Jeff Blashill is set to be named the 41st head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks, according to reports from Frank Seravalli at Daily Faceoff. An official announcement regarding Blashill's appointment is expected to be made by the Blackhawks on Thursday.

The Blackhawks recently saw Anders Sorensen take the helm after he was promoted from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs, stepping in for Luke Richardson in December. Richardson’s tenure ended following a challenging season start for Chicago, which concluded with a record of 8-16-2. During that time, the team struggled offensively, ranking 31st in the NHL with an average of 2.42 goals scored per game. Following Richardson's dismissal, Pierre LeBrun of TSN reported that the Blackhawks were optimistic about Sorensen's potential, as he had previously led the IceHogs to a commendable 117-89-16-7 record over parts of four seasons. Under Sorensen's guidance, the Blackhawks finished the season with a 17-30-9 record, positioning them at the bottom of the Central Division for the third consecutive year.

Moving forward, the development of the team's young players, particularly Connor Bedard, will be crucial for the Blackhawks. Bedard, the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, played all 82 games of his second season, closely mirroring the production of his injury-limited rookie campaign. Blashill's ability to facilitate Bedard's growth, as well as helping the team's incoming first-rounder from the 2025 draft adapt quickly to the NHL, will be pivotal for Chicago's rebuilding efforts. Blashill joins the Blackhawks after serving as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the past three seasons, where he spearheaded defense and penalty-killing strategies under head coach Jon Cooper. The Lightning showed significant improvement, rising from 22nd in goals allowed per game to fourth during the 2024-25 season. The Blackhawks will hope that Blashill can replicate this success, especially after they finished 31st in goals allowed this past season. Although the team's offense also faced challenges, ranking 26th in goals per game, Bedard presents a foundational piece for future development. The Blackhawks' head coaching role represents a long-term rebuilding initiative that will necessitate patience; however, there is significant potential for the franchise to regain prominence if Blashill can deliver on expectations.