One week to the day after officially hiring Jeff Blashill to be the head coach, the Hawks made another important hire.
It was announced on Thursday that Jared Nightingale would be the new head coach of the Rockford IceHogs. Assistant coaches Rob Klinkhammer and Josh MacNevin will remain with the club under Nightingale. Before last season, Nightingale was an IceHogs assistant coach from 2021 to 2024. He was also the team captain as a player during the 2013-14 season.
During this past season, Nightingale was the Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the South Carolina Stingrays during the 2024-25 season. The team went 52-15-5 which was the ECHL’s best record. For his efforts, Nightingale won the John Brophy Award as the ECHL Coach of the Year.
Bringing Nightingale back to the organization following a successful year gaining some experience as the bench boss in the ECHL should be a wise move for Kyle Davidson and his staff.
Mark Eaton, who replaced Sorensen when he was brought up to be the Hawks’ interim head coach, will return to his role as the Assistant GM, Player Development. Down the stretch, he did a great job leading the young IceHogs during a Calder Cup Playoff run that saw them lose a winner-take-all Game Five of the second round.
LFG !!!!!!
I am all in with the coaches Hawks signed lately .
First Blashill is the kind of coach who love 💕 the challenge to form a new super team and he knows the plan .
2 I also love the Peca -Vellucci duo with a nice Experience.
3 who said DeBoar was interested in coaching kids with no NHL experience for another 2 – years before being a playoff contender ?
Would he sign with a rebuilding team ??
Off course i like the coache but not at this time of the rebuild
Timing is everything and now its not the time to fall for a quicker rebuild because most of the kids that we pick last 2-3 years are still 1-2 years away from being ready for NHL
Steep by steep
Remember when Blowman decide to get another chance for a cup and decide de get Money 💰 Bag $jone$ . That move completely destroyed the rebuild for 3-4 years . .very very bad timing to make that move .the rest his history now .
Stik to he plan and dont get the temptation to go to fast .
Now let get some deadwood out of the team and replace those players with some future Warriors like we can see in th finals in the past 2-3 weeks
Don’t think DeBier would have been good for Hawks. His youngest was Bischel at 21 Johnston at 22 and Borque at 23. The rest at 25 plus. From his body of work doesn’t seem to have any shelf life once picked for Head Coach.
Bluto: I am with you on too bad we didn’t wait on DeBoer if it was even known that Dallas would fire him if Dallas didn’t make the finals. Pretty harsh to fire the guy who had 3 – 100 points seasons in a row and made it to the Conference finals those 3 years. Dallas lost the last 2 years to the Oilers. Not like Dallas is even that great IMO.
🤔 would Marchand be a great Tudor for our 5’11” and under players 🤔
Thinking if NYI would like to go big game hunting they can flip #1 Lee and Pageau for #3 their 2nd next year Kurashev. Now they draft native son Hagens sign Marner and re-up Dobson and Romanov with the $30mil of room they have.
Hawks should have waited for DeBoer
I don’t get it… Oilers are better,,, and LEARNED what Playoff Hockey is about… BEST 2 teams are in Finals… They have Best 2 players In NHL right now–imo… it is what it is
Oilers seem destined this year– seem way more focused and Patient versus last year.
Savoie– I don’t understand all the love this guy gets… He Ain’t no Andrew Shaw!!!!! Sorry
Iwould play Lardis RW
With Samuel Sacoie LW/ C
And whoever you want that can skate
Everyone will be looking 👀 to find SSavoie on the ice not to get Hit next time they go in a corner ou just anywhere on the ice .
Lardis will have more space .to play .
Just try it a few period and see the results ….
SSavoie. 5’10 – 194 pounds . Mentally = A warrior doing everything to help the team win .
Colorado has $1.2mil for 2 forwards and 2 D. Not going to happen.
The afford said trade with added Murphy at 50% for Manson would add $6mil to that $1.2mil with Kurashev signing at $2.8mil. We can add one of our LH D kid that is on the bottom of our totem pole. Don’t know who that would be thou.
We need what we need. Moar top6 and two way 200ft style players. Get them anywhere anytime we can use what we got that’s what it’s there for. Keep loading up we have to have more then we need to not get screwed after a few yrs of being top team again. Try to have core similiar age so we don’t get split in half like these other top teams are becasue half core is older.
rounds s/b years
Yes Ian just read that. Think the Aves lost some leverage with Necas coming out say he wasn’t to thrilled. He can see the amount that the Hawks have to give him after his current contract expires is tremendous. Plus he can mentor Bedard to be a great 1 2 punch.
Colorado does not have a 1st 2nd or 3rd in the next two rounds. If KFC could do it with solely picks that would be great.
Tor’s #1 & Dal’s #2 this year FLA’s #1 & Tor’s #2 next year and Kurashev. Keep Reichel! If Necas doesn’t work out with Bedard because of speed I am sure Reichel could keep up with him. How abouta second line of Reichel Nazar Necas.
If AVs could be willing to Necas is for real, KD should be all in on that one.
Jones Rots
Looked like out of position Jones. Chased forward to the blue line on a penalty kill.
LA hammered EDM since they let up/make bad decision? EDM is unbeatable.
Hockey Today!!!
Lot of smoke coming out of Dallas needing room.
Robertson name coming up a lot.
Dallas without a 1 & 2 this year and without a 1 next year. We can fill those voids.
Over pay for Robertson to keep Reichel.
Tor’s 1 Dal’s 2 Kurashev Murphy @ 50%
for Robertson and Dumba.
Then next year sign UFA Marchment. Maybe he would want to play for the same team his dad played for.
Wondering if anyone has any word on the signing of any of the players that rights expired on June 1st.
Blashill also confirmed that Michael Peca will be brought in to be another assistant coach. Peca, a multi-time Selke Trophy winner as a player, served on Peter Laviolette’s New York Rangers staff for the last handful of years.
A third assistant coach wasn’t named right away but we know who that is now. Mike Vellucci has been hired onto the staff. There were rumors of this hiring for a couple of weeks now but the Blackhawks made it official on Monday.
I’d like to see Dach-Bedard-Lardis in a preseason game or two. I don’t have high hopes for Dach mainly because I think it’s only a matter of time before his brittle Dach DNA betrays him rendering him unreliable for the Hawks, but maybe give it a shot to see how it looks.
Yes Bluto we need the size now. Another reason we shouldn’t draft Hagens or Reschny is we have Lardis coming also. Two or three of our over 6′ have to make it. Spellacy, Vanacker, Greene, Misiak, Hayes then add Martone Nesbitt Vansaghi. Now we have our own to grow with the team.
ER and 2010– Regarding Lardis
Talent wise–he is 100% NHL er… He was fantastic paired w Bedard in that one pre/season year… Proved IQ/Talent to play w Elite Bedard…
best linemate w 98 that camp…including Hawk Vets
The Question is– does he have that intangible to stay Healthy–avoid the Douche bags??? And firther more… is that something he can “Learn in AHL” ? or more of instinct/skill you are born with.
Kane = is a good example of Talented O guy that was able to stay out of most big hits…and cheap shots…
At end of day– IF someone is gonna be dirty– hard to avoid ALL cheap play… Hossa is an example,,,
Lardis–would also greatly benefit from having a STUD forawrd on line that can Bulldoze and get pucks in Dirty spaces– which allows for him to be somewhat free of that responsibility… PROBLEM– Hawks Do NOT have those guys right now!!!!! And need about 3-4 of them to be a REALLY good team going forward.
Is there any Hoss or big Buff in the league anywhere. If not then a mini Hoss mini Buff.
Nick Lardis
Good season but i dont see him with the Hawks now ,i see him having a few games during the season but iwant him in Rockford for at least 40 – 50 games and iff he is becoming a top rookie like Nazar was before joining the Future Hawks
Two years in Rockford should be enough to see 👁️ if he has potential to become a NHLer .
Speelllacy is a player i would like to see perform at the end of the summer and get a report about the positive gain since leaving the Hawks last spring
SSavoie will be another player to watch
It would be nice to have 1 player that just become a ⭐️ and stay for the season …a surprise player that fits with Bedard in practice And become the Savard Larmer duo f of the twenty s and thirty s .
💭 😴 dreaming a bit here
I miss Big Bufff .. The BBuff s are not easy to find but there’s some in the next Drafts for sure
I think one of the key stories to watch over the next couple years is what happens with Nick Lardis. I’m not sure if he qualifies as a boom or bust player but I think there is less “middle ground” in his game – he is either a scorer at the NHL level or a guy that doesn’t have enough in his game to make an NHL team.
Ideally he hits the ice running by putting the puck in the net in training camp and preseason games making it impossible to not keep him in the lineup coming out of training camp – Bedard’s scoring winger. It’s a long shot, for sure, but with his shot and skating there’s a chance.
Weak – great summation.
Hats off to Mark Eaton for doing the best he could with the IceHogs on short notice, but the need for a real coach with experience showed as the Hogs had a 2-0 lead in a best of 5 vs Milwaukee and promptly lost 3 in a row and got tossed from the playoffs.
The strength of this team going forward will be it’s defense and goaltending, just like the parent club. They should be a difficult team to play against with this level of talent, as the defense should dominate play and create some secondary offense. Nightengale needs to instill this system until the forwards drafted already are on the team. Probably next year for many of them. Injuries and call ups will be the biggest challenge as there are a few Hogs that will get called up as they ready themselves for the NHL. KK, EDM, Allen, Savoie, and Thompson come to mind along with Hayes, Guttman, and Ludwinski. It’s possible one of the defenders gets moved but I don’t think the sorting out process has finished as to whom will be the 7D going forward. All but Kaiser, Murphy, and Vlasic possibly Crevier, have time.
After last year’s final 10 games, I think Rinzel could be the steal of his draft year. Looks like the real deal. Give KK another 2 years and he will be another stud if he puts in the work. Ditto for Lev who is half way there now. Coaching, conditioning, and strength. They just got the coach, the rest is on the player.
Thank you for the insight 2010. I will scratch Laine out of any thoughts of brining him here. Only thing I would say then take Mailloux and 17 for 34 with all of Laine’s $$ and buy him out. This way he won’t even suit up for the Hawks.
JR
Here in Montreal , everyone wants to trade him .having a problem with is attitude doesn’t respect teammates effort , very Lazy and disconnects from the Hockey Game , not a a warrior to help teammates ,effortless, empty, then he appears out of nowhere for 3-4 Periods in 2 games , then you 🤔 think he just woke up ⬆️ Naaahhh
He vanish for 3-5- 8 games where he struggle to get back to a ordinary game . He is a lazy player when it come to practice 50% of the time
NOOOOo. Please dont bring a bad apple 🍏 with the kids .
Maybe i am wrong but i saw a lot off from here in Montreal .
Never i would take him Never , remind of Money bag 💰 Jones when he was unhappy and make everyone aroundhim feel bad .Bad for the rebuilding and Bad for the Kids who will benifit more iff Negative players are not part of the new Hawks.
HABS. Will do everything to send Laine out of Montreal Island. they wont fight to keep him because they Know .
hawks have to stik to the plan and get a real Warrior who love ❤️ the game the team and show EVERY GAMES .
Just a opinion from a guy living around HAB S. Fans
…….Love my Hawks ♥️
I can’t wait 27 Days 😬😬!
I have been looking at Puckpedia GM. The moar 😉 I look the moar I am liking the idea of taking a sniper that someone is willing to compensate with a pick or young more ready prospect to get rid of.
The sniper we put on Bedsy’s line to fatten his stats or even see if he clicks. Then at TDL we can ship him and get another pick or young prospect again, two fold,
Example: From Montreal we get Laine at 50% and a second for future considerations.
We can take the full salary if they give us a 1st and we give them #62 and Kurashev if they want.
Detroit could give us Tarasenko and #13 for #25
NJ coould give us Haula and #50 for #66
One trade with Toronto had N Robertson attached to Jankrok for a 6 rounder.
not bad ideas
Sounds like a good hire.