Luke Richardson won’t get the chance to watch Connor Bedard become a star from behind the bench after all. The Chicago Blackhawks have had enough of the third-year coach, firing him after 190 games.
Luke Richardson Fired
Richardson joined the team in the Summer of 2022, taking over from interim coach Derek King. King guided the team to a 27-33-10 record after replacing Jeremy Coliton 12 games into the 2021-22 season. All three coaches were in their first NHL head coaching job, as is current interim coach Anders Sorensen.
Richardson faced increasing criticism of how the Blackhawks played and his use of Conor Bedard. Bedard did everything that could be asked of him last season, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy with 22 goals and 61 points in 68 games. Bedard is leading the team in scoring again this season but has had a variety of linemates of various abilities.
It’s one thing to have a team actively tanking not playing well, but once the first-overall has been drafted the team is supposed to improve. Or if not improve, at least be entertaining to watch, and it’s hard to accuse the Blackhawks of that. Chicago is 31st in goals for and 21st in goals against this season and is stuck at dead last in the league overall.
It’s difficult to pin the failures of an undertalented team entirely on the coach. But Richardson’s defensive, special-teams-reliant style hasn’t helped sell tickets, either.
Now What
Luke Richardson’s replacement is former AHL Rockford head coach Anders Sorensen. The IceHogs haven’t been great this year, going 8-9-2-0 after 19 games, but their special teams have been very good. And if the Blackhawks are looking to develop young players, then they may see the AHL coach as the better bet.
Whether he can inspire the team to better play – or even just more exciting play – remains to be seen. But it’s a gamble Chicago is willing to take.
Main Photo: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
