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May 10, 2022, 4:17 AM ET [80 Comments]
Theo Fox
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT

The biggest announcement on Monday wasn't one that directly occurred as part of the Blackhawks news cycle. Veteran bench boss Barry Trotz was essentially fired by the Islanders yesterday and will be a hot commodity by teams seeking a new head coach. The Hawks are one such team.

However, the primary question is whether Chicago would even be of interest for Trotz to consider as his next coaching destination. Trotz is known for structure, discipline, and defense -- all of which the Hawks need in immense abundance to reemerge as a powerhouse.

In a recent interview by Scott Powers and Mark Lazerus from the Athletic, general manager Kyle Davidson discussed how management is developing a hiring profile first to help them hone in on ideal candidates for the head coaching position that Derek King filled as an interim.

Hiring profiles are quite common for managerial positions -- particularly those high up on the food chain of an organization -- and are a fixture for how search firms help companies and businesses not only recruit a viable pool of candidates but narrow the list down to finalists.

While the merits of Trotz or King or any other candidate can and will be debated, a hiring profile will serve Davidson and his staff well as they progress through the steps. A critical part of the process is to engage stakeholders in building that profile so as many voices are heard.

With that in mind, this is where input from the players can provide valuable insight. The older players have played for multiple coaches at the NHL level so they can share what works and what doesn't as far as preparing the team between games and managing the team within a game.

The youngsters can also share perspectives in terms of what they need to best develop individually and collectively. These thoughts, opinions, and observations don't need to be earth shattering either. The simplest of commentary and feedback can go a long way for their growth.

One thing to point out is Davidson did state that he has no interest in hiring a coach who is sufficient for now or for the first phase of the rebuild. Instead, he's looking for a coach who can lead the team through the rebuild and into dominance again towards Cup contention.

Another type of profile that can serve the Blackhawks well is for the entry draft. In other words, a draft profile can guide Davidson and the scouting department with creating their wish list of who to take in each round by identifying who the "best player available" is at each selection slot.

According to Davidson in his interview with Powers and Lazerus, there are two specific profile qualities that the Hawks are prioritizing: one is compete level and the other is speed. These qualities could also be part of the profile for free agent and trade targets, too.

While most draft prospects should possess these qualities, it's also fine to take a chance on "high risk, high reward" players once in a while who may be deficient in one or both qualities. Regardless, what makes a profile a powerful tool is that it keeps the team focused on a vision.

And for Davidson, so far he has remained resolute with his vision by staying in one lane rather than swerving like his predecessor.


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Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, NBC Sports Chicago, The Athletic Chicago

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