 According to a longstanding NHL legend , McLaughlin felt the Blackhawks should have won the American Division in their first season , and fired Muldoon when he disagreed . Muldoon was then reported to have placed an Irish curse on the Hawks that would keep them out of first place forever . As it turned out , the Hawks would not finish first , in any format , until 1966 @-@ 67--their 41st year in the league . It is unknown if Muldoon ever actually cursed the team , as it has been alleged that it was a hoax by a Toronto sportwriter , yet other sources maintain that " 41 years is plenty long enough for any " curse , " real or imagined " . 
