Blackhawks finalize coaching staff for 2025-26 with addition of Mike Vellucci

The Chicago Blackhawks made a major step on Monday, officially finalizing the team's coaching staff with the addition of Mike Vellucci as an assistant coach.

Vellucci, who had been rumored to join the coaching staff, comes to Chicago after spending the past five seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the Penguins, Vellucci was part of a 195-140-49 staff under then Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. The Penguins went to the Stanley Cup Playoffs two times in 2021 and 2022 during that time.

Vellucci, 58, is no stranger to the Blackhawks roster—he most recently served as an assistant coach at the 2025 IIHF World Championship where Alex Vlasic and Frank Nazar took home gold with the United States.

Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill, who had previously hinted about the hiring of another assistant like Vellucci, spoke highly of the new member of his coaching staff.

“I’m looking forward to working alongside Mike who has excelled behind the bench at every level, as both a head and assistant coach,” said Blashill in a news release. “Serving as an assistant coach at the World Championship this summer and winning a gold medal for our country alongside Frank Nazar and Alex Vlasic will bring such valuable experience to this group. That kind of championship-caliber background only makes our team better and I’m excited to get to work.”

With the addition of Vellucci, the Blackhawks coaching staff will now include Blashill as head coach with assistants Michael Peca, Anders Sorensen and Vellucci; goaltending coach Jimmy Waite and assistant coach/video Matt Meacham and assistant video coach Adam Gill, according to the team.

Kyle Davidson has assembled his coaching staff, but the biggest tests of the summer are yet to come with the NHL Draft later this month followed by the start of free agency on July 1.