3 Top Head Coaching Candidates For the Next Phase Of The Chicago Blackhawks' Rebuild
Photo credit: The Rink Live
The Chicago Blackhawks are in the end stretch of the NHL regular season and with 15 games left they may have to re-evaluate the head coaching position, who could replace Anders Sorensen?
The Chicago Blackhawks have found themselves at the bottom of the Central Division and could be in the running for a lottery pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
That wasn't the explicit goal of GM Kyle Davidson who intended the team to be competitive this season, spending cap space on veterans like Tyler Bertuzzi, and Laurent Brossoit.
Now, as the season winds down he may have to consider another candidate for the head coach position in Chicago, as Anders Sorensen may not be the guy we thought he was.
The team is 20-4-9 after losing 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings last night. Who could be a suitable replacement for Sorensen?
Jay Woodcroft
Woodcroft was the first Oilers coach who would turn the team around after taking over from David Tippett.
Before he arrived in Edmonton, he was the Head Coach for the AHL's Bakersfield Condors and would turn an underperforming Oilers team into a contender after his promotion.
He helped right the ship and had two great seasons in Edmonton, finishing his short-stint in Oil country with a 79-41-13 record. If GM Kyle Davidson does his due diligence he should check in on Woodcroft.
David Carle
Carle has spent a decade working his way up to Head Coach at Denver University after starting out as an assistant.
He'd win an NCAA title in 2022, as the youngest coach ever to win it at the age of 32, and has transformed the team into a dominant force in the NCAA.
Not to mention he was tapped to lead Team USA to back-to-back gold medal seasons. He'd bring a high-level understanding of hockey to Chicago,, and not to mention a familiarity with Blackhawks prospects.
He's worked with Sam Rinzel, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, and Gavin Hayes in the World Juniors. While coaching at Denver he's overseen the development of Aidan Thompson.
Carle would be a prime candidate for a rebuilding Blackhawks team.
Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan has won two Stanley Cups as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and led the team to the playoffs in seven out of his nine
coach the team.
coach the team.
We're not certain Sullivan will hit the market at the end of the 2024-2025 NHL season, he has a winning record in the NHL.
With a 403-251-87 record to his name, along with 44 playoff wins and two Stanley Cups, GM Kyle Davidson could do worse than hire him.
Sullivan could be an option for the Hawks as like the Blackhawks themselves the Penguins have found themselves in an odd place in the standings, at the bottom.
This was after their long-reign of the Metropolitan Division.
He has the chops to coach players like Sidney Crosby, and Evgenii Malkin and knows what it takes to win.
We're not certain this could be a sure thing, but if the Penguins will undergo a rebuild we expect Dubas to tear it down, including the coach.
| POLL | ||
MARS 21 | 552 ANSWERS 3 Top Head Coaching Candidates For the Next Phase Of The Chicago Blackhawks' Rebuild Who should GM Kyle Davidson of the Chicago Blackhawks hire as the team's new Head Coach? | ||
| Mike Sullivan | 295 | 53.4 % |
| David Carle | 94 | 17 % |
| Jay Woodcroft | 66 | 12 % |
| comment below | 97 | 17.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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