3 strong head coaching candidates to guide the Chicago Blackhawks out of this rebuild

The Chicago Blackhawks' season is coming down to the final fifteen games, and it is safe to say some changes will be in order after what is looking like another bottom-three finish in the NHL standings.

Currently sitting 31st in the NHL with a 20-40-9 record, the Blackhawks have failed to meet the expectations they placed on themselves going into this season.

Earlier this season saw a coaching change as Luke Richardson was relieved of his duties behind the bench, replacing him in the interim was Rockford IceHogs (AHL) head coach Anders Sorensen.

The Swedish-born coach had shown impressive results developing young talent in the AHL and was given the opportunity to show what he can do at the NHL level.

Through mixed results, the consensus is that the experiment with Anders Sorensen as an NHL head coach will not carry into next season.

That means the Blackhawks' will look to bring in a new face to be their permanent head coach.

Sorensen has proven in his tenure with the organization that he is, currently, best suited in a developmental role with the IceHogs.

It would not be a shocking turn of events if he were to return to the AHL and continue the work he was doing prior to being named interim head coach.

When looking at which coaches are, and who could be, available, there are three names that standout as being strong candidates.

Jay Woodcroft

Formerly of the Edmonton Oilers, he is a coach who is likely to be among those getting calls from most teams with a vacancy behind the bench.

Woodcroft was promoted to head coach of the Oilers after spending four years manning the bench for their AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors. His promotion came at the right time as the Oilers needed a change in an underperforming season.

The Oilers went 26-9-3 under Woodcroft for the remainder of that season. He ended up having two successful regular seasons in Edmonton while going 14-14 in the playoffs over two seasons.

After a slow start to the 2023-24 season, Woodcroft was fired and finished his time in Edmonton with a record of 79-41-13 and proved he can be a viable coach in the NHL who should be deserving of a second chance elsewhere.