When we last left the Chicago Blackhawks, they were bounced in the first round of the 1991 Stanley Cup Playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team. The implosion, which saw the Minnesota North Stars score six power-play goals in the final two games, led head coach and general manager Mike Keenan to make major roster changes in the offseason.
The first move came on July 22, 1991, when he traded veteran leader Troy Murray and young forward Warren Rychel to the Winnipeg Jets for defensemen Chris Norton and Bryan Marchment. Although Murray’s offensive numbers were declining, he remained one of the team’s heart-and-soul players. However, he knew that a trade was likely.
“Keenan thought we let the organization down when we got beat by Minnesota, and changes had to be made,” Murray told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I thought my time was done here. My avenues here were closing. I thought the limited power-play time and limited ice time would continue. They have plans for Jeremy (Roenick) and other younger guys. The talk about trading Doug Wilson – that’s another step in revamping the team the way Mike wants.”
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