It is a sad day for hockey with news of the passing of Robert Marvin 'Bobby' Hull at the age of 84 (1939-2023).  The Golden Jet' was one of the greatest combinations of strength, speed and power to ever play in the NHL and he possessed perhaps the most feared slap shot in the history of professional hockey.   As a member of the Chicago Black Hawks, Hull, along with Stan Mikita and 'Mr. Goalie' Glenn Hall, helped restore the franchise's fledgling reputation, leading the Hawks to the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship, their first since 1938.  The following season (1961-62) Hull become just the third player to score 50 regular season goals.  He would go on to score 50 or more goals five times, including a then record 58 during the 1968-69 season. Hull and Mikita would pioneer the use of the curved hockey stick, thus striking legitimate fear into goaltenders league wide.   As a member of the Black Hawks Hull won two Hart Memorial Trophies as league MVP, three Art Ross Trophies as top scorer and one Lady Byng Trophy.  He was a 12 time All-Star (10 first-team; 2 second-team) at left wing.

In 1972 Hull became the first million-dollar hockey player after jumping from the NHL to sign with the Winnipeg Jets of the upstart WHA.  During his time with the Jets, Hull, along with Swedes Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson, formed one of hockey's all-time great lines, leading the Jets to the Avco Cup in 1976, 78 & 79.  Hull would be named WHA league MVP in 1973 & 1975. After the 1979 merger with the NHL, Hull would finish his career with the Hartford Whalers in 1980.  Three years later Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and would go on to be named one of the NHL's Top-100 Players of All-Time and to The Hockey News' list of the Top75 Players of All-Time (No. 11).

Bobby Hull by the numbers (NHL):

• Seasons: 23 (1957-80)
• Games Played: 1,063
• Goals: 610
• Assists: 560
• Points: 1,170
• PIM: 634
• Teams: 3 (Black Hawks, Jets, Whalers)
   

Bobby Hull