Jeff Blashill needs to be fired after another brutal outing by the Blackhawks

The day is October 1, 2026, and the Chicago Blackhawks get utterly dominated yet again. But even worse than they did in Vegas, which is saying a lot. Horrible defensive structure, an inability to complete a play that a peewee player would have been able to, zero effort, and zero pushback were the main issues this time. This team has been rebuilding for five years now, but this is by far the worst game I have watched in that span. Despite the moves Kyle Davidson made in an attempt to make the Blackhawks look better on paper, they are somehow even worse.

The issues on this night began with the lack of systematic success. You cannot play an ultra-aggressive neutral zone system when you can't even defend in a normal system. I get it; the Blackhawks are fast and known for their transition game (which ended with, I think, three posts in the third period against Utah), but that opened them up to high-danger chances against. Sam Rinzel and Artyom Levshunov both showed they are not NHL-ready yet and should go to Rockford for an extended period to build their confidence back. Rinzel specifically had a horrible game, making miscue after miscue and whiffing on a breakout pass that ended up in the back of his net.

Jeff Blashill needs to go

I have said this since he was hired: This is not the guy. He stifled the talents of the young forwards to the point where they are just mediocre on both offense and defense. The Blackhawks had one of the highest prospect pools since Connor Bedard was drafted, but this team has no superstar-quality talent at either position (outside of Bedard). This is due to horrible development and planning by the management. Rinzel had a ton of promise, but keeping him in the NHL destroyed his potential; same with Kevin Korchinski.

The system clearly doesn't work, either. Being outshot 25-9 into the second period is unforgivable. Arvid Soderblom and Spencer Knight both deserve 10 million salaries if this continues, they're the only bright spots on the team. Michael Peca (insane penalty kill), Jimmy Waite (goaltending is the only solid position the team has had), and Matt Meachum (video) should be the only coaches remaining in December.

This team has been stagnant, and NONE of the young players have displayed any improvement. They have all regressed entirely, each playing the same type of hockey with no energy and no desire to win. Take Nick Lardis for example; he was touted as a top-six sniper. Frank Nazar was expected to be a 55-60 point producer behind Bedard. Korchinski was expected to be the Blackhawks' Shea Theodore, and Levshunov was expected to be the elite two-way defenseman the team needed. Fast forward to 2026. There is nothing about these players that makes me believe anything close to their early predictions.

The Blackhawks need a change, and fast. Blashill needs to go, and the front office should consider bringing in Gerard Gallant and firing Kyle Davidson after a botched rebuild where he stressed "patience" and said that the "patience will be worth it." Welp, three years into Bedard, and this is not worth it.

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