The Chicago Blackhawks have not had the start of their season they hoped for. With many young players on the roster, several additions from the offseason and a new captain, the team and its fans had high hopes for the playoffs. However, the Blackhawks are currently towards the bottom of the NHL standings, with a 4-13-1 record, having yet to win an away game.
Despite the team’s disappointing start to the season, general manager Kyle Davidson affirmed Wednesday that head coach Jeff Blashill is not going anywhere.
Chicago has lost six consecutive games and nine of its last 10. On Saturday night, the Blackhawks fell 9-2 to the Carolina Hurricanes to end a difficult three-game road trip.
After rumors that meetings were happening involving the coaching staff, hockey operations, and management, Davidson addressed the media Wednesday, stating his confidence in Blashill. “Simply put, we haven’t been good enough,” Davidson said to the Chicago Tribune. “This isn’t what we told our fans to expect, and I take responsibility. I’m not going to make any excuses.”
Davidson added that he has no plans to seek a new head coach anytime soon.
“Blash is our head coach,” Davidson said. “I have full confidence in him. The players believe in him. He’s made them better.”
Blashill is currently in his second season coaching the team, with a 33-52-15 record through his first 100 games with the organization. The Blackhawks ended last season with a 29-39-14 record, missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.
Chicago has struggled on the defensive side this season, especially allowing four goals per game, ranking among one of the worst teams in the NHL for the category.
Davidson noted that these defensive shortcomings are a reason behind the team’s less than stellar start to the season. He added that former NHL defenseman Mark Eaton will join the coaching staff starting Monday.
Eaton previously acted as Chicago’s assistant general manager of player development and in his new role will work with the team’s defenseman in hopes of strengthening the defense as a whole.
While the defense is clearly an issue, Chicago’s offense has also been inconsistent. Their young offensive core is led by Connor Bedard, who entered the season with a new role that came with more expectations.
On Sept. 15, the Blackhawks officially named Bedard as the 37th captain in franchise history. At 21 years old, Bedard became the second-youngest captain in team history, behind Jonathan Toews, who was 20 when he received the “C” back in 2008.
Bedard was the first overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft and the start of the rebuilding process. He has quickly become a fan favorite in the franchise and the player in the organization that the team has built their future around.
He replaced Nick Foligo, who served as captain before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in March. Patrick Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi were named alternative captains as well.
During the 2025-26 season, Bedard recorded a career high of 30 goals, 45 assists, and 75 points across 69 games. He missed the first six games of the season while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Despite his return, the Blackhawks have continued to struggle offensively as they hope to turn the season around.
Still, Bedard has publicly expressed his support in Blashill amid the team’s difficult start.
“Yeah, 100 percent belief,” Bedard said. “I think he gives us a great game plan and super easy to talk to, really, you really know his message. He and the whole coaching staff are doing a great job.”
Chicago’s decision to maintain their trust in Blashill is contrary to an organization that made a significant coaching change last season.
The Vegas Golden Knights dismissed Bruce Cassidy from head coach duties on March 29, 2026, replacing him with veteran coach John Tortoerlla with just eight games remaining in the regular season.
The move was surprising considering Cassidy had led Vegas to its first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history in 2023. However, Vegas believed a change was necessary after the team fell from first to third in the Pacific Division and were in danger of falling out of the playoffs.
However, the difference between Vegas and Chicago is significant. While the Golden Knights were willing to move on from a Stanley Cup-winning coach to hopefully save a disappointing season, the Blackhawks are choosing to stay with a coach who has yet to establish a winning record in Chicago.
For now, the Blackhawks will keep Blashill behind the bench as they look to establish more consistency on the ice. With a young roster and a lot of games left to be played, Chicago will need to show improvement quickly if it hopes to turn the season around.