SEATTLE — The Blackhawks have survived with a short-handed coaching staff since Jeremy Colliton’s firing nearly two weeks ago, but help is finally on the way.
Rob Cookson will meet the team this weekend in Edmonton as the Hawks’ new assistant, part of several changes announced Tuesday and Wednesday.
Marc Crawford was retitled associate coach, reflecting his large share of the responsibilities next to Hawks interim coach Derek King. And Jared Nightingale was hired as the Rockford IceHogs’ new assistant under interim coach Anders Sorensen.
Cookson, 60, brings ample familiarity with the specifics of NHL assistant coaching, having filled that role from 2001 to 2011 with the Flames and 2016 to 2019 with the Senators. Neither King, with his entirely minor-league coaching experience, nor Crawford, who has spent most of his career as a head coach, offer quite the same background.
‘‘Rob’s extensive NHL experience will complement our staff immediately,’’ interim general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. ‘‘It’s his fresh perspective, however, that will really benefit the team as we work on this transition.’’
Cookson’s hiring further strengthens Crawford’s influence in the Hawks’ hierarchy, not only through his nominal promotion but also because of their long history together.
Cookson served as an assistant under Crawford with Zurich SC in Switzerland in 2012-16, during which time Zurich went 125-47-28. The two then moved together to the Senators, working underneath Guy Boucher for the next three years.
With Cookson’s most recent gig as an assistant for another Swiss club, HC Lugano, ending in April, Crawford presumably suggested him to fill the Hawks’ vacancy, which had been Davidson’s first priority after naming King interim coach. King said he quickly was won over, too.
‘“I haven’t been around for a while with these guys, but I have a good relationship with [Marc],’’ King said Wednesday. ‘‘And when [Cookson’s] name came up, I was like, ‘Well, let me have a little FaceTime with him. I had great conversations with him, and he’s going to be a good fit for us.’’
King and Crawford have operated almost as equals so far. Crawford has been coaching the Hawks’ defensemen, pre-scouting opponents, orchestrating practice drills and giving King in-game matchup tips.
Even their contrasting personalities — with Crawford as intense as King is easygoing — seemingly have meshed seamlessly.
‘‘If I don’t lean on a guy like that, I’m not very smart,’’ King said. ‘‘He’s been around this game a long time, and . . . he’s helped me out so much, [along with] the rest of the staff. They’ve been tremendous with me, making my transition a lot, lot easier.’’
‘‘[King and Crawford] both read off each other well and control the room and let us know what they expect,’’ center Kirby Dach said. ‘‘At the same time, they let us control ourselves, in a way.’’
In Rockford, meanwhile, Sorensen had been coaching without any assistants until Nightingale — a longtime minor-league defenseman, former IceHogs captain and family friend — arrived this week.
Nightingale will oversee the IceHogs’ defensemen and penalty kill, while Peter Aubry will continue to coach goalies and Sorensen focuses on the forwards and big-picture duties.
‘‘With all the shuffling in the [Blackhawks’] organization the last couple of weeks, I never would’ve thought it’d affect my life,’’ Nightingale said Tuesday. ‘‘I’m really thankful for the opportunity not only to be in the American [Hockey] League but also at a place where I’ve played and I’m familiar with.’’
Sorensen, who is in his seventh year in the organization, said the last two weeks haven’t been as chaotic for him as they have been for King, whom he still talks to every day about hockey, family and everything in between.
‘‘It’s been fine; I’m pretty comfortable here,’’ Sorensen said. ‘‘It’s just more managing people and managing schedules and all that.’’