The Daily: Why ‘Hawks Like Blashill; Rudy Streak Over

Multiple reports say former Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill is on the short list of candidates for the vacant Chicago Blackhawks head coaching job. 

The Blackhawks like Blashill’s defensive style and his history of working with younger players. Before his coaching stint in Detroit, Blashill coached the Grand Rapids Griffins to an AHL championship. Several players off that team, including Tyler Bertuzzi, Luke Glendening, Tomas Tatar, Anthony Mantha, Petr Mrazek and Gustav, developed into NHLers.

Frank Seravalli was the first to report Blashill interviewed for the Blackhawks job on Thursday’s Daily Faceoff podcast.

“He has proven he can win with young players while helping them reach their full potential,” Chicago Hockey Now’s Greg Boysen wrote. “That is a very attractive trait for (for Chicago GM Kyle) Davidson and the Blackhawks.”

It’s unknown exactly where Blashill, now a Tampa Bay assistant, ranks among the Chicago candidates. This is an ongoing process. But Blashill’s name is trending in connection to this job.

After David Carle opted to stay at Denver and the Rangers opted for New York, the Blackhawks job looked like a wide open process.

“After those two candidates, general manager Kyle Davidson had a long list of candidates to choose from,” Boysen wrote. “There were no immediate home runs on the list, but there were a handful of off-the-wall doubles. Blashill falls into the category. He isn’t going to be a hire that draws a ton of immediate buzz from the fan base, but he could turn out to be a very solid addition. Let’s face it, after Carle withdrew his name from consideration, the fan base would complain about whoever got the job. It’s the nature of the beast.”

Rudy Part II

Red Wings goaltending prospect Rudy Guimond’s winning streak was halted at 24 games Thursday by Rimouski’s 5-1 win in Game 4 of the QMJHL Championship series.

But Guimond’s Moncton Wildcats, leading 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, will get another chance to wrap up the series tonight in Moncton.

Guimond was 16-0 in the regular season and 8-0 in the playoffs when the Rimouski Oceanic touched him for three goals in the first eight shots he faced Thursday. He was replaced in net by Mathis Rousseau, who has been alternating with Guimond. The Wildcats put Guimond back in the goal in the third period. But the game had already been decided.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Marco Kasper scored a pair of goals in Austria’s big win against France at the World Championships.

The Los Angeles Kings hired Ken Holland as general manager because they believe his experience will help him find the missing pieces that will put the team over the top.

Simon Edvinsson hasn’t gotten over the Red Wings not making the playoffs. That’s probably a good thing for the organization.

Red Wings Extra

Former Detroit Red Wings player Sam Gagner has retired and accepted a position with the Ottawa Senators as director of player development.  Gagner, 35, played 1,043 games and 129 of those came with the Red Wings from 2020-22.

Hockey Now Network

Colorado: Aarif Deen explains what to make of Artturi Lehkonen’s season for the Colorado Avalanche. 

Florida: The Panthers path to a repeat is now more difficult. Maple Leafs force a Game 7 in Toronto. Florida Panthers. 

Montreal: Marc Dumont offers a summer shopping list for the Montreal Canadiens. 

Pittsburgh: PHN offers a complete list of coaches linked to the Penguins’ vacant head coaching job. Pittsburgh Penguins.