This is likely to be probably the most vital offseasons for the Chicago Blackhawks in fairly a while. After ending thirty first within the league for the second season in a row, some completely different decisions have to be made. It’s true that rebuilding takes time, however the group was adamant final season that the development from dangerous to raised was going to occur. Taking a look at it purely from a rankings standpoint, that wasn’t the case.
This offseason, the 2025 NHL Entry Draft is looming, the place the Blackhawks have the third general choice and 9 complete picks, together with 4 within the first two rounds. However the draft is extra about implications for the longer term. Extra instantly, we all know the group must lure some profitable free brokers to Chicago to enhance their youth motion. However probably the most vital selections will probably be figuring out a head coach.
This brings me to the latest growth that final season’s interim head coach, Anders Sorensen, is likely to be extra of a respectable candidate than we first suspected. Let’s delve into this, and what the professionals and cons is likely to be for Sorensen persevering with as head coach.
Sorensen’s Inventory Has Risen
On CHSN’s The Chicago Lead present on Could 7, Blackhawks’ pre-game and post-game host Pat Boyle mentioned the teaching state of affairs. To start out, we now know David Carle determined to remain at Denver College, whereas Mike Sullivan signed on with the New York Rangers. These had been arguably the highest two candidates for the Blackhawks’ job. Boyle spoke of some different candidates, after which introduced up Sorensen’s identify.
“It is someone who has to determine with younger gamers, who’s sturdy within the growth class, however can be accountable together with his gamers.”@PatBoyle__ joined The Chicago Result in give the most recent on the #Blackhawks teaching search: pic.twitter.com/wj5HSVNAYp
— Blackhawks on CHSN (@CHSN_Blackhawks) Could 7, 2025
When the season ended I, for one, didn’t count on Sorensen to be in severe consideration for the job. I assumed common supervisor Kyle Davidson was simply giving the suitable lip service to the state of affairs earlier than letting him down simple. Davidson did, nevertheless, say Sorensen can be staying with the group in some capability; exhibiting the Blackhawks worth Sorensen’s contributions.
However as Boyle refers to, now that the highest two candidates are out of the image, Sorensen’s inventory has risen. Does this simply imply the Blackhawks are settling for Sorensen with restricted different choices? Even with that being the case, ought to they be hiring another person only for the sake of creating a change? Earlier than we come to any knee-jerk conclusions, let’s try and objectively study a number of the execs and cons of Sorensen staying on as head coach.
Execs of Sorensen Staying as Head Coach
Let’s begin with some positives we already know from Sorensen teaching final season. He joined the workforce on Dec. 6 and was behind the bench by 56 video games.
Improvement of Younger Gamers
Within the above clip, Boyle mentions that the Blackhawks’ head coach, whoever it could be, ought to have the flexibility to work with and develop younger gamers. We already know Sorensen has achieved simply that in Rockford when he was the pinnacle coach of the IceHogs. As a matter of truth, he was the pinnacle coach in Rockford from 2018-2025, and served as a growth coach earlier than that, beginning in 2014. Sorensen additionally coached the Chicago Mission, an elite Tier 1 junior hockey program, the place he labored with gamers resembling Ryan Hartman, Vinnie Hinostroza and Nick Schmaltz earlier than they entered the NHL. (from ‘IceHogs interim coach Anders Sorensen is pairing growth and successful for Blackhawks prospects’, The AthleticCHI – 5/12/2022)
A latest instance of constructive growth is defenseman Alex Vlasic. Vlasic ripened with the IceHogs for one full season, enjoying tons of minutes and in all conditions. When he did be part of the Blackhawks as an on a regular basis participant within the 2023-24 season, he was in a very good place and thrived straight away. Vlasic’s growth was overseen by Sorensen.
One other extra fast success story is Frank Nazar. The 21-year-old didn’t have the perfect coaching camp forward of the 2024-25 season, so he began out in Rockford. Beneath the tutelage of Sorensen, Nazar flourished, posting 11 objectives and 24 factors in 21 video games to earn a name as much as Chicago (the place Sorensen had preceded him). I feel we will all agree Nazar was top-of-the-line success tales to return out of this previous season. It took him some time to seek out his stride, however he ended the marketing campaign on a excessive observe, with 5 objectives and 9 factors within the final eight video games.
Plus, quite a few gamers spoke extremely of Sorensen of their exit interviews. Connor Bedard stated that they had actually constructive one-on-one conversations. Nazar indicated Sorensen “helped a ton” with video and dialogue on how you can be extra predictable in his play. Captain Nick Foligno credited Sorensen as being a “nice communicator” and someone that “made us higher as a workforce.”
A lot of Adversity Already Over
It wasn’t a simple state of affairs that Sorensen walked into. He began in the midst of the season, inheriting a shedding report and a discouraged roster. He needed to implement new concepts and tweak techniques slowly, attempting to eradicate dangerous habits whereas nonetheless retaining morale up.
We don’t know the total story, nevertheless it seems there was some underlying rigidity within the locker room. Gamers resembling Seth Jones and Taylor Corridor, who had been alleged to be leaders and mentors, didn’t actually need to be there. We all know that a lot now that they had been dealt to different franchises.
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If Sorenson had been to stay as head coach, he would have a full coaching camp to implement his techniques. He’s already a recognized entity with the gamers, so that they wouldn’t be ranging from scratch. Hopefully, they may proceed their momentum from their success on the finish of the season (4-1-1 of their closing six video games).
Plus, let’s keep in mind this was all new to Sorensen final season as properly. He now has 56 NHL video games below his belt. I’m positive he’s realized rather a lot, and would probably have a distinct method to issues shifting ahead. He’s most definitely now extra conversant in all of the nuances of the NHL, in addition to having a greater familiarity with the strengths and weaknesses of opposing groups. Perhaps subsequent season he is aware of when to problem the referees. Would he have the choice to choose completely different assistant coaches; ones of his selecting? Properly, we don’t know that for positive (or if Sorensen would need to), nevertheless it may very well be an element.
Sorensen a Good Quick-Time period Repair?
There’s additionally the argument for retaining Sorensen within the short-term, to proceed what he’s began and preserve the event of the plethora of younger gamers on the workforce. He can be a placeholder of kinds, till a coach extra skilled with successful on the NHL stage turned obtainable.
In any case, maybe David Carle is able to make the bounce to the NHL subsequent yr, or the yr after that. Perhaps Jon Cooper and the Tampa Bay Lightning are able to half methods down the highway. These are simply two examples of many various situations that would transpire; however you get the concept. This goes together with not simply making a change for the sake of creating a change. Stick to the established order till a extra fascinating state of affairs presents itself.
Cons of Sorensen Staying as Head Coach
All proper, let’s get to the cons. As a result of for those who’ve gotten this far into this text, I do know you have got loads of arguments on the contrary of what I’ve stated above! Why would Sorensen NOT be a good selection to remain on as the pinnacle coach of the Blackhawks? Let’s focus on.
Sorensen Has Restricted NHL Expertise
It’s true, Sorensen by no means performed within the NHL and he’s solely coached 56 video games within the league to date. Granted, I did level out above that he’s had a while to acclimate, so this expertise may very well be useful sooner or later. However its nonetheless solely 56 video games, and never even one full season.
A coach who’s been round for a few years would undoubtedly be an asset. An skilled coach might bounce proper in with their earlier data in regards to the tendencies of the opponent, the referees and all of the completely different matchups. They’d be capable of instantly modify for the quicker tempo, velocity and energy that comes with gamers within the NHL, giving the Blackhawks a leg up that Sorensen most likely can’t present proper now.
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Clearly, a coach with some successful expertise can be an enormous constructive as properly. The long run purpose for the Blackhawks is to make it to the postseason. When you get there you want a coach that is aware of how you can win in that heightened atmosphere. Somebody with expertise in matching up and adjusting their lineups accordingly.
Sorensen’s lack of expertise with all the above would undoubtedly be a cause to seek out somebody who does have that have. It might definitely give the Blackhawks a lift in taking it to the following stage.
Lack of Ardour From Sorensen
This was an enormous criticism among the many fan base at quite a few occasions this season. When the referees made a questionable name that appeared unfair in the direction of Chicago, Sorensen all the time simply accepted it. He by no means caught up for his gamers by difficult the refs. Gamers definitely need to know that their coach has their again, and it didn’t seem Sorensen was keen to place himself out of a limb for them. I’m positive that will need to have been irritating and demoralizing for the gamers.
We as followers & the media may not be too thrilled with Sorensen’s mild-mannered persona. Does a head coach simply want that innate ardour to achieve success? If Sorensen does proceed as the pinnacle coach of the Blackhawks, he would wish to discover ways to arise for the workforce extra in sure conditions.
Holding Gamers Accountable?
As talked about above, the gamers gave Sorensen constructive evaluations of their exit interviews. However we nonetheless don’t actually have a pulse on whether or not the Swedish bench boss can maintain his gamers accountable.
When the Blackhawks performed badly, Sorensen all the time appeared to present platitudes about what they did proper. Which is a constructive attribute; don’t get me fallacious! Teaching must be about specializing in the great greater than the dangerous.
However typically the dangerous must be known as out and addressed. Did Sorensen do that sufficient, or did he simply gloss over it? Did he give excuses for his gamers as a substitute? There’s a effective line between being the great man and the dangerous man, and discovering a option to push the appropriate buttons for each participant to succeed in their potential. Does Sorensen have what it takes to do this?
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I’m truthfully unsure whether or not Sorensen can be a good selection as head coach subsequent season. And naturally, all of it revolves round who else is on the market, and the way a lot they’re enthusiastic about what’s happening in Chicago. However we must always all brace ourselves for the likelihood that Sorensen might stay as the pinnacle coach. And to just accept which may not be such a foul factor, at the very least within the short-term.
