The Chicago Blackhawks reportedly losing out on Mike Sullivan to the New York Rangers

The Chicago Blackhawks got rejected by their first choice to be the team's next head coach, and now it looks like another ideal candidate is going elsewhere.

University of Denver head coach David Carle was believed to be the team's preferred choice, but he withdrew his name from consideration. It was a huge blow, but one that would have easily been forgotten had the team hired Mike Sullivan.

While it is impressive that Carle has won National Championships and the World Juniors, Sullivan has won the Stanley Cup twice.

That is why it would have been great for the Blackhawks to lure back one of their former player development coaches to develop Connor Bedard into an icon.

Instead, there is a report that Sullivan will soon be heading to New York to coach the Rangers.

USA Today's Rangers beat writer Vince Z. Mercogliano is reporting that a deal is getting close to being completed for Sullivan to be the team's next head coach.

It was going to be hard for the Blackhawks to beat out the Rangers and the Boston Bruins given those two fellow Original Six teams had stronger ties to Sullivan.

Plus, the Rangers are closer to getting back into the playoffs than the Blackhawks. The Rangers did win the Presidents' Trophy last season. While there was regression last season, there is still plenty of talent to at least get back into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The hope for the Blackhawks next season is that they win just enough games to no longer finish dead last in the Central Division. You can excuse Sullivan for going with the Rangers over the Blackhawks.

Still, Sullivan would have been the ideal head coach to lead the Hawks through the remaining days of the rebuild and then hopefully toward winning a Stanley Cup.

He has coached some of the best in the game in Pittsburgh and having that experience would have gone a long way toward making the baby Blackhawks winners.

Instead, it sounds like the Blackhawks will have to pivot to option three in their head coaching search. That adds to the disappointment of Carle's rejection.