The Chicago Blackhawks have officially hired Jeff Blashill as the 42nd head coach in franchise history, ending their months-long search with a move aimed squarely at player development and long-term success. The decision comes after the team fired Luke Richardson early in the 2024–2025 season and carried out a full coaching search, including interim coach Anders Sörensen as a candidate.
Blashill arrives with over 25 years of coaching experience across the NHL, AHL, and international play. Known for his ability to develop young talent, he previously spent seven seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and most recently served as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning. General manager Kyle Davidson expressed strong confidence in Blashill’s vision, calling him a coach who “thrives in development” and can translate that into team success.
Before his NHL coaching days, Blashill led the Grand Rapids Griffins to three consecutive playoff appearances in the AHL and coached Team USA at the IIHF World Championships, earning a bronze in 2018. His time in Tampa Bay was marked by playoff consistency, with the Lightning reaching the postseason in all three years of his tenure there.
Now, Blashill steps into a franchise hungry to exit its rebuild and maximize the potential of its deep prospect pool. The hiring signals a clear direction for the Blackhawks—a focus on youth, structure, and growth under an experienced leader.
With Blashill now at the helm, the next steps involve finalizing his coaching staff, and it remains to be seen if Sörensen will stay on in a supporting role. One thing is certain: Chicago is betting big on Blashill to guide the next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.
