NHL Rumors: Blackhawks & Kraken Battling It Out For Same Head Coaching Candidate

The Blackhawks & Kraken are facing off against each other for Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill to fill their head coaching vacancy

The Chicago Blackhawks and Seattle Kraken have both lost out on at least one of their top coaching targets thus far, and now both are said to be battling it out for the same head coaching candidate.

Per the insiders at The Fourth Period, Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill "appears to be atop both of their lists." He is believed to have already interviewed for both vacancies, in Chicago and Seattle.

In fact, going one step further, ESPN's John Buccigross seems to be hinting that Blashill is almost a certainty for the Blackhawks' job behind the bench:

Pretty good indication that Blashill to Chicago is happening... https://t.co/nbeTeKs7Fj
— SasquatchNHL (@SasquatchNHL) May 16, 2025

That post was three days ago, and nothing's happened yet, so perhaps the Kraken are still making their moves on him. Insider Elliotte Friedman also heard before the weekend that the Chicago job was Blashill's, but has backtracked a bit on Monday to say only that he's a "serious contender".

Blashill coached the Detroit Red Wings for seven years, from 2015 through 2022, and had a .447 winning percentage with them (204-261-72). But Buccigross doesn't think that will turn off his suitors.

Yes. Jeff Blashill has excellent energy, command, and experience. Got the Red Wings job at the WORST time. Everywhere else he's coached he's improved the environment. Won Championship in USHL and AHL. He's smart, self aware and runs a good practice. This is a sweet spot hire for… https://t.co/HT3RFMTu3D
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) May 16, 2025

He says it was just bad timing for Blashill with the Detroit job right in the heart of a rebuild. The 51-year-old works well with developing young players (and we know that the Hawks have plenty of those), and Buccigross adds that Blashill has "excellent energy, command, and experience," while having AHL and USHL championships on his resume.

The Blackhawks originally had college coach David Carle of the University of Denver as their top target, and are said to have offered him a huge contract, but he turned them down, and ultimately decided to stay at UD. The Kraken were said to be involved in the chase for Rick Tocchet but he has since signed on with the Flyers.