsider3542]

@@munchenonyou3774 Maybe for you, but most of Chicago is still holding on to those championships, as they should. No point in wallowing in shame over something we weren't involved in

[@munchenonyou3774]

@@southsider3542 im not saying we should feel personally guilty. But in the eyes of a lot of people the chips are tainted because of what was done to achieve them.

[@southsider3542]

@@munchenonyou3774 I don't think there's a correlation between a serial molester and a team winning. The guy was a damn video coach, he wasn't exactly a hugely important person. Yeah, McDonough, Bowman, and Quenneville are scumbags on the level of Joe Paterno, my views on them are tainted. But, why am I supposed to feel bad about my team being happy they won the cup? Especially considering that Aldrich wasn't even there for two of them. Also, the two guys who said "everybody knew", Boynton and Sopel, later backtracked on their statements and Kyle Beach's roommate, Shawn LaLonde, didn't even know the full story about whether it was a rumor, consensual sex, or sexual assault.

[@MrOctober44]

​@@munchenonyou3774 As an Isles fan I think they had a great run and now they're trying to rebuild. I really don't think about the scandal. It sucks that it happened but for people to suggest it taints their glory years seems a bit much. To each their own.

[@12grain]

Man it was wild going from never being able to watch a game on TV as a kid to seeing the Hawks become incredible from middle school through college. I was stunned when everything came out about Beach and seeing where they're at now

[@Lukedolan33]

Patrik Stefan legendary gaff of missing the empty net goal against the oilers actually helped the Blackhawks get to their lucky spot in the standings to win the Kane draft lottery

[@Toad8508]

As someone who got into sports because of the 2013 run I think the downfall started during the Nashville sweep, Bowman overreacted and traded our future and signed lucrative contracts like Seth Jones The whole Kyle Beach situation is sad too, people won’t look at these cups the same way and most of the league hates us now, and that probably won’t stop until Rocky Wirtz sells the team

[@co81385]

I think that I agree with you about the Nashville sweep. I was going to say that trading away Panarin was what really led to their collapse, but it was the Nashville sweep that led to the Panarin trade.

[@Toad8508]

@@co81385 Yeah we talk about how certain losses destroy some teams, like the Texans 24-0 choke against the Chiefs, and I think this is one of those cases

[@ChiefBlue4298]

@@Toad8508 and the Falcons when they blew the infamous 28-3 lead to the Patriots in Super Bowl 51

[@bramstedt8997]

If the Kyle Beach thing hadn’t happened, then I’d say Bowman should’ve been fired on the spot for that Seth Jones deal. But because the abuse happened, he should’ve been fired long before that

[@co81385]

@@bramstedt8997 I actually forgot at times this season that Seth Jones was on the team. Perhaps that is not a good sign!

[@xScatmanChris86]

As a Blackhawks fan, I feel such shame that these actions have permanently scared such a beautiful team. I hope those that have been abused are able to find peace and safety, and those that committed these crimes have and will continue to be rightfully punished. I don’t know how long it will take for the Hawks to improve, both on and off the ice. I just hope my team can redeem themselves somehow.

[@TickleMeElmo55]

Winning redeems almost everything in sports. In the case of the Hawks, they need to do both and have better protocols when any reports of sexual abuse comes up. As a Hawks fan, the Beach incident doesn't taint their dynasty at all simply for the fact he didn't much of a role to play in their dynasty era. Call it negligence by JQ, but even then why would it taint their era. It's not like they were running an underground sex trafficking scheme underneath Allstate Arena to fund their payroll.

[@christiansamudio6969]

Growing up as a kid in Chicago this team got me into hockey. Knowing that this team’s front office did what they did, ESPECIALLY giving Aldrich a job recommendation at a high school, it ruins so many childhood memories and I’ll never forgive anyone involved.

[@JacobKaplan95]

I’m a die hard Blackhawks fan, and that Brent Seabrook double post shot in 2016 against St Louis in game 7 still breaks my heart to this day. And also, thank you for not even showing the fluke goal LA scored in OT of game 7 that bounced off our defenders shoulder and went in, because that honestly hurts more than Seabrooks double post shot. If that didn’t happen, the Hawks would have 3 peated and had 4 cups in 6 years instead of 3

[@kenkunz1428]

That was rough. It bounced in off of Nick Leddy.

[@JacobKaplan95]

@@kenkunz1428 yup. Honestly to this day I still can’t watch that highlight

[@zachstolpa6521]

This was the squad that made me see how great the game is, being 14 around that third cup run it’s something just purely nostalgic.

[@adamaizenberg756]

I was waiting for this video, cuz as a Blackhawks fan and a fan of this channel, I knew these two would cross paths. They win them three championships and became the kings of this town. The players of this dynasty will always be remembered and should be. It’s a shame how this ended for this once beloved franchise, but it’s one they’ll have to live with for now.

[@sopowerabboy]

There is a reason why Dale Tallon was given a standing ovation when he, as the GM of the Panthers, went to the podium to announcement Panthers pick at the 2017 NHL Drafted hosted by Chicago. Stan Bowman was pretty much given a silver spoon.

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Only things Bowman deserves credit for is Saad and Crawford. Even with Pamarin, he screwed that up and dumped him for essentially nothing.

[@jogendron6320]

Crawford was drafted in 2003, that’s before Tallon and Bowman. And I give credit to Bowman for Hossa, best free agent in history of the franchise. Also Bowman lost half his team after the first Cup because of Tallon’s mismanagement of the cap/contracts. The 2 last Cups are Stan’s teams.

[@coruscant100]

More Collapse ideas: How Dan Snyder's awful ownership ruined the Washington Redskins/Football Team/Commanders How the Buffalo Bills went from Super Bowl contenders to 30 years of misery How the 2015 KC Royals imploded instantly after winning the World Series How the Houston Rockets (late 2000s to 2022) went from the cusp of the Finals to the worst team in the NBA How the Chicago Bears went from the Monsters of the Midway to the Midgets of the Midway.

[@chriscollins611]

I mean the royals are a small market team they just had kind of what the rays success has been towards the late 2010s

[@anthonypuccini1914]

Another one: How the Cubs 2016 championship team went from a Dynasty Dream to a loveable loser once more.

[@SimuLord]

They need to have Jon Bois do the Royals collapse. If they could make Seth narrate the Knicks collapse, turnabout is fair play.

[@sharky21104]

They should also do the 2005 white Sox, Greatest one hit wonder World Series team Only lost one game in the postseason

[@coruscant100]

@@sharky21104 Someone on another video pointed out someone had done a video about the collapse of the 2005 White Sox.

[@moodlampActual]

Considering how the team covered SA for years and after the dust settles, the owner still proves he hasnt learned anything, I don't care to look back positively at this team winning. Players get caught in dumpster fire.

[@bmass4915]

Nobody cares what you think

[@theenglishman]

This was a powerful and haunting video. I think Steven did a great job narrating and being respectful of the subject matter.

[@rockerlkj]

I was extrenely worried about how the Beach situation would be handled, but you did an excellent job talking about it. Incredible video. All the Secret Base content is great but Godfrey's work is next level

[@weregretohio7728]

Ah, a rare win for the Blue Jackets/acknowledgement that they exist. Thanks, Stan Bowman. We will miss you.

[@jo23bulls]

Lol all my hockey friends are CBJ fans and they loved the man for giving Bread man

[@estellegrignon]

I swear the only steals the Jackets ever made through trades were against the Hawks. At this point, you got to wonder why Chicago keeps answering the phone when they see Columbus' number coming in. It also feels good, after losing Panarin and Bobrovsky for nothing in free agency, to unload Jones in exchange for a bunch of prospects and picks. Boqvist and 2021 first-round pick Cole Sillinger are already looking super promising for the future

[@afortinsky]

There's so much more hockey for you guys to do! Continue doing more!

[@clever-username]

I was literally going to request this but you guys read my mind. Love the hockey topics. Thank you!

[@kevintrullinger8941]

Great job on this overview of the Hawks rise and Fall. Keep up the good work

[@trivialtrav]

I had a friend that went to College with Denis Savard's (Coach) daughter back in 2006. The team was so bad and unpopular that she would regularly just give great tickets away. We had entire lower sections to ourselves. Right up against the glass with no one behind us for 10 rows. The place was empty. We'd walk around the United Center in between periods and it legitimately felt abandoned. Fast forward a few years and getting tickets at all was difficult and the place was packed every night. I'm still amazed how fast the turnaround was. Let's hope this lull they're in isn't another long turnaround in the wrong direction.

[@kenkunz1428]

The 21-22 season was awful for the Blackhawks both on and off the ice, but they did finish fourth in the NHL in attendance this season.

[@AustinJensen21]

As a Hawks fan, once we let Panerin go, I knew the beginning of the end was starting. Kane and Panerin together was a work of art to watch. Poetry in motion. Now with Bowman gone, and draft picks for the future. Hopefully this new regime will take over while Kane and Toews are finishing up

[@gazrees872]

Secret Base is awesome. Thanks for the content and research, it’s amazing.

[@Bedangles]

Blackhawks fan here. Thank you thank you thank you. Been waiting so long to watch this

[@michaeljjordan5866]

I am a Hawks fan and this saddens me. We had so many good pieces that we traded away then got back at a higher price trading more good players away

[@Teabagonyou]

Salary cap. Happens when you have wild success. But this team and franchise was wildly mis managed with bad trades and no trade clauses.

[@michaeljjordan5866]

@@Teabagonyouidk why I’m replying a year later but even with the Salary Cap some trades we made make no sense. Saad for Panarin?

[@Pariah_Larry]

Breaks my heart. Those were some of the best years and moments of my life. Was born and raised in Chicago. I hate all of this. I feel the worst for beach and the other victims of that predator.

[@michaelsicard3818]

i've wanted to see this for years. Thank you for this

[@herrickmenry]

These are always incredible to watch. So well put together.

[@fg7496]

Probably the darkest collapse to date. The ending of this just makes you shake your head.

[@adm5163]

Now do the penguins and how they were the first team to go back to back in almost 20 years with a core that took less to win more. All props to Tampa and their chance to 3peat. And the pens haven't won a series since 2018. My point is depending on this year's playoffs and current series with NYR, they could also be considered a collapse if they lose again.

[@lttfan9185]

The Penguins are the case study that shows what a fuckup Bowman actually was. They had the exact same problem as the Hawks, with Crosby, Malkin, Staal, Talbot, Letang, etc all coming of age together and presenting cap issues; but somehow their front office figured out how to retool on the fly through player and coaching losses without going into the tank. Bowman, meanwhile, decimated the Blackhawks with his ineptitude, and essentially reset the squad back to where they were when Tallon first became GM. Stan owes all his success to Tallon's work, and the only thing we'll remember him for is pissing it all away.

[@jmk0822]

As a Kings fan I anyways loved when our two teams would meet in the playoffs you always knew it’d be a great hard fought series between us

[@kevinwilt3918]

I'm a Kings fan at one point there seemed to be a great rivalry developing. That 2014 playoff series was one of the best ever.

[@anthonypuccini1914]

As a Blackhawks fan, I should've known this was coming... And I don't excuse the behavior of the front office for keeping things quiet. Absolutely disgusting what my team's management did.

[@asecretone]

Not a big hockey fan but I am a *HUGE* fan of Collapse. More please 🥺🙏 Holy hell that ending 😮

[@That90sShow]

Nobody cares what you're a fan of kid

[@SpeedyUsher]

Good video. I was wondering when you were going to make a video about my Blackhawks. Through thick and thin, it was a hell of a ride and I enjoyed it. Those were fun times in my hometown.

[@ZJBorg]

The end of this just hits so damn hard. Well done.

[@maxborushek1181]

Ive been waiting for this one for a while, hate that the dynasty has been tainted but hate even more that they treated kyle beach the way they did

[@ADPuckey]

It will always bring me so much joy to watch a recap of my preds sticking the dagger in this franchise. That postseason was the most excitement I've ever felt from sports. More importantly I respect the way y'all and the media as a whole, as well as the better part of the hawks fanbase that I've seen, have treated the abuse of Kyle Beach and the other victims. It's heinous, and I hope we continue to get justice for it however we can. And thank you for including the resources at the end

[@kevaninthe4135]

Hossa played the 2 previous years on the losing team in the Stanley Cup Finals (08 Penguins, 09 Red Wings), when they signed him I said "well I guess Chicago is going to the Finals".

[@waynejuerke7638]

2009 - 2015 were amazing years to be a Chicago Blackhawks fan, but with everything that has come to light, and how the front office botched so many deals, It's incredibly hard to route for this team. I still will, but Damn its difficult. Great Video.

[@Ratatalie]

I really like hockey content. Thank you for making more

[@paulybeefs8588]

9:18 Characterizing Brandon Saad as a more experienced but less effective version of Artemi Panarin has to be the absolute worst comparison of two players I have heard in a while. These guys are COMPLETELY different players, and especially so at that time. Panarin was an exceptionally gifted playmaker and scorer, but had virtually zero defense to his game. In his Hawks days he would often deliberately abandon a defensive effort to position himself for a scoring chance. Saad was primarily a defensive minded forward who also had the hands to produce a medium amount of scoring and offense. This would be like saying Dennis Rodman was a less effective version of Charles Barkley. In no world were these two players ever any version of each other. Panarin had far more talent potential and the makings of an NHL superstar, but additional scoring is not what the Hawks needed at that time. It can be hard to understand why this trade happened without this context.

[@mistermr2147]

They traded him away because they couldn't pay for him

[@dereklasker5350]

Saad was also never near as good at hockey as Dennis Rodman was at basketball. Saad was a good second line player at his peak, while Panarin was an MVP-level player within 2 years of the trade

[@TheVividSparks]

Yeah that comparison threw me too, glad to see someone else notice this! Really miss Bread Man, but the trade kinda made sense then.

[@paulybeefs8588]

@@mistermr2147 Incorrect. Panarin actually agreed to a lower contract than he was worth, just so that they could afford him and was known to want to stay with Chicago more than take a big payday. The player they traded him for, Brandon Saad, had the exact same cap hit, at $6 million annually. The Hawks absolutely could have kept Panarin's contract if they wanted to make it work.

[@paulybeefs8588]

@@dereklasker5350 Yeah, you completely misunderstood the Barkley/Rodman comparison. The comparison wasn't meant to include any other dimensions such as MVP Level, how fast they moved, how tall they were, how much their team liked them, hair color, how good they would be in two years or anything else. It was just a comparison of a player known primarily for defense with a player known for scoring. But even if make this extra comparison, you have to consider that Panarin wouldn't even be thought of for MVP voting until several years after this trade. He's grown into such a good player today that it can be hard to remember how one dimensional he was at the time. The Blue Jackets defensive structure really rounded out Panarin's game once he arrived. Scoring is flashy and gets a lot of attention, but at the time of trade there was a much larger gap between Saad/Panarin's play styles than the gap between their skill level.

[@thebwoods2029]

Thank you for not being shy about the SA scandal and shedding some more light on it, we need more people to talk about it i that the people never see hockey again for what they did

[@matthewdedios7288]

Trading Artemi Panarin to the Blue Jackets for Brandon Saad back in the 2017 offseason was one of the worst trades ever. I liked Panarin when he played for the Blackhawks. He was very talented. Watching Panarin play along side with my favorite player Kane was very fun to watch. I like Brandon Saad, but he wasn’t the same player in his second stint with the Hawks as he was in his first stint with them. Panarin still had that talent. It’s also the trade that derailed the dynasty. A downward spiral would soon follow after that trade. So disappointed that we let him go. I hope that we won’t make the same mistake with top prospects that we have.

[@Fapfappa]

NGL seeing a collapse on my recent ex's favorite team is kinda cathartic 😂

[@tracedykes4411]

Brayden point 5OT winner vs Columbus reminder pleaaaaaaaaaaseee It meant so much for that lightning team

[@SamGreeneRacing]

I don’t watch as much as I used to but this dude has a solid voice for these kind of videos. Good work on this one.

[@Brantly98]

I've never watched hockey a day in my life but I love this series so much.

[@gageandersen455]

As a Hawks fan and a Collapse fan I’ve been looking forward to and dreading this episode. Next Chicago episode should be the 80s Bears

[@SimuLord]

The '85 Bears are one of the oldest examples of "if your defense is good enough, you can win a Super Bowl with a bowl of oatmeal playing quarterback." See also the '00 Ravens (Trent Dilfer) and the '13 Seahawks (Russell Wilson, who I've called "the black Trent Dilfer" when talking sports at work in Seattle.) You could even make a plausible case that Terry Bradshaw on the '70s Steelers is another one of those guys, but I think he was a far better quarterback than Dilfer, Wilson, or Jim McMahon.

[@johnmatthew8710]

​@@SimuLord Check Wilson's stats from the year they won that Super Bowl (not to mention every season since with the possible exception of 2016) before trying to make an absolutely ridiculous comparison between a legitimate franchise quarterback and a journeyman scrub like Dilfer.

[@grimtea1715]

It's so sad how this will ALWAYS be overshadowed by abuse. I hope justice comes for Kyle.

[@jackclarke7260]

You guys should do a collapse on the 2011 Vancouver Canucks, one of the best teams ever to never win a Stanley Cup, Alex Edler left last summer and was the last remaining piece of that team. Team was loaded with stars, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Ryan Kesler, Roberto Luongo. Love the videos, keep up the good work!

[@brandonperez94]

Damn. I got really into hockey during the 09-10 season, but fell off after high school. I'm just getting back into it and its heartbreaking hearing what happened to all these players I used to root for.

[@MrCSInyfan1000]

Since we're talking about hockey, can you guys PLEASE cover the collapse of the 1995-2003 Devils!! As a Devils fan, I'll enjoy the trip down memory lane

[@bramstedt8997]

I love a hockey video, but is it fair to call it a “collapse”? They stayed competitive for quite a long time afterwards

[@MrCSInyfan1000]

@@bramstedt8997 You're right, it wasn't a collapse. They made the playoffs every year up to 2010. However, their core from those early 2000s years either retired or signed elsewhere. They never reached a cup after 03 until 2012, which was with a completely different team. I wouldn't consider their decline a collapse per say, but I would appreciate the recognition

[@adamwatson.1848]

Please do a rewind on Martinez’s 2ot goal in 2014 to bring La another Stanley cup.

[@serisothikos]

Good on y'all for putting resources at the end of the video.

[@j11smith]

this is the best video bud. wow. they also briefly brought back Oduya, but maybe not worth mentioning... just that it was heartbreaking to see him back but ineffective and Hjarlmarson playing inthe desert. just awful times.

[@huh7781]

Before I watch this... I know this should be a hit piece on Stan Bowman. Bowman was handed the keys of a Ferrari and returned a Ford Pinto. He didn't draft core players such as Toews, Kane, Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, Crawford. He didn't sign or trade for Niemi or Sharp. He was gifted a championship core and let the team fall apart by always "having to have his guy." Best thing the Hawks could have done 10+ years ago is keep Dale Tallon and hire someone to fill out all his paperwork

[@Dr_V_von_Doom]

Stan sucks but you’re an absolute clown. He maintained what he could to win 2 more cups you clown. Tallon screwed up the RFA contracts and screwed up the 2010 defense. Stan made a lot of boneheaded moves but to say he didn’t at lease maintain is clear you’re an absolute moron.

[@Terminator6364]

Bowman worked with Tallon for 8 years so you don't know how much impact he really had. Blackhawks was doomed 2010 but Bowman succeed to rebuild the team after losing 13 of 21 players due to salary problems. He kept guys like Crawford, Bickell, Bolland and Leddy. Found Oduya, Saad, Shaw, Frolik, Kruger, Richards & Teravainen. If you build your dynasty around one 1st and a 3d pick and it ends up with 3 Cups in 6 years, can you ask for more? Penguins won 3 in 9 years after picking 5th 2002, 1st 2003, 2nd 2004, 1st 2005 and 2nd 2006, including 2 of the 3 best players last 20 years. People criticizing Bowman for Toews contract, Toews had better options, Blackhawks risked to lose Kane aswell and the fans would rage if they didn't resign. Tallon had 10 years in Florida but did not win a single playoff round.

[@bramvanroo3120]

Speaking of Chicago, there should be a collapse about the cubs after 2016 which was gradual but still it’d be interesting to watch

[@jrbehr4643]

Probably after this season once Contreras and maybe Hendricks are gone

[@themiz34i]

As a kid growing up in Chicago, when all these stories came up I almost didn’t want to believe it at first. The heroes and role models that I looked up too in elementary turned out to be such horrible human beings, and it’s such a hard pill to swallow when I look at old memories/videos

[@TBone-bz9mp]

That was dark, I have to admit that the attraction of ‘collapse’ to me is spectacle, the story of X team in ‘sport that I don’t watch or follow’ falling apart is often just amusement for me. I rarely have an emotional stake in it, I’m thousands of miles away from North America, the only sport from there I follow is baseball and even then it’s a passing interest, so often times the names, dates and places don’t really mean anything to me. This thought brought it back to how stories, all stories, even sports ones are stories of human beings and often human darkness, we forget that at our own peril.

[@weeds526]

Boy I hated those great Blackhawk teams in the 2010s but they were incredible

[@djtrankilo231]

same. when my Blues beat them in 2016, it felt so special.

[@Bedangles]

@@djtrankilo231 it's ironic because as I Blackhawks fan I hated those 2016-2019 Blues teams but they were a unit lol, it's crazy how deep they were

[@djtrankilo231]

@@Bedangles the rivalry was so fun. We were each other's biggest obstacle to further success those years.

[@Bedangles]

@@djtrankilo231 it really is something special when both of those teams are great. I'd say good luck in the playoffs but you know I'd be lying lmao

[@djtrankilo231]

@@Bedangles yes because they had our Boys' number for a while.

[@blobulous3500]

next video needs to be a collapse on the 2013-14 seahawks. its time now that wilson got traded

[@rjante2236]

Agreed.

[@lucashenderson2775]

Yup.

[@djtrankilo231]

won't happen till Carroll is gone

[@AutoArtemAuto]

@@djtrankilo231 I mean, they did the Jaguars Sacksonville collapse video while Myles Jack was still there. It can happen

[@spartan4196]

As a canucks fan the hawks gave me the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in the 2000s and 2010s... I'll never forget that hit on daniel sedin and the shorthouse call on the "dragonslayer" goal that lead to our best cup run in my life time

[@logann29]

Yes been waiting for this one

[@goleafsgo332000]

Thank you secret base for doing this video. I’m glad you acknowledged the Kyle beach situation. All those Cup wins do have a black mark them and will never go away.

[@madiganyt]

none of the cup wins have any mark. Both Beach and Aldrich were gone by 2013. Beach never even played in the NHL and Aldrich is now one of the most hated people in all of hockey. You can hate the management for trying to shove it under the rug, but everyone but the owner are gone.

[@zmg5105]

As a lifelong Blackhawks video I’ve been awaiting this video for a while now 😔

[@heatwave1789]

Those battles between the Kings and Blackhawks was the best rivalry during that Era. You knew whoever won that series was going to win it all.

[@Blackhawks19_xx]

As a Chicago fan I will never forget this run.

[@robertprueter3292]

These teams, these memories, the pure joy we felt beating the Flyers after being a cellar dweller for years is forever tainted. It's sad and aggravating. We wish it had never happened, but it did, and we can't ignore it. Strip the Hawks of the trophy. Leave the ledger blank. Do Not let that monster have his name on Lord Stanley's cup.

[@catello99]

What they didn't mention in the video was that Brad Aldrich's name was struck from the trophy

[@georgepress1261]

To be fair, the Nashville predator did made it to the cup finals. They were a good team.

[@franklesner2322]

As a hawks fan, I've been waiting for this video forever

[@StupidGenius11]

It's always a good day when we get another SB hockey video!

[@garrettclardy943]

This one hurts as someone who got into Hockey later in life, but my goodness this looks even worse considering what it cost them as a PR problem and such. Success can be great, but when it’s covered up with disgusting acts like the one mentioned it’s hard to root for the team as a fan to a degree.

[@michaelterrell2108]

It’s their karma for hiding what happened to Kyle Beach.

[@AjaxFerrariLeafs]

Karma? Really? Chicago had to pay $2 million and a bad reputation, for allowing the sexual assault to happen. Vancouver had eat dead cap space because Luongo decided to retire before his contract was up. Arizona had to lose drafts picks because their old GM was cheating during the combine. As well as losing more after drafting a player who physically bullied a mentally disabled student for years and had to told every team that happened Chicago got a slap on the wrist the players got of the hook, even when other players like Sopel and Bottom during the initial investigation spoke out about got swept under the rug.

[@southsider3542]

@@AjaxFerrariLeafs Let's not forget that the other great franchise of the 2010s, the Penguins, covered up one of their coaches sexually assaulting another coaches' wife. They got basically a slap on the wrist

[@scottbecker4367]

@@AjaxFerrariLeafs it's not really the league's place to step in during this kind of thing. It happened off ice, didn't affect play in the league, and was an actual criminal offense. It's better for them to let the courts handle it. People have gotten out of trouble from others overdoing things before they get to trial.

[@Doommaster677]

Oh man this one hurts... this was the team to watch back when I was in high school in the Chicagoland area.

[@jaredbezes7806]

Man I remember that 2009-2010 season. I couldn’t believe how good they were. I was going nuts when they won that first cup. But the most exciting Stanley cup run for me was 2013. It was the greatest