Blackhawks: Coaching Candidates who could take the reins right now

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Jan 12, 2020; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau looks on during the first period against the Vancouver Canucks at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

How about a guy who coached rival teams? Bruce Boudreau, former Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild coach, was oddly passed over by every NHL team in search of a coach. This seems bizarre because Boudreau’s lifetime record is really good for all his years behind the bench. He’s got 567 wins, which is pretty impressive, and a lifetime winning percentage of .635%, for the regular season.

It’s his lack of postseason success that makes him an issue. During the regular season, Boudreau’s teams have been fantastic, but for some reason, he hasn’t been able to get talented rosters into the Stanley Cup Final. Chicago helped quash that for him in 2014-2015 when the Blackhawks went through Anaheim, where he was head coach, before going on to defeat Tampa Bay to win the Stanley Cup.

Boudreau understands the game and the league, but he doesn’t have a great record in the postseason. I have complete faith he could get the Blackhawks to the playoffs, but I question whether or not he could take them all the way. History says, “no”, but he might be available if Chicago wanted him. He could certainly help turn things around shortly. At the very least, he could likely get more out of the roster than the team is showing currently.

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