Blackhawks: Coaching Candidates who could take the reins right now

And if anyone needs a fresh start, it’s John Tortorella who is available, although he might be a slightly controversial choice. His departure from Columbus was a “mutual agreement” according to a variety of outlets including the Score. In and of himself, he’s a colourful character, and would certainly make post-game press conferences a bit more entertaining.

He’s a respected coach and has a great record. The fact that his split with the Blue Jackets was agreed upon by both parties means that he wasn’t fired because they thought he was incompetent. Instead, he probably left because the team wasn’t winning and management wanted to go a direction he wasn’t interested in.

Would he be a good fit in Chicago? Maybe. Like Marc Crawford, Tortorella has the Stanley Cup pedigree, as well as a solid lifetime record as a coach. His overall record boasts 673 wins, which is pretty impressive. Additionally, he has a connection with Seth Jones. (Not sure if that’s a good thing…) The question here for Chicago is, do they want to go this route?

Tortorella may very well help Chicago in the short term, but will he be able to coach the team to the Stanley Cup? Again, the answer is maybe. His abrasive personality isn’t for everyone, and he may find himself out of a job if the team suddenly starts piling up losses.

If he gets a solid team, then it’s certainly realistic to think that Chicago could make a deep playoff run. It’s also possible that his time with the Blackhawks could be like his time in Columbus. He had a great roster for a year, couldn’t get the postseason wins, and saw the GM break up the team. Chicago doesn’t have many players under contract for more than a couple of years, and history may repeat itself for Tortorella.