The Chicago Blackhawks are staying the course behind the bench, at least for now.
Despite a rough 4-13-1 start and a season that has gone in the wrong direction, the team is not planning a coaching change at this time. Jeff Blashill will continue as head coach as the Blackhawks head into a long week of practice.
That decision comes with the club sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings and well short of the expectations that surrounded the team entering the season. Instead of taking a step forward, Chicago has slipped further behind.
On Sunday, the organization made it clear that Blashill’s job is safe for the moment. Things could still change later, but for now he remains behind the bench.
General manager Kyle Davidson is away at the NHL’s GM meeting and is expected back Wednesday, when he will speak with the media for the first time since the season began. That session should bring answers on a number of the issues that have helped drag the Blackhawks down to a winning percentage below .300.
Blashill has now coached 100 games for Chicago and owns a 33-52-15 record. Over that stretch, the Blackhawks have posted the worst goals-for rate per game and rank in the bottom five in goals against per game. It’s been a mess on both ends.
The blame doesn’t sit in one place. The roster has not been strong enough, and the systems have not fit the group well enough. Both the personnel and the structure have played a part in where this team stands.
For now, though, no change is coming behind the bench this week. That does not mean the door is closed for the rest of the season. It just means the Blackhawks are not making that move yet.
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