Former Oiler Michael Peca joins Chicago Blackhawks as assistant coach

Blashill also stated that Anders Sorenson, who was the Blackhawks’ interim head coach after Luke Richardson was fired in December of this season, will also remain on the Hawks’ bench as an assistant coach.

Peca heads to the Windy City after spending the last two seasons working under former New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette. Peca helped Laviolette guide the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy in the 2023-24 season. However, the good times in Manhattan, as the Rangers failed to make the playoffs this year, leading to the Blueshirts cleaning house, as Laviolette, Peca and Phil Housley were all let go at the end of the season.

The Rangers’ job was Peca’s first coaching position in the NHL. He had served as an assistant with the Rochester Americans, the Buffalo Sabres’ American Hockey League affiliate, from 2021 to 2023, also coaching the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He was also a player development coach with the Washington Capitals.

Peca had a long and rather storied career, though only a brief portion of it was spent in Edmonton. The Toronto native was part of the memorable team in 2005-06 that made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. After being acquired by the Oilers via trade with the New York Islanders, Peca scored just nine goals and 23 points in 71 regular-season games but proved to be a vital asset during the postseason, notching six goals and 11 points in 24 appearances.

That was the only season Peca played in northern Alberta. He ended up signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent the following summer.

Peca’s career also saw him make stops with the Vancouver Canucks, Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets. He scored 176 goals and 289 assists for 465 points in 864 games, notching another 34 points in 97 postseason appearances. Peca won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in 1996-97 and 2001-02.