Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, nicknamed the “Golden Jet” and identified for his booming shot and scoring prowess, died on the age of 84, as was first reported Monday by The Daily Herald. The NHL Alumni Association confirmed the news shortly thereafter. No particulars about his loss of life are identified.
Hull was hockey’s first million-dollar participant, however his checkered off-ice previous was a lightning rod for criticism and clouded his legacy as one of the feared gamers within the recreation.
Hull had 1,808 factors in his regular-season profession between the NHL and WHA, making him one of the prolific gamers in professional hockey historical past. Armed with a famously blistering slapshot that terrorized goaltenders in an period when most did not put on masks, Hull led the NHL in targets seven instances in his profession. He was a Stanley Cup champion in 1961 with the Chicago Blackhawks, a 10-time NHL first All-Star group member, a three-time Art Ross Trophy Winner, a two-time Hart Memorial Trophy Winner and was the WHA’s MVP twice.
When Hull retired in 1980, he completed because the second-leading objective scorer and ninth-leading level scorer in NHL historical past earlier than falling to seventeenth and fiftieth, respectively. His son, fellow Hall of Famer Brett, surpassed him to sit down fifth and twenty fifth, respectively.
Hull, together with Gordie Howe, is taken into account to be the most important star to have an effect in each the NHL and the rival WHA. While on the prime of the NHL in 1972, Hull joined the upstart Winnipeg Jets of the WHA and signed what was seen as the most important contract in hockey on the time with a $1.75 million deal over 10 years. Hull completed with 303 targets in 411 WHA video games whereas nonetheless in his prime earlier than ending one final 12 months within the NHL in 1979-80.
Hull went on to be named to the Hockey Hall of fame in 1983, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and was listed as one of many 100 Greatest NHL Players’ in History checklist put out by the league in 2017.
While his on-ice expertise put him within the highlight, his post-career days had been rife with controversy. He was accused of home abuse and was quoted in 1998 by a Russian media outlet as saying that Adolf Hitler “had some good ideas,” although he denied ever saying such things in a press release issued by way of the Los Angeles Times. He was additionally convicted of assaulting a police officer who was making an attempt to arrest him in 1986.
Hull ultimately returned to the Blackhawks in an envoy position in 2010, showing at video games and different main occasions. He was faraway from the position final season with the Blackhawks claiming they had been “redefining the role of team ambassador.” His statue stays exterior the United Center alongside former teammate Stan Mikita’s.
