Blackhawks: Why Derek King is the Right Coach moving forward

2. Listens to his Staff

The other thing that made the difference between Colliton and King is that Derek King listens to his staff and relies on their input. This Blackhawks team changed almost immediately after the coaching change, and Marc Crawford was elevated to an associate coach to aid in the change. Now, this team has two experienced voices, one from a coaching side and another from a NHL veteran’s side. King is a former first-round selection at 13th overall, played 830 games in the league, scoring 612 points. He also appeared in 47 post season games as well, making his credibility high above that of Colliton.

King was open about his inexperience and Marc Crawford has been helping him ease into the league by taking some responsibility from him. In just four games or so, this team looks like they know what they are doing more often than not, and the guidance from proven NHL sources look like they are making a deeper impact than Colliton and the young guys he brought with him.

King could have easily come into the locker room with an ego, telling the guys that he’s the coach now and that Crawford will listen to what he wants. What happened was the opposite, and it looks like the coaches are finally lead the team together, not just one guy at the helm. This has brought a better atmosphere with communication all around the team.

3. He Embraces the Fanbase

Derek King has won the fanbase over in less than a month, embracing his comparison to Walter White, cracking jokes all the time, and elevated the Blackhawks’ play in a short amount of time. He brings in an aura that felt like he “freed the franchise”, and it felt like a breath of fresh air when he arrived. He joked with the reporters and embraced the Walter White comparison and the fans love him for it. We love a coach who can laugh at himself (or at all, really).

Maybe it’s because Colliton was the replacement for Coach Q, but his work afterward didn’t really do him any favors. The Blackhawks did place him in a sticky situation right off the bat, but he did nothing to appeal himself to the fanbase. King looked to have learned from that mistake and immediately won over the fanbase with his personality. As much as it is needed for a coach to appeal to and earn the respect of his players, he has to appeal to the fans as well.

Conclusion

In all, Derek King allows his players to play freely and finally enjoy playing the game again. His systems are more effective AND more entertaining than Colliton’s. King also embraces the fanbase and the journalist, interacting with them. The Walter White comparison brought a loud cheer in the United Center, showing that he already has the loyalty of the fanbase in less than two weeks.

So far, he is helping this franchise meet expectations and he can only improve as he learns under Marc Crawford. This team is performing for him right now, and finding ways to further release this loaded roster is to be expected as the season continues. I personally feel like Derek King is worth taking a long look at as the permanent head coach.