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Prior to the 2009-10 NHL season, the Blackhawks made another major free agent purchase, signing Marian Hossa to a 12-year contract worth 62.8 million dollars.[29] In addition to Hossa, the team also acquired Tomas Kopecky, John Madden, and Richard Petiot.[29][30] In early July, general manager Dale Tallon and the Blackhawks management came under fire when the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) claimed the team did not submit offers to their restricted free agents before the deadline.[31] In the worst case scenario, the team's unsigned restricted free agents at the time, including Calder Memorial Trophy finalist Kris Versteeg, would have become unrestricted free agents.[31] Despite the ordeal, the Blackhawks were able to sign Versteeg and all of their restricted free agents before the NHLPA could take further actions.[31] On July 14, 2009, The Blackhawks demoted Tallon to the position of Senior Adviser. Stan Bowman, son of Scotty Bowman, was promoted to general manager.[32]

The Blackhawks resigned Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to contract extensions worth $31.5 million over 5 years, and Duncan Keith to a 13 year extension worth $72 million on December 1, 2009. On April 6, 2010, the Hawks won their 50th game of the 2009-10 season against the Dallas Stars, setting a new franchise record for wins in a season. The very next night, April 7,the Hawks notched their 109th point of the season against the St. Louis Blues, setting another franchise record.

The Blackhawks made the playoffs for the second consecutive season with a regular season record of 52-22-8. They defeated the Nashville Predators in six games in the first round, before defeating the third seeded Canucks for the second straight year, again in six games. The Blackhawks then played the top-seeded San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Finals and won the series in four games. The Blackhawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1992. They faced the Philadelphia Flyers, and were able to win the series in Game 6 with Patrick Kane scoring the game-winning (and Cup-clinching) goal in overtime. It was the Blackhawks' first Cup win since 1961.

The Excel is an excellent venue for watching hockey. Minnesota is known as the hockey capitol of the U.S. and we do a pretty darn good job of showing it with our high school, college, and pro hockey teams. The Minnesota Wild are basically a replacement franchise for the North Stars which moved to Dallas in the early 1990's. At least I got to see my Penguins win the cup here before the Stars moved away. Interestingly, the old Met Center, where the Stars used to play, is now the parking lot for the Mall of America.

By the way, J.S. Giguere had the worst game of his career and was actually pulled. The defining moment of the game was when he ducked to let in a 3rd goal. For one of the NHL's best, this was a shocking outcome.