The 2015–16 Chicago Blackhawks season was the 90th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on September 25, 1926. They entered the season as defending Stanley Cup champions having won the Stanley Cup the previous season, their third championship in six years. The Blackhawks finished the season with 103 points to finish in third place in the Central Division, only six points behind the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars. They lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the St. Louis Blues in seven games.

Patrick Kane led the Blackhawks with 46 goals and 106 points, both career highs. He was named the winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy as most valuable player in the NHL, becoming the first US-born player to receive the award. The Blackhawks had four players who scored 20 or more goals: Kane, Artemi Panarin (30), Jonathan Toews, and (28) Artem Anisimov (22). Goalie Corey Crawford led the Blackhawks with 35 wins. Artemi Panarin received the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year.

Off-season The Blackhawks faced an off-season of change after being crowned Stanley Cup Champions for a third time in six years. Coming into the offseason, it was well known Chicago was facing impending cap space struggles and moves would need to be made.

On June 27, Chicago traded backup goaltender Antti Raanta to the New York Rangers in exchange for AHL forward Ryan Haggerty. Two days after the trade, defenseman David Rundblad received a two-year, $2 million contract extension on June 29.

The Blackhawks attempted to negotiate a contract for winger Brandon Saad who was a restricted free agent, but were unsuccessful. Unlikely to match any sizeable offer sheets due to cap constraints, Chicago traded Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Chicago sent Saad and prospects Michael Paliotta and Alex Broadhurst to Columbus in exchange for center Artem Anisimov, wingers Jeremy Morin and Corey Tropp, as well as prospect Marko Dano and their 2016 4th round pick. Anisimov subsequently signed a five-year, $22.75 million contract with the Blackhawks. The move did not sit well with the Chicago fanbase, as Saad was viewed as another top young player on the Stanley Cup-winning squad, even though Anisimov would score 42 points for the Blackhawks in 2015–16.

Chicago turned to Russia a few times throughout the off-season. Kontinental Hockey League winger Viktor Tihkonov signed a one-year, $1.04 million contract with Chicago on July 1. Tihkonov was returning to the NHL for the first time since his 2009 season with the Phoenix Coyotes. Also, Chicago and Edmonton swapped minor league players, sending goaltender Anders Nilsson to the Oilers in exchange for forward Liam Coughlin.

Following season-long trade speculation, the Blackhawks pulled the trigger on another trade by trading another piece of its core Stanley Cup winning teams. Another cap clearing move, Chicago traded alternate captain Patrick Sharp and defenseman Stephen Johns to the Dallas Stars in exchange for forward Ryan Garbutt and defenseman Trevor Daley. A three-time Stanley Cup winner, Sharp carried a cap hit of $5.9 million in each of the next two seasons, limiting the Blackhawks in what they could do with free agency. A trade was expected following a down year in terms of production and the large aforementioned cap hit.

Forward Andrew Desjardins returned on a two-year contract worth $1.6 million, taking less to stay in Chicago. The team also extended the contracts of defensemen Viktor Svedberg, forward Marcus Kruger, and defenseman Michal Rozsival. They lost forwards Brad Richards and Antoine Vermette, as well as defenseman Johnny Oduya during free agency.

Season notes The Blackhawks began their title defense with and average month of October. The Blackhawks went 6–5–0. However, fortunes increased in November (7–3–1) and December (9–5–1). The Blackhawks finished December on two game winning streak, looking to keep the wins coming in 2016. The Blackhawks did just that, winning the first 10 games of January to bring the win streak to 12 games. The streak set a franchise record for consecutive wins. The streak tied the Florida Panthers win streak earlier in the season for the longest winning streak in the NHL that season.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015 Pre-season game log: 4–2–0 (Home: 3–0–0; Road: 1–2–0) # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Recap 1 Sept 22 Detroit Red Wings 5–4 OT Visentin United Center 20,736 1–0–0 W1 2 Sept 23 @ Detroit Red Wings 1–4 Leighton Joe Louis Arena 16,886 1–1–0 L1 3 Sept 25 @ Montreal Canadiens 5–1 Darling Bell Centre 21,287 2–1–0 W1 4 Sept 26 St. Louis Blues 3–1 Crawford United Center 20,813 3–1–0 W2 5 October 1 @ St. Louis Blues 2–5 Darling Scottrade Center 14,303 3–2–0 L1 6 October 3 Dallas Stars 4–0 Crawford United Center 21,221 4–2–0 W1

Regular season 2015–16 Schedule October: 6–5–0 (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 1–4–0), 12 Points # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 NY Rangers 2–3 Crawford United Center 22,104 0–1–0 0 L1 2 October 9 @ NY Islanders 3–2 OT Crawford Barclays Center 15,795 1–1–0 2 W1 3 October 10 NY Islanders 4–1 Darling United Center 21,392 2–1–0 4 W2 4 October 14 @ Philadelphia 0–3 Crawford Wells Fargo Center 19,779 2–2–0 4 L1 5 October 15 @ Washington 1–4 Darling Verizon Center 18,506 2–3–0 4 L2 6 October 17 Columbus 4–1 Crawford United Center 21,563 3–3–0 6 W1 7 October 22 Florida 3–2 Crawford United Center 21,591 4–3–0 8 W2 8 October 24 Tampa Bay 1–0 OT Crawford United Center 21,822 5–3–0 10 W3 9 October 26 Anaheim 1–0 OT Crawford United Center 21,529 6–3–0 12 W4 10 October 29 @ Winnipeg 1–3 Crawford MTS Centre 15,294 6–4–0 12 L1 11 October 30 @ Minnesota 4–5 Darling Xcel Energy Center 19,140 6–5–0 12 L2 November: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 4–2–2), 17 Points # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 2 Los Angeles 4–2 Crawford United Center 21,534 7–5–0 14 W1 13 November 4 St. Louis 5–6 OT Crawford United Center 21,676 7–5–1 15 O1 14 November 6 @ New Jersey 2–4 Crawford Prudential Center 16,514 7–6–1 15 L1 15 November 8 Edmonton 4–2 Crawford United Center 21,611 8–6–1 17 W1 16 November 12 New Jersey 2–3 Crawford United Center 21,568 8–7–1 17 L1 17 November 14 @ St. Louis 4–2 Crawford Scottrade Center 19,808 9–7–1 19 W1 18 November 15 Calgary 4–1 Darling United Center 21,629 10–7–1 21 W2 19 November 18 @ Edmonton 4–3 OT Crawford Rexall Place 16,839 11–7–1 23 W3 20 November 20 @ Calgary 1–2 OT Darling Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289 11–7–2 24 O1 21 November 21 @ Vancouver 3–6 Crawford Rogers Arena 18,570 11–8–2 24 L1 22 November 25 @ San Jose 5–2 Crawford SAP Center at San Jose 17,562 12–8–2 26 W1 23 November 27 @ Anaheim 3–2 OT Crawford Honda Center 17,174 13–8–2 28 W2 24 November 28 @ Los Angeles 2–3 OT Darling Staples Center 18,230 13–8–3 29 O1 December: 9–5–1 (Home: 6–3–0; Road: 3–2–1), 19 Points # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Minnesota 1–2 Crawford United Center 21,580 13–9–3 29 L1 26 December 3 @ Ottawa 3–4 OT Crawford Canadian Tire Centre 17,171 13–9–4 30 O1 27 December 6 Winnipeg 3–1 Crawford United Center 21,749 14–9–4 32 W1 28 December 8 Nashville 4–1 Crawford United Center 21,432 15–9–4 34 W2 29 December 10 @ Nashville 1–5 Darling Bridgestone Arena 17,113 15–10–4 34 L1 30 December 11 Winnipeg 2–0 Crawford United Center 22,021 16–10–4 36 W1 31 December 13 Vancouver 4–0 Crawford United Center 21,711 17–10–4 38 W2 32 December 15 Colorado 0–3 Crawford United Center 21,473 17–11–4 38 L1 33 December 17 Edmonton 4–0 Crawford United Center 21,451 18–11–4 40 W1 34 December 19 @ Buffalo 3–2 SO Crawford First Niagara Center 18,870 19–11–4 42 W2 35 December 20 San Jose 4–3 OT Crawford United Center 22,096 20–11–4 44 W3 36 December 22 @ Dallas 0–4 Crawford American Airlines Center 18,532 20–12–4 44 L1 37 December 27 Carolina 1–2 Crawford United Center 22,157 20–13–4 44 L2 38 December 29 @ Arizona 7–5 Crawford Gila River Arena 17,197 21–13–4 46 W1 39 December 31 @ Colorado 4–3 OT Darling Pepsi Center 18,048 22–13–4 48 W2 January: 11–3–0 (Home: 7–0–0; Road: 4–3–0), 22 Points # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 3 Ottawa 3–0 Crawford United Center 22,016 23–13–4 50 W3 41 January 5 @ Pittsburgh 3–2 OT Crawford Consol Energy Center 18,658 24–13–4 52 W4 42 January 6 Pittsburgh 3–1 Darling United Center 21,908 25–13–4 54 W5 43 January 8 Buffalo 3–1 Crawford United Center 22,142 26–13–4 56 W6 44 January 10 Colorado 6–3 Crawford United Center 22,007 27–13–4 58 W7 45 January 12 Nashville 3–2 Crawford United Center 21,618 28–13–4 60 W8 46 January 14 @ Montreal 2–1 Crawford Bell Centre 21,288 29–13–4 62 W9 47 January 15 @ Toronto 4–1 Darling Air Canada Centre 20,049 30–13–4 64 W10 48 January 17 Montreal 5–2 Crawford United Center 22,030 31–13–4 66 W11 49 January 19 @ Nashville 4–1 Crawford Bridgestone Arena 17,122 32–13–4 68 W12 50 January 21 @ Tampa Bay 1–2 Crawford Amalie Arena 19,092 32–14–4 68 L1 51 January 22 @ Florida 0–4 Darling BB&T Center 19,343 32–15–4 68 L2 52 January 24 St. Louis 2–0 Crawford United Center 22,138 33–15–4 70 W1 53 January 26 @ Carolina 0–5 Crawford PNC Arena 14,588 33–16–4 70 L1 February: 6–4–1 (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 4–1–0), 13 Points # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 54 February 2 @ Colorado 2–1 Crawford Pepsi Center 18,007 34–16–4 72 W1 55 February 4 @ Arizona 5–4 OT Crawford Gila River Arena 17,125 35–16–4 74 W2 56 February 6 @ Dallas 5–1 Crawford American Airlines Center 18,532 36–16–4 76 W3 57 February 9 San Jose 0–2 Crawford United Center 21,753 36–17–4 76 L1 58 February 11 Dallas 2–4 Crawford United Center 22,051 36–18–4 76 L2 59 February 13 Anaheim 2–3 OT Crawford United Center 22,107 36–18–5 77 O1 60 February 15 Toronto 7–2 Darling United Center 21,767 37–18–5 79 W1 61 February 17 @ NY Rangers 5–3 Crawford Madison Square Garden 18,006 38–18–5 81 W2 62 February 21 @ Minnesota 1–6 Crawford TCF Bank Stadium 50,426 38–19–5 81 L1 63 February 25 Nashville 1–3 Crawford United Center 22,058 38–20–5 81 L2 64 February 28 Washington 3–2 Crawford United Center 22,218 39–20–5 83 W1 March: 5–6–2 (Home: 1–3–1; Road: 4–3–1), 12 Points # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 2 @ Detroit 5–2 Crawford Joe Louis Arena 20,027 40–20–5 85 W2 66 March 3 @ Boston 2–4 Darling TD Garden 17,565 40–21–5 85 L1 67 March 6 Detroit 4–1 Crawford United Center 22,247 41–21–5 87 W1 68 March 9 @ St. Louis 2–3 SO Crawford Scottrade Center 19,756 41–21–6 88 O1 69 March 11 @ Dallas 2–5 Crawford American Airlines Center 18,532 41–22–6 88 L1 70 March 14 Los Angeles 0–5 Crawford United Center 22,170 41–23–6 88 L2 71 March 16 Philadelphia 2–3 Darling United Center 22,113 41–24–6 88 L3 72 March 18 @ Winnipeg 4–0 Darling MTS Centre 15,294 42–24–6 90 W1 73 March 20 Minnesota 2–3 SO Darling United Center 22,059 42–24–7 91 O1 74 March 22 Dallas 2–6 Darling United Center 22,034 42–25–7 91 L1 75 March 26 @ Calgary 4–1 Darling Scotiabank Saddledome 19,289 43–25–7 93 W1 76 March 27 @ Vancouver 3–2 Darling Rogers Arena 18,570 44–25–7 95 W2 77 March 29 @ Minnesota 1–4 Darling Xcel Energy Center 19,190 44–26–7 95 L1 April: 3–0–2 (Home: 2–0–1; Road: 1–0–1), 8 Points # Date Opponent Score OT Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 1 @ Winnipeg 5–4 OT Darling MTS Centre 15,294 45–26–7 97 W1 79 April 3 Boston 6–4 Darling United Center 22,156 46–26–7 99 W2 80 April 5 Arizona 6–2 Darling United Center 21,884 47–26–7 101 W3 81 April 7 St. Louis 1–2 OT Darling United Center 22,075 47–26–8 102 O1 82 April 9 @ Columbus 4–5 OT Crawford Nationwide Arena 19,177 47–26–9 103 O2Legend:

Detailed records