Blackhawks Fire Coach After 8-16-2 Start to Season
The Chicago Blackhawks announced the firing of head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday. Frank Seravalli, hockey insider for Daily Faceoff, announced the news at 4 p.m. Central. The Blackhawks currently sit at a league-worst record of 8-16-2 while undergoing a four-game losing streak. The team announced that Anders Sorensen, head coach of Chicago’s AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, will take over as interim head coach.
Richardson was in the midst of his third season behind the bench for the Blackhawks. The team’s performance has been far from ideal under his tenure, accruing an overall record of 57-118-15 while finishing last in the division in the previous two seasons. However, not all of the Blackhawks’ failures should rest on Richardson’s shoulders. After all, the Blackhawks were projected to finish eighth in the division yet again due to an extremely lackluster roster. Some teams just need a scapegoat, and Richardson appears to be it.
General Manager Kyle Davidson attempted to help out this oft-tanking team this offseason by adding Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teravainen, Pat Maroon, and Alec Martinez. Those players are hardly game-breakers, but savvy veterans are what you’d want if you’re trying to build around a franchise cornerstone like Connor Bedard. Unfortunately, Bedard hasn’t been playing that well. The 19-year-old leads the team in points, but he only has five goals and 19 points in 26 games. Last season, Bedard earned the Calder Trophy when he scored 22 times and added 39 assists in 68 games. Though he’s looking a little better defensively this year than in his rookie campaign—his expected plus-minus is at -1.9 and is on pace to be a lot better than his -14.8 in ‘23-24, and his defensive point shares are already higher than it was all of last season—his faceoffs still need work. Bedard has won a measly 30 percent of faceoffs, which is not acceptable by NHL standards.
Luckily, Sorensen will have a few days to get the team prepared to play. Their next game is at home on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. Central. Chicago will be playing the Winnipeg Jets, who’ve cooled down significantly after their hot start. The Jets have won just three games in their last 10 and if they lose to the Buffalo Sabres tonight, it might be time to panic since Buffalo just embarrassed themselves in a 5-4 loss to Colorado after leading 4-1 after two periods.
