Blackhawks: Coaching Candidates who could take the reins right now

Let’s pretend that fan outrage made things happen upstairs for the Blackhawks and the current head coach was turfed. Who would take his place? While it might seem like there aren’t many candidates that immediately come to mind, there are quite a few people who fill the role.

Like any other team, the Chicago Blackhawks would probably prefer NHL experience of some variety for their future head coach. Now that isn’t always a requirement, but it’s certainly preferable. A general manager, in this case, Stan Bowman, would want to see that the person hired knew the league they’d be coaching in.

However, it would certainly be possible to cast the net a bit more widely. Simply having played in the NHL doesn’t make someone a good coach. Having prior experience as a coach in the NHL doesn’t necessarily even make someone a good candidate to be a head coach at all.

The current boss, Jeremy Colliton, is probably almost certainly to be under the microscope as the season progresses if he isn’t already. The Blackhawks look shambolic, and many people, myself included, largely hold him accountable for the team that takes the ice. No guarantee replacing him will get better results, just like when Colliton replaced Joel Quenneville and couldn’t get the team to win more. Don’t believe that the pressure is increasing for Colliton, consider this little chat from NHL Network:

Changes are almost certainly coming if things don’t improve, but what are some other characteristics Chicago’s brass might consider beyond experience with the league? Previous success at a certain level, i.e. having won a Stanley Cup? Age? Contract demands? Coach of a former rival team? As much as it’s about getting success on the ice, the organization would need to be able to convince fans that the person is the right one for the job, and that means winning games. Nothing more, nothing less.

Considering the state of the organization, with the fans having turned against Colliton in just a few games this year, the lawsuits that are making their way through the legal system, and the lack of success enduring for years now, it’s probably important to choose a head coach wisely. The easiest choice is just to let things ride with Marc Crawford.