On Tuesday, legendary Hurricanes center Eric Staal called it a career, signing a one-day contract to officially retire in Carolina. Though he hadn’t played for the Canes since 2016, Staal was a staple of the team for 12 seasons, becoming a four-time All-Star and one of the greatest players in franchise history.
A proper goodbye is a great way for a franchise to pay tribute to its greatest players. The Blackhawks, now almost a decade removed from a three-Cup run in the early 2010s, are heading into an era in which they’ll have to honor those who brought them so much success. Just as Carolina just did, Chicago should be preparing to sign three of its greatest players to one-day contracts.
It’s still unclear what the next step is in Toews’s career, but after numerous health struggles that have taken him away from the game altogether, it won’t be long before the legendary captain is hanging up his skates. When that time comes, the Blackhawks need to make sure he does so in the sweater that made him a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players of the 21st century. Toews played an integral role in the team’s three Stanley Cups and was a six-time All-Star during a legendary run in Chicago. If Toews’s time in the NHL is over, it’ll be easy for the Blackhawks to make sure he retires with them and to hang his number 19 in the rafters at the United Center.
After injuries prematurely ended Seabrook’s career with the Blackhawks, the legendary defenseman’s final contract was traded to the Lightning and finally ran out this summer. To make things official, though, Chicago should sign him to a one-day contract. In 15 seasons with the Blackhawks, Seabrook logged 1,114 games, picking up 464 points and 19 game-winning goals. Though he announced he would be retiring this summer, it isn’t too late for Chicago to let him retire as a Blackhawk before lifting another number seven sweater to the rafters to put next to that of Chris Chelios.
Kane has been the subject of many conversations in Chicago over the past few seasons regarding the possibility of signing him to a real contract rather than a one-day one. Assuming that doesn’t happen (both parties have made it abundantly clear that there’s no intention of a reunion) Kane being brought back to ceremonially retire as a Blackhawk should be a no-brainer. No matter how many more seasons he plays for other teams to close out his career, Kane will be on the Mount Rushmore of all-time greats for the Blackhawks, and his last day as an active NHL player should be in the same sweater that made him a legend.
