Blackhawks Sticking With Blashill & Staff Despite Disastrous Start

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson is scheduled to speak with the media Wednesday afternoon, but isn’t expected to discuss any changes involving Jeff Blashill and the coaching staff.

According to team sources, Blashill will remain the Blackhawks head coach despite a disastrous 4-13-1 start to the 2026-27 regular season, with the club currently riding a six-game losing streak. Assistant coaches Anders Sorensen, Michael Peca, and Mike Vellucci are also safe for now.

The Blackhawks have fallen remarkably short of the preseason expectations through 18 games, with only four wins and the NHL’s second-worst points percentage. With hopes of at least competing for a Stanley Cup Playoff spot in Year 5 of Davidson’s rebuild, being ranked towards the bottom of the league in every major statistical category is beyond disappointing.

Goals scored per game? They’re 31st among 32 teams. Goals against per game? 31st. Shots on goal per game? 31st. 5v5 shot attempts per game? Dead-last.

And it’s not just the numbers suggesting the Blackhawks have been downright terrible. The eye test backs it up plenty, with TNT analyst Paul Bissonnette hitting the nail on the head last Wednesday while breaking down the tape against the Florida Panthers.

Bissonnette blasted the Blackhawks on national television, calling them a “soft” team and describing their timid brand of hockey as “Mickey Mouse” and “AHL-level”. The former NHL enforcer told no lies, with the standard set far too low for Chicago.

Then, just four nights later, the Blackhawks were embarrassed once again, getting pounded 9-2 by the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night en route to a sixth straight loss. It also marked the team’s ninth consecutive road loss to start the season, with a 0-8-1 record.

The debacle in Carolina capped off a 0-3-0 Southeast road trip, with the Hawks getting outscored 18-6. Now back in Chicago with four days off before returning to action, the timing seemed right for Davidson and/or chairman Danny Wirtz to make a significant change, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Ultimately, the Blackhawks elected not to go that route with Blashill right now, although it seems inevitable eventually, barring a drastic turnaround.

Instead, the coaching staff and management reportedly got together on Sunday to discuss potential adjustments and changes moving forward. Some of those changes could become clearer when the team returns to the ice for practice on Monday morning.

One has already been revealed, as backup goaltender Arvid Soderblom was placed on waivers Sunday. The Blackhawks later recalled Drew Commesso from the Rockford IceHogs, signaling a new No. 2 netminder behind Spencer Knight.

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