Hockey legend Bobby Hull, nicknamed the Golden Jet, passes away at 84 years old.
Legendary NHL player Bobby Hull, known for his speed and goal-scoring prowess during his playing career, passed away at the age of 84. Hull spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he became the franchise's career leader in goals scored with 604.
Beyond his on-ice achievements, Hull's personal life was marked by a series of challenges and controversies. During eight seasons, he played with his brother Dennis, and in 1998, he came under fire for making controversial comments about race and Hitler.
Hull was married to Deborah Hull for 39 years, and they had several children together. However, there were reports of domestic violence and controversies surrounding his personal life, despite his public image as an icon of hockey. One of the most significant personal issues was the allegations of domestic violence, which have been a part of his public image, contrasting with his idolized status as a hockey player.
In addition to these issues, Hull was diagnosed posthumously with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to repeated head trauma, common among athletes in contact sports.
Despite these challenges, Hull's contributions to hockey remain significant. He won back-to-back Hart Memorial Trophies as the organization's most valuable player in 1964-65 and 1965-66, and in addition to these two trophies, he was a three-time Art Ross Trophy winner and won the 1965 Lady Byng Memorial Prize for gamesmanship integrated with stellar play.
Hull also made history off the ice when he signed the first $1 million contract in the history of professional hockey in 1972. He went on to play seven seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Winnipeg Jets, helping the team win Avco Cups in 1976 and 1978.
The Blackhawks redefined the role of team ambassador after the deaths of Stan Mikita in 2018 and Tony Esposito in 2021. However, in 2015, Hull was no longer working as a team ambassador for the Blackhawks.
Hull's son Brett, also a Hockey Hall of Famer, was inducted in 2009 after a 19-season career in which he scored 741 goals. Following his father's death, Brett Hull released a statement, saying, "Bobby Hull provided our family and others a tremendous quantity of great memories."
The Coyotes unretired Hull's No. 9 in 2005 so Brett could honor his father by wearing it. Both the Blackhawks and the Jets/Coyotes have retired Hull's No. 9, recognising his significant impact on the game.
Hull's legacy is complex, with both adoration for his achievements on the ice and criticism for his personal life and the controversies surrounding it. Despite these challenges, his contributions to hockey remain significant, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Despite the controversies and personal challenges throughout his life, Bobby Hull's business success was evident when he signed the first $1 million contract in professional hockey in 1972. Additionally, Hull's impact on sports extended beyond hockey as he helped the Winnipeg Jets win Avco Cups in 1976 and 1978 in the World Hockey Association (WHA).
