Sorensen and Peca highlight Jeff Blashill's Blackhawks coaching staff

The Chicago Blackhawks 2025-26 coaching staff is starting to take shape, with the team "very close to finalizing" the group, according to new head coach Jeff Blashill.

During Blashill's introductory press conference on Tuesday, he addressed the state of his upcoming coaching staff.

Jeff Blashill addresses his coaching staff with the Chicago Blackhawks.

"We are very close to finalizing it but we have completed two of the assistants," Blashill said.

Blashill said the team will keep Anders Sorensen on as an assistant head coach, additionally the organization has brought in Michael Peca.

"I've known [Anders Sorensen] for a long, long time," Blashill said. "I have tons of belief in him, as a coach, as a person. I think he's a great fit to help guide our young players. He's got relationships with a number of guys, which I think is important to keep some continuity on the staff."

Since Sorensen was named interim head coach in December, the Blackhawks were 17-30-9. When Kyle Davidson and the Blackhawks began their coaching search, Davidson said Sorensen was a candidate for the head coaching job.

While Sorensen is not the head coach, he will stay on with the team, and Blashill seemed excited about what he brings to the team.

"Again, just the belief I have in him," said Blashil. "I think he's very, very smart, very, very calm, and I've learned a lot from him over the years in different coaching settings."

Peca has most recently served as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers under Peter Laviolette. Peca was a second round pick in the 1992 NHL Draft to the Vancouver Canucks.

Over the course of his career, he played in 864 NHL games with a handful of different teams. Peca won two selke trophies over his career, one with the Buffalo Sabres and one with the New York Islanders.

Blashill seemed excited about what the former forward could bring to the Blackhawks.

"I think both from his coaching experience and his playing experience," Blashill said, "he can really help mold all our players, but particularly our forwards and help them find their best games as we try to guide them to being the best winners they can be."

With so many young forwards in the organization like Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Oliver Moore to name a few, the Blackhawks definitely could benefit from someone like Peca on the staff helping to teach a good two-way game.

Jimmy Waite will also stay on as the goaltending coach, a position he has held since 2014.

Blashill said the team is close to hiring a third assistant coach.