2025 Blackhawks offseason

[NorthsideAvenger]

1 hour ago, Hot Sauce said:

I agree. Very underwhelming hire. 

Imagine PCA coming to bat. As a fan you think of all the exciting possibities of this at bat, only for PCA to reach base on a third strike pass ball. The most unexciting way for PCA to reach base. That is Blashill hire would be to me.

[jersey cubs fan]

33 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

Imagine PCA coming to bat. As a fan you think of all the exciting possibities of this at bat, only for PCA to reach base on a third strike pass ball. The most unexciting way for PCA to reach base. That is Blashill hire would be to me.

Third strike passed ball is pretty exciting especially when it’s a guy with speed getting on 

 

Blashill is more like signing Maeda to a minor league contract 

[Derwood]

11 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Third strike passed ball is pretty exciting especially when it’s a guy with speed getting on 

 

Blashill is more like signing Maeda to a minor league contract 

Sounds like the coach you hire because you're not ready yet, but will replace in a year or two when you are.

Just went through that with the Jackets

[jersey cubs fan]

So hawks picking 3 and 28? now with Toronto’s pick? Or is it 27 with winnipeg also out? 

Edited May 19, 2025 by jersey cubs fan

[Tim]

10 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

So hawks picking 3 and 28? now with Toronto’s pick? Or is it 27 with winnipeg also out? 

I would think 3, 27, 34 would be the first few picks

[Bobson Dugnutt]

Since none of the four division winners made the conference finals, and Toronto had the lowest regular season point total among them, wouldn’t the Hawks get the #25 pick?

 

[jersey cubs fan]

11 hours ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

Since none of the four division winners made the conference finals, and Toronto had the lowest regular season point total among them, wouldn’t the Hawks get the #25 pick?

 

I didn’t even think about Washington and Vegas also being ahead of them. So 3 and 25 it is. Plus the two 2nds, I really think there is going to be some sort of trade of picks 

[jersey cubs fan]

On 5/16/2025 at 6:32 PM, Hot Sauce said:

Blashill is going to be the guy. Expect the formal announcement soon.

 

On 5/16/2025 at 7:00 PM, NorthsideAvenger said:

CHGO was trying to put a positive spin on him but Blashill feels very blah. 

 

On 5/16/2025 at 7:06 PM, Hot Sauce said:

I agree. Very underwhelming hire. 

Lots of smoke coming out today with suntimes and bleacher nation writing “it may already be a done deal” style articles and powers/laz podcasting about it after Elliotte Friedman did the same on Friday. 
 

I think most nhl coaches are replacement level, so, kind of feel like the hire doesn’t really matter. They are in much greater need of better talent on the ice.  I could see a world where this works out but I really have to squint. 

[Hot Sauce]

21 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

 

 

Lots of smoke coming out today with suntimes and bleacher nation writing “it may already be a done deal” style articles and powers/laz podcasting about it after Elliotte Friedman did the same on Friday. 
 

I think most nhl coaches are replacement level, so, kind of feel like the hire doesn’t really matter. They are in much greater need of better talent on the ice.  I could see a world where this works out but I really have to squint. 

They need more talent, yes, but this is also a pretty pivotal year in the rebuild. Worst case scenario at the end of 2025-26 needs to be “this is a playoff team next season.” 

[Hot Sauce]

Two thoughts.

The coaching pool is pretty barren. Blashill doesn't move the needle much, but I'm coming around to the idea that he's the best available option and better than running a retread like Tortorella. He's also someone that you can dismiss if the guy you really want comes available, ala Rick Renteria.

My other thought, Anton Frondell should absolutely be the pick at #3 if the first two picks for Scheafer and Misa.

[Tim]

6 hours ago, Hot Sauce said:

Two thoughts.

The coaching pool is pretty barren. Blashill doesn't move the needle much, but I'm coming around to the idea that he's the best available option and better than running a retread like Tortorella. He's also someone that you can dismiss if the guy you really want comes available, ala Rick Renteria.

My other thought, Anton Frondell should absolutely be the pick at #3 if the first two picks for Scheafer and Misa.

I think I go Misa --gap-- Frondell, Desnoyers --gap-- Martone as my favorite options at #3. 

[NorthsideAvenger]

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Edited May 21, 2025 by NorthsideAvenger

[Wilson A2000]

 

[jersey cubs fan]

Tab Bamford claims Sorensen will stay on the NHL staff, with two other news guys 

[Hot Sauce]

3 hours ago, Tim said:

I think I go Misa --gap-- Frondell, Desnoyers --gap-- Martone as my favorite options at #3. 

I agree with this. This could play out similarly to 2006 where the Hawks get the best forward prospect at #3 if the Islanders shake things up and go Hagens at #1. 

[jersey cubs fan]

Blashill being reported as unofficially official by multiple outlets 

[Hot Sauce]

2 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Blashill being reported as unofficially official by multiple outlets 

I have come around on Blashill and I'm down. 

[jersey cubs fan]

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[jersey cubs fan]

1 minute ago, Hot Sauce said:

I have come around on Blashill and I'm down. 

Yeah, their PR people did a good job selling this hire over the past week. Worked on me 

[Hot Sauce]

33 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Yeah, their PR people did a good job selling this hire over the past week. Worked on me 

I don't know what that says about us. 😄

[jersey cubs fan]

Sorensen reportedly remaining on as an assistant and Michael Peca is being brought in from the rangers as another assistant 

[Hot Sauce]

11 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Sorensen reportedly remaining on as an assistant and Michael Peca is being brought in from the rangers as another assistant 

2x Selke winner and great on draws. Great guy to bring in. 

[jersey cubs fan]

Although I’m fine with Blashill and generally accept the narrative of a guy who learned from his first job while working under Cooper in Tampa, it may be a little noteworthy that Tampa went from three straight finals appearances to three straight first round exits once Blashill arrived. Is that at all his fault? Probably not. Would I take a regular 98-102 point team in Chicago? Absolutely. But given the short shelf life of NHL head coaches it’s probably safe to assume he’ll have to get replaced eventually before they even sniff a finals 

[Hot Sauce]

46 minutes ago, jersey cubs fan said:

Although I’m fine with Blashill and generally accept the narrative of a guy who learned from his first job while working under Cooper in Tampa, it may be a little noteworthy that Tampa went from three straight finals appearances to three straight first round exits once Blashill arrived. Is that at all his fault? Probably not. Would I take a regular 98-102 point team in Chicago? Absolutely. But given the short shelf life of NHL head coaches it’s probably safe to assume he’ll have to get replaced eventually before they even sniff a finals 

I don’t think you can look too much into it. Two of those 1st round losses were to the eventual and reigning Stanley Cup champions, who look like they’ll be in the SCF again. The exit to Toronto came after back-to-back-to-back SCF appearances and a lot of miles on guys like Vasilevskiy and Hedman. 

[jersey cubs fan]

1 hour ago, Hot Sauce said:

I don’t think you can look too much into it. Two of those 1st round losses were to the eventual and reigning Stanley Cup champions, who look like they’ll be in the SCF again. The exit to Toronto came after back-to-back-to-back SCF appearances and a lot of miles on guys like Vasilevskiy and Hedman. 

Probably correct. 
 

but I do still think most likely outcome is this group plateaus as a NJ Devils type team that breaks 100 points maybe once and is in and out of playofffs.  
Buffalo is their floor as talented but perpetually a step away from playoffs or LA as upside, consistent 3rd place team with 99 points that can’t get past the first round.

The LA model would probably keep Blashill employed beyond his first contract.

The Devils path might give him 4/5 years while Buffalo means he’s gone sometime in the 2028 calendar year. If they haven’t made playoffs by 27/28 season it’s going to be a problem. Lots of guys on their second contract, probably a few talented players traded away. Hope for the future clouded by the inability of several early first round picks to get them into contention. 
 

Im curious if he got any assurances that they would make trades