It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are just a day away from starting. However, teams that didn’t make the tournament are still being talked about. General managers are already thinking about what their next steps will be in trying to fix their rosters. Some teams need more work than others. However, GMs may be thinking about coaching moves this off-season. One team that has to make a decision on a head coach is the Chicago Blackhawks. This edition of NHL rumours deals with the quest for a new bench boss.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Coaching Search for Chicago Blackhawks Continues
Rumour: A number of insiders have weighed in on where the Blackhawks’ coaching search stands at this point.
Analysis: First, Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff was on the Chicago Sports Network came on and gave his take on who Chicago could target. One name he went in depth with was Denver University head coach David Carle. The Pioneers won the NCAA national title in 2024 and made the Frozen Four this season.
Carle has been successful on both the collegiate and international level. He’s won two straight gold medals at the IIHF World Juniors. That success has made one of the most sought-after coaching targets for NHL teams.
Seravalli thinks that Carle is the top choice for Chicago, who moved on from Luke Richardson this season. Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson was non-committal about the search when asked on Thursday.
Anders Sorensen was given the interim title by Davidson, but his future behind the bench is uncertain. Sorensen is the first Swedish-born head coach in the history of the NHL.
What It Means
Davidson did say to Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers of The Athletic that Sorenson is the running to be the permanent head coach. The Swedish bench boss did earn praise for his handling of the Blackhawks at the end of the season.
Chicago started off the season as one of the oldest teams in the league. However, that wasn’t the case at the end of the season. The younger players on the roster took a big step forward under Sorenson. Connor Bedard praised the coaching change and the development of the younger players.
The team played very defensively under Richardson. However, Sorenson allowed the roster to have more freedom on the offensive end. Chicago may not have been world-beaters, but it gave other teams trouble in the second half.
Some may think Carle’s way of developing players could give him an edge in getting an NHL job. However, Carle has a great gig at one of the premiere college programs in the NCAA. Denver will always be a contender and pull in some of the players looking to improve their game.
Seravalli said it would have to be a life-changing opportunity to get Carle to make the jump to the pros. However, Chicago is one of the prime jobs and recent openings with the New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks could be enticing as well.
