No News is Not Bad News in Blackhawks Coaching Search

If you’ve been checking the Blackhawks Head Coaching Tracker, which you should be, you might be worried about the lack of updates. There has been radio silence on the search for the Chicago Blackhawks’ new head coach. The lack of updates has some fans worried about the outcome, but there is no need to hit the panic button.

Interviews are Happening

When general manager Kyle Davidson met with the media following the regular season, he said there wasn’t a time frame for the hire, but he didn’t want the process to take too long. That was over a month ago, and the Blackhawks still don’t have their head coach. There haven’t even been any reports that they are interviewing candidates. However, Davidson confirmed after the NHL Draft Lottery on May 5 that the process is ongoing.

“We’re going through the process right now,” Davidson said. “We’re really excited about the people we’ve gotten to talk to, and will get to talk to. And so it’s not necessarily about a timeline. We want to get this right, and we want to make sure we have all the information to get it right. And that’s kind of what we’re going through right now.”

While we’ve heard rumblings about candidates interviewed by other teams, there are no reports about the Blackhawks. This isn’t a surprise. Since Davidson took over, information rarely leaks unless they want it to. When was the last time you heard about a big move before it happened? The Blackhawks’ front office keeps its cards close to the vest, and it will release the information it wants through its preferred channels. Just because your favorite social media insider isn’t telling you who is interviewing doesn’t mean the Blackhawks aren’t talking to people.

Still Plenty of Candidates Out There

One thing you need to remember about this coaching search is that the Blackhawks are one of eight teams that entered the offseason without a bench boss. The process would never be quick unless David Carle said yes right away. If a coach is a top candidate for the Blackhawks, he is likely at the top of the list for multiple teams. Nobody is going to accept a job without vetting all their options.

Only two of the vacant jobs are filled so far. The New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan, and Joel Quenneville took the Anaheim Ducks job. While Sullivan would have been an ideal Blackhawks head coach, the Rangers had the inside track. He had coached there before, and the Rangers are the team in the best position to win now, which was important to Sullivan. Making him the highest-paid coach in NHL history didn’t hurt either. Quenneville was never considered for the Blackhawks job, so that move didn’t hinder Davidson.

Carle was Davidson’s number one choice, but he elected to stay at the University of Denver. Other than that, none of the Blackhawks’ other top candidates have taken jobs. Rick Tocchet is attached to the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Seattle Kraken. Personally, Tocchet isn’t a good fit in Chicago. The Vancouver Canucks are doing the Blackhawks a favor by reportedly staying in house. Their search is down to assistant coach Adam Foote and AHL head coach Manny Malhotra.

Jay Woodcroft is still available. He reportedly was interviewed by the Ducks before they hired Quenneville. Woodcroft is my top choice right now. He got a raw deal in Edmonton last season. His one full season in Edmonton was very good, and they lost in the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Vegas Golden Knights. Many young coaches have a better run at their second job because they learn from previous mistakes and apply those lessons to their current team. Whether you agree about Woodcroft or not, the candidate list remains intact outside of Carle and Sullivan.  

What About Anders Sorensen?

Since the Blackhawks fired Luke Richardson in December, the biggest debate has been whether his full-time replacement needs to have previous NHL experience. Since the Blackhawks aggressively pursued Carle, the lack of NHL experience is clearly not a deal-breaker for Davidson. After the Draft Lottery, he emphasized the importance of a coach who works well with young players.

“I think a coach working with younger players will be key because we’re going to be a younger team moving forward,” he said. “We’re going to talk to a bunch of very qualified candidates that we feel very passionate about. It will be determined in that room and in the interviews, when it feels right, how they approach things, and if that’s the right fit for us. In the end, we want someone who will come in and help these young players that we’re very excited about and that we think have a ton of promise.

“They’re going to need someone who will allow them to develop and grow, and through that, grow our status in the win column. We’re looking to check a number of boxes there, but ultimately want someone excited about what’s going on in Chicago.”

Even before this statement, many Blackhawks fans felt the silence meant interim head coach Anders Sorensen would get the full-time job. I don’t think that is necessarily true. Sorensen got rave reviews from Davidson and the players in the locker room at the end of the season. As I’ve repeatedly said, he is a good development coach but not a good in-game tactician. He still has value to the organization and wants to be here, but being the NHL head coach might not be the best place for him to succeed.

Sorensen will be considered for the job, but he is more valuable to the organization working with the Rockford IceHogs. The combination of Sorensen and Mark Eaton could work wonders in getting the Blackhawks’ deep prospect pool ready for the NHL. I like Sorensen. He’s a no-nonsense guy. He’s shown that he can work with players on an individual level. However, it would be disappointing if the Blackhawks open next season with him as the head coach.

Perhaps Davidson realizes that his team needs to be closer to contention to attract a big-name coach. That might lead him to hire another coach to take the Blackhawks to that place and then make another move. That’s not the worst plan; it’s just a disappointing one. The fan base wants this team to take the next step, and bringing in an experienced coach with a winning track record would excite them. Keeping Sorensen or bringing in another first-time coach would diminish some of the buzz the late-season youth movement created.

Davidson and the Blackhawks are working to hire their ideal candidate. The lack of rumors and internet chatter is not a bad thing. It simply means the front office is good at keeping everything in-house. Regardless of who ultimately secures the job, it will be a polarizing move that will spark plenty of debate online.