1938–39 Chicago Black Hawks season

NHL ice hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1938–39 1938 Chicago Black Hawks 7th 12–28–8 5–13–6 7–15–2 91 132 Frederic McLaughlin Bill Stewart (8–10–3) Paul Thompson (4–18–5) Johnny Gottselig Chicago Stadium Johnny Gottselig (16) Johnny Gottselig (23) Johnny Gottselig (39) Earl Seibert (57) Mike Karakas (12) Mike Karakas (2.65) The 1938–39 Chicago Black Hawks season was the team's 13th season in the NHL, and they were coming off a very surprising Stanley Cup victory in 1937–38. The club was hoping to build on that success in a bid for a 2nd straight Stanley Cup. 2 Pre-season In July 1938, Chicago GM and vice-president Bill Tobin was named president of the club by Major McLaughlin.Ottawa Citizen July 27, 1938 Bill Tobin Named Hawks' President 14 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p_EuAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1tsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3927%2C1175322 The Montreal Maroons announced they would be folding, leaving the NHL with 7 teams, thus eliminating the need for divisions. Regular season The Black Hawks would get off to a mediocre start, and after an 8–10–3 start, they would dismiss head coach Bill Stewart and replace him with player-coach Paul Thompson. The Hawks would struggle under Thompson, going 4–18–5, and finish in last place in the NHL, missing the playoffs for the 2nd time in 3 years. Chicago would continue having problems scoring goals, getting an NHL low 91 goals, while they gave up the 3rd most goals at 132. Team captain Johnny Gottselig would lead the team offensively, getting team highs in goals (16), assists (23) and points (39). Joffre Desilets and Mush March would be the only other Hawks with double digit goals, with 11 and 10 goals respectively. Earl Seibert would anchor the defense, scoring 15 points and having a team high 57 penalty minutes. In goal, Mike Karakas would be the starter, winning 12 games, earning 5 shutouts, and posting a GAA of 2.65. A year after their unexpected Stanley Cup championship, the Black Hawks would become the only team in the league to miss the playoffs, as they finished 7 points behind the 6th place team, the Montreal Canadiens. Final standings CHI Record vs. opponents CHI Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#000000 5px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 5px solid; 1938–39 regular season1938-39 Chicago Black Hawks Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CBH/1939_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 29, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- | 1 || November 3 || New York Americans || 1–6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || November 5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–0 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 2–0–0 || 4 |- | 3 || November 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–0–0 || 6 |- | 4 || November 13 || Montreal Canadiens || 3–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–0–0 || 8 |- | 5 || November 17 || New York Rangers || 1–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1–0 || 8 |- | 6 || November 20 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 1–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1–1 || 9 |- | 7 || November 24 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–2–1 || 9 |- | 8 || November 26 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–6 || New York Americans || 4–3–1 || 9 |- | 9 || November 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–0 || New York Rangers || 5–3–1 || 11 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |10 || December 1 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–4–1 || 11 |- |11 || December 4 || Boston Bruins || 5–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–5–1 || 11 |- |12 || December 6 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–2 || Boston Bruins || 5–6–1 || 11 |- |13 || December 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–7–1 || 11 |- |14 || December 11 || New York Americans || 0–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–7–1 || 13 |- |15 || December 15 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 6–7–2 || 14 |- |16 || December 18 || New York Rangers || 0–5 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–7–2 || 16 |- |17 || December 22 || Detroit Red Wings || 3–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 7–7–3 || 17 |- |18 || December 25 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || New York Americans || 7–8–3 || 17 |- |19 || December 27 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–1 || Montreal Canadiens || 8–8–3 || 19 |- |20 || December 29 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–4 || Detroit Red Wings || 8–9–3 || 19 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |21 || January 1 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 8–10–3 || 19 |- |22 || January 5 || Boston Bruins || 2–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 8–11–3 || 19 |- |23 || January 8 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–11–3 || 21 |- |24 || January 10 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Boston Bruins || 9–12–3 || 21 |- |25 || January 12 || Chicago Black Hawks || 0–6 || New York Rangers || 9–13–3 || 21 |- |26 || January 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 9–14–3 || 21 |- |27 || January 15 || New York Rangers || 1–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–14–4 || 22 |- |28 || January 22 || New York Americans || 1–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–14–5 || 23 |- |29 || January 26 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–15–5 || 23 |- |30 || January 29 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 9–16–5 || 23 |- |31 || January 31 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || New York Rangers || 9–17–5 || 23 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |32 || February 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–2 || Montreal Canadiens || 10–17–5 || 25 |- |33 || February 5 || Boston Bruins || 3–0 || Chicago Black Hawks || 10–18–5 || 25 |- |34 || February 7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–2 || New York Americans || 10–18–6 || 26 |- |35 || February 9 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4–2 || Detroit Red Wings || 11–18–6 || 28 |- |36 || February 16 || Detroit Red Wings || 1–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–18–7 || 29 |- |37 || February 19 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 4–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–19–7 || 29 |- |38 || February 21 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–8 || Boston Bruins || 11–20–7 || 29 |- |39 || February 23 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–3 || New York Americans || 11–21–7 || 29 |- |40 || February 26 || Boston Bruins || 5–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 11–22–7 || 29 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000000 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |41 || March 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–1 || New York Rangers || 12–22–7 || 31 |- |42 || March 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–1 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 12–22–8 || 32 |- |43 || March 5 || Montreal Canadiens || 2–1 || Chicago Black Hawks || 12–23–8 || 32 |- |44 || March 9 || New York Rangers || 8–3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 12–24–8 || 32 |- |45 || March 12 || New York Americans || 3–2 || Chicago Black Hawks || 12–25–8 || 32 |- |46 || March 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–4 || Boston Bruins || 12–26–8 || 32 |- |47 || March 16 || Chicago Black Hawks || 1–5 || Montreal Canadiens || 12–27–8 || 32 |- |48 || March 19 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2–3 || Detroit Red Wings || 12–28–8 || 32 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMJohnny Gottselig 48 16 23 39 15Joffre Desilets 48 11 13 24 28Mush March 47 10 11 21 29Cully Dahlstrom 48 6 14 20 2Bill Thoms 36 6 11 17 16 Goaltending Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAAMike Karakas 48 2988 12 28 8 132 5 2.65 See also 1938–39 NHL season References National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007 External links SHRP Sports The Internet Hockey Database Category:Chicago Blackhawks seasons Chicago Category:1938 in sports in Illinois Category:1939 in sports in Illinois Category:1938 in Chicago Category:1939 in Chicago