(670 The Score) Hoping to emerge from a long rebuild, the Blackhawks have tabbed a new leader whom they believe can see through those plans.
The Blackhawks have hired Tampa Bay Lightning assistant Jeff Blashill as their new head coach, the team announced Thursday. Blashill, 51, spent the past three seasons with Tampa Bay after previously serving as the Detroit Red Wings’ head coach from 2015-’22.
“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,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “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. We couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come under Jeff’s direction.”
In Detroit, Blashill directed the Red Wings to a 204-261-72 mark. The Red Wings made the playoffs once in his seven seasons in Detroit as Blashill was tasked with guiding a rebuilding team. In Chicago, he’ll inherit a Blackhawks roster that features plenty of young talent, led by 2024 Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard.
Prior to accepting the Red Wings’ head coaching position, Blashill served as head coach of the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. He led the team to the Calder Cup title in 2013.
Blashill replaces former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson, who was fired on Dec. 5 amid the team’s poor start to the season. Richardson was 57-118-15 over three seasons on the job in Chicago.
The Blackhawks have reached the playoffs just once since 2017, which marks their last winning season.