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

Mike Sullivan

While it is not certain as of right now if he hits the open market, a veteran coach with a decorated resume like Sullivan might be just the man for the job in Chicago.

Sullivan has been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins since the 2015-16 season where he immediately led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories, and has been one of the league's winningest coaches in his tenure.

After starting his career with the Boston Bruins, Sullivan worked his way back up to the NHL where he has a current record of 403-251-87 in Pittsburgh, with 44 playoff wins in that span.

The reason Sullivan could become an option for the Blackhawks' is because the Penguins are near the bottom of the NHL standings for the first time in this era of their franchise. The additions of veterans past their prime and an overall lack of depth has seen the Penguins window of competition close, and it might be time for a fresh start.

Sullivan is a well-respected coach who understands what it takes to compete in the NHL. His cup-wining rosters were filled with youth and speed beyond their star talent which made them formidable groups to play against.

He also comes with a background of coaching and earning the respect of star talent, his experience of coaching players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin is invaluable and gives Connor Bedard a voice that understands how to put him in better positions to succeed in the NHL.

Though time will tell is Sullivan will be looking for a new team this summer, his combination of experience and success will be highly sought after by many teams throughout the NHL.