The Chicago Blackhawks will honor their past, announcing they will commission statues of former stars Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita to be placed outside the United Center.

The Hawks informed the duo and subsequently the public when they honored the 1961 championship team at the United Center on Sunday.

"It will take 100 years to take the smile off my face," Mikita said. "I know that."

"Likely the greatest tribute I'll have paid to me when they put me in bronze," a smiling Hull stated.

The statues will be unveiled before the start of next season at a place yet to be determined outside the arena.

"I want to know where the birds are," Mikita joked. "I'll tell them Bobby is over there, go get 'em."

Hull and Mikita were informed of the statues before the Hawks game against the Islanders.

"I said, '[Stan, what the hell are they doing bringing us up here [to the office],'" Hull said. "I said, 'They could be giving us the axe, so be ready.'"

Both sang the praises of the Hawks organization.

"As bad as it was before, it's as good now and greater than I could ever say," Hull stated.

Jesse Rogers covers the Blackhawks for ESPNChicago.com.