Sources: Kyle Davidson to be named Chicago Blackhawks GM
After an exhaustive search that challenged hockey norms, the Chicago Blackhawks went with the candidate they knew best for the top hockey operations position.
Sources tell Daily Faceoff the Blackhawks will name Kyle Davidson the franchise’s permanent general manager, with an official announcement expected Tuesday.
Davidson, 33, has been serving as Chicago’s interim GM since Oct. 26, 2021, when Stan Bowman resigned for his role in the team’s cover-up of the sexual assault suffered by Kyle Beach in 2010. He is the 10th and youngest GM in the Blackhawks’ 96-year history.
Davidson began his tenure with the Blackhawks in 2010-11 as a video analyst intern in the hockey operations department. He has held a series of roles with increasing responsibility over the 12 years since, touching the team’s scouting, analytics and salary cap management, including the title of manager of hockey administration, before being promoted by Bowman to assistant GM in 2019.
The Sudbury, Ont., native held down the position for the last four months and oversaw the coaching change that removed Jeremy Colliton and brought in Derek King.
Along the way, Davidson engaged in conversation with GM counterparts from around the league with the support of Blackhawks ownership, and managed the team’s day-to-day operations with a smaller than usual support staff around him.
Following Bowman’s departure in October, the Blackhawks did not formally ramp up a search process for his successor until late December. The Blackhawks brought in well-known front office consultant Mike Forde from Sportsology, dubbed the NBA’s “king maker,” to lead his first NHL search.
They also consulted with Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, former Seattle Mariners executive Joe Bohringer, and former Cubs and Red Sox architect Theo Epstein along the way.
The Blackhawks were transparent throughout the process, the first NHL team to release details about interviewees for the position. The team reported that they interviewed former Bruins and Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli, recently departed Montreal Canadiens assistant GM Scott Mellanby, current Carolina Hurricanes assistant GM Eric Tulsky and Tampa Bay Lightning director of hockey ops Mathieu Darche.
They also shocked the hockey world by announcing they had completed an interview with Chicago Cubs assistant GM Jon Greenberg, who has no experience working in hockey at any level. Greenberg’s inclusion was met by some in the hockey world with a side eyebrow, but by all accounts, his interview impressed the Blackhawks’ brass.
Chicago was also reportedly interested in Toronto Raptors vice president of basketball operations Teresa Resch, but the team did not disclose her as an interviewed candidate.
The Blackhawks conducted their own round of interviews, then an advisory committee comprised former players Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa and Ed Olczyk also met with candidates.
In the end, Davidson prevailed in the process, emerging ahead of an impressive field of candidates.
For Davidson, there will be little time to celebrate or decompress. The NHL’s trade deadline is mere days away and now Davidson has full autonomy to make his mark on a roster destined for change.
In the meantime, expect former Stanley Cup winner Brian Campbell to take on a significant role in Chicago’s front office to work hand-in-hand with Davidson to rebuild the Blackhawks.