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Assistant coaches named to Jeff Blashill's coaching staff include longtime NHL captain Michael Peca
Photo credit: NHL
A former longtime NHL captain will officially join the Chicago Blackhawks as an assistant coach to Jeff Blashill.
The Chicago Blackhawks finally confirmed that they hired Jeff Blashill as their next head coach earlier today after weeks of searching.
The organization announced the news in an official press release:
"Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson announced today that Jeff Blashill has been named the 42nd head coach in franchise history. Blashill joins the organization after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
'Jeff is an incredibly smart and talented coach who boasts more than 25 years of coaching experience across developmental leagues, the NHL, and the world stage. He's thrived when in a position to develop young players and has shown he's capable of blending that into overall team success, a vision and philosophy we share for where we are today and where we see our team in the future. We couldn't be more excited for what's to come under Jeff's direction.'"
'Jeff is an incredibly smart and talented coach who boasts more than 25 years of coaching experience across developmental leagues, the NHL, and the world stage. He's thrived when in a position to develop young players and has shown he's capable of blending that into overall team success, a vision and philosophy we share for where we are today and where we see our team in the future. We couldn't be more excited for what's to come under Jeff's direction.'"
With the head coach now hired, the team also announced that a former NHL captain will join the team as an assistant coach.
Indeed, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta revealed that Michael Peca will join the team as Blashill's assistant:
Pagnotta also revealed that Mike Vellucci from the Pittsburgh Penguins was also in the running:
Peca was drafted 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 1992 and took part in 864 NHL games in his career for the Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
He was the captain of the Sabres between 1997 and 2000, and the Islanders between 2001 and 2004.
More recently, he worked in New York as the Rangers' assistant coach.
It'll be interesting to see what he'll bring to the table in Chicago alongside Blashill.
Stay tuned for more.
| POLL | ||
MAI 22 | 430 ANSWERS Assistant coaches named to Jeff Blashill's coaching staff include longtime NHL captain Michael Peca Do you think the Chicago Blackhawks will reach the playoffs in the next three years? | ||
| Yes | 288 | 67 % |
| No | 142 | 33 % |
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