The Chicago Blackhawks hired veteran Jeff Blashill as the franchise’s 42nd coach on Thursday to oversee the team’s continuing rebuild.
Blashill, 51, coached the Detroit Red Wings for seven seasons from 2015-22, making the playoffs his first season there after three seasons as coach of Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate. The Red Wings’ 25-season playoff streak ended the following season and they haven’t made it back.
He has spent his past three seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning as an assistant coach under Jon Cooper.
‘Jeff is an incredibly smart and talented coach who boasts more than 25 years of coaching experience across developmental leagues, the NHL and the world stage,’ general manager Kyle Davidson said. ‘He’s thrived when in a position to develop young players and has shown he’s capable of blending that into overall team success, a vision and philosophy we share for where we are today and where we see our team in the future.’
Here’s what to know about Blashill, what awaits him on the Blackhawks and the NHL’s coaching hires this offseason:
What is Jeff Blashill’s NHL head coaching record?
He went 204-261-72 in 537 games as the Red Wings’ head coach from 2015-22. His best season was 41-30-11, his first one. His worst was 17-49-5 in 2019-20 as the Red Wings went with a young team. He lost his lone NHL playoff head coaching appearance in five games in 2016.
Where else has Jeff Blashill coached?
He was head coach of the AHL’s Grand Rapids (Michigan) Griffins from 2012-15, winning a championship in his first season. He also won a title with the USHL’s Indiana Ice in 2008-09 and was head coach of Western Michigan in 2010-11 before joining the Red Wings as an assistant coach in 2011-12.
What awaits Blashill on the Blackhawks?
Chicago fired Luke Richardson in December midway through his third season and Anders Sorensen finished the season as interim coach. Sorensen will remain on as an assistant coach, per reports.
The Blackhawks have one playoff appearance in the past eight seasons and none since 2020. They have finished second- or third-worst in the league the past three seasons.
There are positives. Connor Bedard is a generational player and will keep getting better. Ryan Donato scored 31 goals and trade deadline acquisition Spencer Knight is a potential franchise goalie. Chicago will draft third overall in June and has the cap space to sign free agents.
But the Blackhawks traded away a lot of veterans before winning the 2023 Bedard draft lottery and lack depth. Donato is an unrestricted free agent.
NHL coaching hires
- The New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan on May 1.
- The Anaheim Ducks hired Joel Quenneville on May 8.
- The Vancouver Canucks (Adam Foote) and Philadelphia Flyers (Rick Tocchet) hired coaches on May 14.
- The Blackhawks hired Jeff Blashill on May 22.
NHL coach openings
Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken.