Chris O'Hearn Named Blackhawks' New VP of Hockey Ops

With a resume that speaks volumes, O’Hearn transitions from a five-year stint with the Minnesota Wild, where his expertise in contract negotiations and collective bargaining agreement matters made headlines. Notably, his tenure with the Wild and previously with the Arizona Coyotes showcased his ability to navigate the complex waters of NHL operations and management.

O’Hearn joins a Blackhawks organization in desperate need of a turnaround. With the team sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings, his track record offers reasons for a glimmer of hope to fans. His experience is an asset the Blackhawks could leverage as they face critical contract negotiations, particularly with young stars like Connor Bedard, whose performance has been one of the lone bright spots in a challenging season.

The Blackhawks, under general manager Kyle Davidson, seem poised to make bold moves in the near future as the team looks to return to competing for playoff spots instead of draft picks in the coming seasons. O’Hearn's entry into the front office coincides with some fairly significant decisions looming on the horizon, especially ahead of the NHL trade deadline, but also the upcoming offseason.