Another name from the Blackhawks’ past is joining the Blackhawks’ present.
Ed Olczyk is coming back to Chicago, the city where he grew up and started his NHL career. He will play under new head coach and former Blackhawk Dirk Graham, who will be assisted by former Blackhawk Denis Savard. This is not a coincidence. The Blackhawks would love to re-create their teams of old, even if it means having an older team.
“I’m trying, because that Blackhawk head means a lot to some of us,” General Manager Bob Murray said. “When you put it on and wear it for a while, it ends up being a part of you.”
Olczyk, 32, who signed a one-year deal, will be introduced at a news conference Thursday morning at the United Center. Murray said that Olczyk’s desire to return to Chicago was the reason he chose the Blackhawks over other interested teams. Olczyk had 11 goals and 11 assists in 56 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.
“I think he may have taken less (money),” Murray said. “He has some bonuses in there, and if he lives up to what I think he can do he’ll be OK. If it goes well, it will be another year, and if it goes well again, another year. He wants to finish his career here.”
He started his career here amid much publicity as an 18-year-old fresh out of Brother Rice High School. As a rookie in 1984-85, Olczyk scored 20 goals, then followed it up with a 29-goal, 50-assist season. But as the Blackhawks went to a more physical philosophy in his third season, Olczyk slipped to 16 goals and was shipped to Toronto after the season. He was 21 years old.
“When he was first here, I hate to say this, but too many things happened to him too quickly and he wasn’t mature enough to handle it,” Murray said. “That’s just a fact of life.”
Without the pressure of playing before his friends and family, Olczyk scored 42 goals his first season in Toronto. He later played with Winnipeg, the New York Rangers (whom he helped win a Stanley Cup), Los Angeles and Pittsburgh.
Last season, he flew to Chicago on a Penguins’ day off for the Blackhawks’ retirement of Savard’s No. 18. He spoke to Murray as soon as he became a free agent July 1.
“Eddie has turned into very good team player and wants to be a Blackhawk,” Murray said. “He has matured as person and player, and he will be a great help with our younger players.”
