Chicago Blackhawks Coaching Search Update: Add Jeff Blashill to the List

The Chicago Blackhawks' coaching search finally has another official candidate. Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff reported that Jeff Blashill interviewed with the Blackhawks earlier in the week. Other than David Carle, the Blackhawks front office has been very tight about not leaking candidates. 

Let's get to know Blashill and see if he fits with the Blackhawks' young team (it feels good to say that, doesn't it?).

Jeff Blashill

If Jeff Blashill's name rings a bell, it's because he was the head coach for the Detroit Red Wings from 2015 to 2022. Blashill was dealt a tough hand in Detroit. The Red Wings started the ugly part of the rebuild and began their streak of missing the playoffs in the 2016-17 season. His 204-261-72 record might make Blackhawks fans cringe, but he was in a very similar position that former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson found himself a few years ago. 

Blashill has a winning pedigree and experience with young players. His head coaching career began in 2008 with the USHL's Indiana Ice, winning the championship in 2009. He also coached one season with Western Michigan University and posted a .571 win percentage. Following his season in the NCAA, Blashill became an assistant coach in Detroit for one season before becoming the head coach of their AHL club, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Blashill coached his team to the 2013 Calder Trophy in his first season and remained head coach until 2015, when he became Detroit's head coach. 

Scott Powers recently wrote an article about Blashill and referenced an article written in 2021. In that article, Max Bultman discusses Blashill's emphasis on playing a complete 200-foot game. But Blashill's focus on defense and responsible plays kept the Red Wings at the bottom of the league in scoring. Something the Blackhawks have struggled with in the past few years. 

Before Blashill was fired in 2022, the Red Wings had a roster of young players who were looking to take the next step in their rebuild but struggled to score. The Red Wings were 27th in 5-on-5 expected goals share (46.37%) and 30th in actual goals share (43.92%) in his last season. 

Blashill was initially brought on as Mike Babcock's replacement because of his history of developing young players. After losing in the first round in 2016, the Red Wings tore the roster down and began a scorched-earth rebuild. The roster Blashill had to work with was bad. By the time Blashill was let go, he was the second-longest tenured head coach in the NHL.

What's On Tap Next?

As fans of the team, there's only so much reading through the tea leaves that we can do. Scott Powers, in the previously linked article, says that Blashill isn't the only candidate. Blashill has a proven history of winning and working with young players. But at the NHL level, his insistence on a defensive game with a young team that still finished near the bottom of the league in scoring doesn't sell me. 

Steve's Coaching Ranking:

• David Carle
• Jeff Halpern
• Jay Woodcroft
• Jeff Blashill
• Pat Ferschweiler
• Mike Sullivan
• Anders Sorensen