What should the Chicago Blackhawks expect from second-time NHL head coach Jeff Blashill?

How does one get hired as an NHL head coach?

Well, often a prerequisite for the job is having been a head coach in the league already. Of the league’s 32 teams, over half are led by coaches who have previously run an NHL bench. For better or worse, Chicago Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill is part of that group.

Many Blackhawks fans have expressed consternation over the fact that Blashill only led the Detroit Red Wings to the playoffs once in seven full seasons with the club. 

Can Blackhawks fans expect improvement from the second-time NHL bench boss? 

Let’s take a look at current second-time head coaches to predict how Blashill might fare in the Windy City.

Dean Evason, Columbus Blue Jackets

Evason was a solid leader for the Minnesota Wild, qualifying for the playoffs in every full year of his tenure in the State of Hockey. In his new post in Columbus, Evason outperformed expectations, finishing fourth in the Metropolitan Division, missing the playoffs by just two points.

Sheldon Keefe, New Jersey Devils

Keefe helped the Toronto Maple Leafs win their first playoff round in 19 years in 2023, but lost his job after dropping an all-too-familiar Game 7 to Boston in 2024. In his first year in New Jersey, his team finished third in the Metro and bowed out in the first round to a deep Carolina squad.

Patrick Roy, New York Islanders

The fiery Hall of Fame goaltender made the playoffs once in his first NHL gig with Colorado. He is one for two on playoff appearances with the Islanders, but it would not be surprising to see him let go if the Islanders struggle again next season.

Travis Green, Ottawa Senators

Green led the Vancouver Canucks to a short but surprising playoff run in the 2020 bubble, but other than that his time in British Columbia’s most populous city was unremarkable. After a 21-game stint as the Devils' interim coach, Green guided the Senators to their first playoff berth since 2017 this past year.

Andrew Brunette, Nashville Predators

We’re counting Brunette as a second-time coach for this exercise, as he was the Florida Panthers' interim coach for 75 of 82 games in 2021-2022. He was shockingly fired and replaced by Paul Maurice after that one season, even though his team won 51 games and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. He led the Predators to the playoffs in 2023-2024, but the Predators underperformed mightily this past season under his watch.

Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets

After a one-and-a-half year run as head coach in Columbus, Arniel had to wait over 10 years for his next opportunity to run an NHL bench. His patience was rewarded, as the Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024-2025, his first with the team. Though Winnipeg bowed out in the second round to Dallas, the future looks bright in the NHL’s smallest market.

What does this mean for Blashill and the Blackhawks?

As the evidence shows, second-time head coaches tend to fare much better with their new teams. Should Hawks fans expect the team to make the playoffs next season? That’s probably not fair to Blashill. But, if he has a seven-year tenure in Chicago like he did in Detroit, it’s probably a safe bet that the Hawks qualify for the big dance more than once.