May 22, 2025 | 12:00pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
BLACKHAWKS OFFICIALLY NAME BLASHILL HEAD COACH
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Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill
The Chicago Blackhawks officially named Jeff Blashill their 42nd Head Coach in franchise history on Thursday.
Blashill, 51, joins the organization after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“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 GM Kyle Davidson said. “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.”
TFP’s David Pagnotta first reported on Wednesday that Blashill was set to be named Head Coach. Pagnotta has also reported that Michael Peca is leaving the New York Rangers and joining the Blackhawks as an assistant coach, while former interim head coach Anders Sorensen is staying with the club, as well.
As reported yesterday, Jeff Blashill is the new head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Anders Sorensen remains with the club as an assistant and is joined by Michael Peca (from NYR).
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 22, 2025
Another assistant coach is to be named, Mike Vellucci (from PIT) has been in the running.
In seven seasons as the Red Wings head coach from 2015-16 through 2021-22, Blashill compiled a record of 163-231-61, making the playoffs just once in his first season.
Prior to taking over as Detroit’s coach, he led the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins to a championship in 2013 and made the playoffs in the next two seasons.