Another NHL head coach is fired and a huge opportunity for the Chicago Blackhawks emerges

With David Carle withdrawing from consideration for the Chicago Blackhawks coaching position, the team will have widened its search for a new head coach.

Another candidate became available today, in former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet.

Tocchet took a scrappy, Vancouver Canucks team to the Western Conference Semifinals in 2023-2024. But this season presented some drama, where he had to contend with both J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson's issues in the locker room.

Instead of accepting the deal GM Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford wanted him to take, he opted instead to test his luck and find a new job elsewhere.

Tocchet's record with the Vancouver Canucks is 108-65-27, and has coached in other NHL organizations such as the Tampa Bay Lightning (2 seasons), Vancouver Canucks (3 seasons) and the Arizona Coyotes ( 4 seasons).

He's appeared in 1,144 NHL games as a player, a former Philadelphia Flyer. Another NHL market in need of a new head coach.

Could GM Kyle Davidson utilize the former connection with Luke Richardson to land Tocchet as the new bench boss in the United Center?

It's difficult to tell. Tocchet wasn't buying whatever Rutherford and Allvin were selling.

For now, Tocchet rejoins the coaching carousel, along with John Tortorella, Jay Woodcroft, and other former NHL coaches who are hoping for their next gig.

Who will replace Anders Sorensen in Chicago? Your guess is as good as ours.