Jeff Blashill, Blackhawks Reportedly Agree to Contract as HC Ahead of 2025 NHL Season

Jeff Blashill will be named the 41st head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, according to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff.

Seravelli noted the Blackhawks are expected to make an official announcement Thursday.

The Blackhawks were most recently coached by Anders Sorensen, who was promoted from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs to replace Luke Richardson in December.

Richardson was fired after leading Blackhawks to an 8-16-2 season-opening record, during which the team ranked 31st in the NHL with 2.42 goals scored per game.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported after Richardson's dismissal that the Blackhawks were "high on" Sorensen, who had led the IceHogs to a 117-89-16-7 record over parts of four seasons.

The Hawks went on to earn a 17-30-9 record under Sorensen, finishing the season at the bottom of the Central Division for the third straight season.

The biggest concern for the Blackhawks going forward will be the development of the team's young players, particularly Connor Bedard. The 2023 No. 1 pick played all 82 games of his second NHL season but nearly matched the production of his injury-limited rookie campaign.

The ability of Blashill to help Bedard take another step forward, as well as assist the Blackhawks' incoming 2025 first-rounder in a quick adjustment to the NHL, will be key to Chicago's hopes of moving forward in the rebuild.

Blashill has spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 51-year-old has primarily been in charge of running the defense and penalty-killing for head coach Jon Cooper.

The Lightning went from 22nd in goals allowed per game last season to fourth in 2024-25.

Chicago will be hoping Blashill can work his magic after the team ranked 31st in goals allowed this season. The offense wasn't much better at 26th in goals per game, but Bedard at least gives them a foundation piece to build around.

The Blackhawks job is a long-term rebuild that will require patience, but there is a lot of potential for them to return to prominence in the not-too-distant future if Blashill hits in the way they believe he can.