HawkTalkChi

As the Blackhawks look to reset after another difficult season, they’ve cut ties with strength coach Paul Goodman and are weighing Jeff Blashill as a top candidate for head coach.

A trusted voice from the Cup era is out in Chicago

The Chicago Blackhawks have quietly closed the door on another chapter of their championship past.

Paul Goodman, who had served as the team’s strength and conditioning coach since 2008, is no longer with the organization.

The move was first reported by The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus and Scott Powers, who confirmed the long-serving staffer and the team had officially split.

The Blackhawks and longtime strength and conditioning coach Paul Goodman recently parted ways.

Goodman had been one of the Blackhawks’ longest-tenured employees.

He had been with the Blackhawks since 2008.

Goodman’s role may have flown under the radar compared to the players and coaches who hoisted the Stanley Cup, but his presence was felt across the locker room for more than a decade.

He was a mainstay during the team’s three-title run, earning the trust of stars and staff alike. His departure, while not flashy, is another marker of the sweeping reset underway in Chicago.

The change hasn’t sat well with everyone. Fans online expressed frustration and nostalgia, noting how few connections to the team’s dynastic years remain.

For some, Goodman represented consistency in an organization now shifting on nearly every front.

Blashill in serious consideration as coaching decision nears

As the front office moves forward, they’re still in the thick of their head coaching search—and Jeff Blashill is drawing legitimate interest.

Blashill, who spent seven seasons coaching the Detroit Red Wings, is believed to be a top candidate to replace Luke Richardson.

While his time in Detroit was rocky, Chicago’s brass appears open to giving him a second look, especially after his stint under Jon Cooper in Tampa Bay.

In that same report, Lazerus and Powers quoted The Athletic’s coaching analyst, Shayna Goldman, who offered a realistic assessment of Blashill’s résumé.

It’s hard to say because the roster he had to work with in Detroit was brutal. He was in Detroit for a long time and has so little to show for it, so it’s tough.

But there are a lot of head coaches who had crappy first gos and improved in their second stint. Scott Arniel and Mike Sullivan both come to mind.

Blashill has taken on a quieter but strategic role with the Lightning since his Detroit exit. That experience may prove valuable if he’s given another shot.

Hopefully, he learned something from Cooper. He did a pretty good job with the penalty kill there.

I think having that space between HC gigs can give someone a lot of perspective, especially if they’re watching what does work in this league, versus getting a new job five seconds after getting fired. That could be the key here – how much has he learned in a different role on what it takes to successfully coach in this league?

Open positions expected to be filled before development camp 

While the coaching hire is priority number one, the departure of Paul Goodman now leaves the Blackhawks with another important decision to make off the ice.

Sources suggest the front office wants both roles—head coach and strength coach—filled before development camp begins.

After three consecutive seasons near the bottom of the standings, there’s a sense within the organization that time is running out to get this rebuild on the right track.

From the locker room to the gym, Chicago’s leadership seems focused on building a new foundation from the ground up.

Goodman’s exit and Blashill’s potential arrival signal one thing clearly: the Blackhawks are done tinkering around the edges.

This is the start of a full reset, and nothing is off the table.