Morning Chirps: Reports on Anders Sorensen’s Future, NHL Coaching Carousel Could be Slowing Down

Today could be a busy day, with a new head coach reportedly on the horizon. We also have reports about the future of the last head coach and updates about the remaining open jobs across the NHL. I hope you didn’t turn off Game 1 of the Western Conference Final early last night!

Blackhawks Chirps

• It sounds like we can expect an announcement that Jeff Blashill is the next Blackhawks head coach as soon as today. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that Anders Sorensen will remain with the organization. This isn’t an earth-shattering report, as both Sorensen and Kyle Davidson made it clear they want him to stay either as an NHL assistant or back with the Rockford IceHogs.
• Tab Bamford of Bleacher Nation says that Sorensen will remain on the Blackhawks staff under Blashill. He added that Blashill will bring two of his own assistants “from other NHL clubs.”
• Don’t forget that all three Blackhawks will be in action today at the IIHF World Championships. This morning’s first quarterfinal match-up will feature Team USA, with Frank Nazar and Alex Vlasic, taking on Teuvo Teravainen and Finland at 9:20 a.m. Central. The NHL Network will be carrying the game live.

• On this date in 1970, the NHL announced that the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks would join the league in the upcoming season. They were placed in the East Division, which consisted of the “Original 6” franchises. Yes, the Canucks were in the East because the league has always been good at these sorts of things. To even things out, the Blackhawks moved to the West Division, joining the six teams from the first league expansion in 1967.
• On May 21, 1992, the Blackhawks advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1973 by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1. Brian Noonan scored two goals to lead the way in the sweep of the Campbell Conference Final. This was their 11th straight victory of the 1992 postseason, setting a new NHL record for the most consecutive wins in a single playoff year. Unfortunately, this was their last win of the season, leading to that record being broken.
• The Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on this date in 2009. Patrick Sharp scored the game’s opening goal before sending everyone home happy with another tally in overtime. Andrew Ladd and Samuel Pahlsson scored the other Blackhawks’ goals. Detroit’s Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom broke Larry Robinson’s record by playing in his 228th career Stanley Cup playoff game.
• Five years later, the Los Angeles Kings took a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals by beating the Blackhawks 4-3. Jonathan Toews scored twice before Sharp added the third goal in the final seconds of regulation. Jeff Carter had a goal and two assists for the Kings.
• Blackhawks Birthday Roll Call, May 22: Lude Check, Rich Preston, Perry Pelenski, and Jim Playfair. Lude Check sounds like something that could get you suspended!

NHL Chirps

• Pagnotta was busy on Wednesday, as he also reported that Brad Shaw will join Sheldon Keefe’s staff as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils. This marks another summer when the long-time assistant will be passed up for head coaching jobs.
• Staying on the coaching carousel, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Seattle Kraken have received permission to interview Toronto Maple Leafs assistant Lane Lambert. He also noted that Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love and former New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn are also in the mix.
• Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reports that Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney is narrowing his coaching search and no longer considering candidates still in the playoffs.
• Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed that the Maple Leafs granted the New York Islanders permission to talk to Brendan Shanahan about their vacant President of Hockey Operations job. This comes a day after we learned that Marc Bergevin and Mathieu Darche have had multiple interviews for their general manager position.
• Per Kurt Dusterberg of NHL.com, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour said defenseman Jalen Chatfield is progressing with his undisclosed injury but remains day-to-day and is questionable for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final.
• The Edmonton Oilers controlled Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, taking a 3-1 lead into the third period. Then it all fell apart as the Dallas Stars scored five third-period goals to win 6-3. The first three of those five goals came on the power play as the Oilers could not stop the parade to the penalty box. Edmonton dominated the third period in the first two rounds, outscoring the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights 19-9.