The Chicago Blackhawks' offseason has three big decisions concerning the organization: free agency, the draft, and the head coach vacancy. David Carle, the top candidate, signed a massive extension with the University of Denver. Mike Sullivan, an interesting candidate who was probably never a realistic option, will coach the New York Rangers. While general manager Kyle Davidson seemed to be adamant about making a hire sooner rather than later, things have been quiet.
The candidates remaining from our last article are Jay Woodcroft and Todd Neslon. Anders Sorensen, although not an ideal candidate, remains a realistic option. In Kyle Davidson's recent media availability, he said, "I can't name one of our younger players that hasn't gotten better under Anders... that's crucial to where we're going." That leads me to believe that Sorensen may be higher on Davidson's list than I initially thought.
As far as timelines go, Davidson went from stating, "by the draft," to "there's no rush." And yes, Davidson has been conducting interviews. The process isn't as publicized as the NFL.
So, what other candidates are out there?
For my search (which is much more limited than the Blackhawks front office... I hope), I look at the pool from retreads, coaches who deserve another chance, winning head coaches in the AHL and NCAA, and assistant coaches in excellent organizations.
I have added two names to my list.
Jeff Halpern
Assistant coach in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, Jeff Halpern, joins my list of hires I would like to see. In fact, he goes right to the top. Halpern played 976 games in the NHL as a center and has been an assistant coach in Tampa since 2018. He has NHL coaching experience, is not a retread, and has two Stanley Cups.
Halpern also works well with young players. He has a reputation for explaining why he wants his players to do something instead of telling them to "just do it." Something older coaches actually struggle with. Halpern's ability to connect with players, explain to them the "why," and back that up with statistics makes him a very intriguing potential option. And he's been learning from one of the best, Jon Cooper.
Halpern was the developmental coach for the Syracuse Crunch in 2015, and one year later, he was promoted to assistant coach for the Crunch, working under Cooper. Halpern's developmental experience is key for the Blackhawks' influx of young players.
Pat Ferschweiler
Much like David Carle, Pat Ferschweiler finds himself in a pretty solid situation as the head coach of a winning NCAA hockey program. Ferschweiler coached Western Michigan University to the 2025 National Championship and has built an impressive program. He won the AHCA National Coach of the Year, and his coaching experience dates back to 2004. Ferschweiler has NHL coaching experience as the Detroit Red Wings assistant coach from 2015-19.
Reports of Ferschweiler interviewing with the Philadelphia Flyers are logical. Ferschweiler played at WMU with Flyers president of hockey operations, Keith Jones, and has also coached some of the Flyers' prospects.
If Ferschweiler is going to coach in the NHL, it's likely to be with the Flyers given the connections. Nonetheless, he remains an intriguing candidate for the Blackhawks.
What's On Tap Next?
With the playoffs in the second round, more interesting candidates will make themselves options as teams get eliminated. So, while there is a worry that the longer Davidson takes to announce a decision (one that might be Sorensen), there are plenty of interesting candidates in successful organizations. If either the Florida Panthers or the Toronto Maple Leafs get eliminated, another name will join the list, as both teams have an interesting assistant coach.
The quiet surrounding the coaching search might seem disheartening, but the longer it takes, the more interesting candidates make themselves available.