What we're hearing about the Blackhawks coaching search, changes, prospects and more

New York Times

16-05-2025

You know an NHL team has done a good job of keeping a coaching search close to the vest when even the insiders are admitting they don't know what's going on with the Chicago Blackhawks.
While there had been plenty of information about other coaching vacancies in recent weeks, not much had trickled out of the Blackhawks' camp — until late this week.
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A league source said Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson recently met with Jeff Blashill in Chicago. Blashill isn't believed to be the Blackhawks' only candidate, but outside of interim coach Anders Sörensen, Blashill is the only known candidate at this point. Rick Tocchet, who was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers, and Adam Foote, who was hired by the Vancouver Canucks, were not candidates for the Blackhawks job.
Blashill, 51, was the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings from 2015 to 2022, accumulating a 204-261-72 regular-season record and going 1-4 in his one playoff appearance. The Red Wings went through a transition during Blashill's tenure, going from a veteran team with playoff expectations to a rebuilding team that began compiling lottery picks. From Blashill's first season with the Red Wings to his second, the team lost 11 of its top 12 scorers. Detroit didn't come near reaching the playoffs again in Blashill's last six seasons.
After being let go by the Red Wings following the 2021-22 season, Blashill jumped on Jon Cooper's staff with the Tampa Bay Lightning and has been there the past three seasons.
So, what should you make of this? We asked The Athletic's head coach expert, Shayna Goldman.
'It's really hard to say because the roster he had to work with in Detroit was pretty brutal,' Goldman said. 'He was in Detroit for a long time and has so little to show for it, so it's really tough. But there are a lot of head coaches who had crappy first gos and really improved in their second stint. Scott Arniel and Mike Sullivan both come to mind. Hopefully he learned something from Cooper. He did a pretty good job with the penalty kill there.'
That time with Cooper might pay off, as well as some time between head coaching opportunities.
'I think having that space between HC gigs can give someone a lot of perspective, especially if they're watching what does work in this league, versus getting a new job five seconds after getting fired,' Goldman said. 'That could be the key here — how much has he learned in a different role on what it takes to successfully coach in this league?'
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If you want to understand some of Blashill's coaching philosophies, this story by The Athletic's Max Bultman is a good place to start. Blashill emphasizes two-way play often. Bultman has also written about Blashill's background.
Blashill checks a few boxes for the Blackhawks. He has experience coaching younger players as he coached in the USHL, NCAA and AHL before jumping to the NHL. The Red Wings were a young team through most of his tenure. The question has to be whether Blashill can develop a young core into something significant under him.
Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has gotten his wish to not be deposed in the civil case of John Doe v. the Chicago Blackhawks.
John Doe's lawyers sought to compel Bowman to testify about what he knew as Blackhawks general manager in 2010 about sexual assault allegations made by a former player against the team's former video coach Brad Alrich.
Bowman filed a motion to quash the subpoena in March, and the judge ruled in his favor because the subpoena was deemed to be improperly served.
Bowman may still have to talk, though. John Doe's attorneys, Antonio Romanucci and Jason Friedl, provided a statement about that on Friday.
'Stan Bowman is indeed still subject to a trial subpoena, and we remain committed to securing justice for our client and holding accountable those who contributed to an environment of abuse through their actions or inactions,' the statement said.
If served with another subpoena, Bowman could be required to appear in court during a trial. According to the Circuit Court of Cook County's website, hearings are scheduled for Aug. 11 and Oct. 27.
The Blackhawks and long-time strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman recently parted ways.
Goodman had been one of the Blackhawks' longest-tenured employees. He had been with the Blackhawks since 2008.
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Blackhawks forward Lukas Reichel is not expected to miss a significant amount of time after suffering an injury Tuesday while playing for Germany at the World Championship in Denmark.
Reichel is forced to sit out the remainder of the tournament and is expected need some more time to recover, but he should still be able to train most of the offseason. Reichel said after the Blackhawks' season that he planned to work in the offseason with a development coach for the first time.
The Blackhawks have a number of prospects whose draft rights are set to expire on June 1 and not expected to sign before then.
Those players include Victor Stjernborg, a 2021 fourth-round pick, Alex Pharand, a 2023 fourth-round pick, Marcel Marcel, a 2023 fifth-round pick, and Milton Oscarson, a 2023 sixth-round pick.