[News] Blackhawks fire head coach Luke Richardson. Anders Sorensen named interim coach

[thefoss1957]

Never was a fan of Richardson, either as a player, or, as a coach. That said, I have been on record here of hating the current roster construction. Pieces like Foligno, Donato, Maroon, C. Smith, and Murphy are not building blocks for the future, and kill top level roster spots that some player with up-side might be able to use to grow. I don't mind 3rd liners like Dickinson, a stable pony, like Teravainen or taking a flyer on a Hall, or a big ticket guy, like Seth Jones, to get to cap floors, but, if you were gonna do a tear down, do it, and take your lumps. They have been taking lumps, but, with players that have no future in Chicago. Richardson just never fired up any hope for this 'Hawk fan, nor did his assistant, Derek King, another hire I disliked, even at the AHL level.

[Press Level]

lol, tanking team fires coach for losing.


Probably fired for Bedard not making the 4 Nations roster. Unhappy Connors kill coaches. It's a fact.

[Paulie Walnuts]

He is a crappy coach, but the GM should also be fired that roster is nasty.

You surround your #1 pick with Pat Maroon and Foligno and spare parts.

[Ped]

From The Athletic earlier this season:

To Chicago’s credit, the Blackhawks started with a line that had a similar, albeit lesser, mix with Nick Foligno in Bertuzzi’s place. That line really clicked with 59 percent of expected goals while outscoring opponents 4-3 — only for the team to abandon it. For reference, the Blackhawks didn’t have a single line last year that played over 50 minutes and had an expected goal rate above 54 percent.
That’s the point where Bedard started to struggle and the team tried seemingly every combination — the Blackhawks have had six straight games where Bedard played with different linemates — to get him going. Except the one that should work and the one that already did work, of course.
In between all that, Bedard has also taken some spare shifts here and there with Bertuzzi and Taylor Hall, another strong combination of grit and playmaking skill. They had an 85 percent xG together and scored a goal in 12 sporadic minutes, but haven’t actually taken a regular shift together.
Play Bedard with the team’s best offensive players on a line with someone who can do the dirty work, and he looks good. Really good. It’s not a novel concept and only takes one look around the league to see how other top lines anchored by a superstar are built. There’s almost always a complementarily skilled star next to him with an elite grinder rounding things out. Chicago may not have another star, but the Blackhawks do have offensively-minded talent that should fit Bedard’s game well. For whatever reason, the Blackhawks have actively avoided that tried-and-true formula and it’s been to Bedard’s detriment.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/593...hawks-rangers/

[D as in David]

Bedard sounds like a player who could benefit from the tutelage of a veteran 115pt winger. Especially one that is signed through Bedard's prime years.

[McG]

Is Sorensen Bedard’s junior coach?

I just wanted to point out the nepotism around Mavi.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Problem is they got Bedard too early. They didn't have a great prospect base before they got him. Now they need to get a few more No. 1s like the Oilers did because the support he needs just isn't there. (And he's always looked more to me like a Point than a McDavid).

Well… they did… they nuked what they had to assure they got Bedard. Having DeBrincat and Dach still would help.

[dino7c]

MSL you're next

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Well… they did… they nuked what they had to assure they got Bedard. Having DeBrincat and Dach still would help.

Don't forget Dylan Strome

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

It’s the Craig Button rule, named for what we saw here.

When the GM coach and players are all young in their roles, you’re dead. Someone needs some scars.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dino7c

MSL you're next

One of the most overrated coaches in the league.

Remember when he cried and demanded a trade when Yzerman left him off Canada.

[transplant99]

Yeah the last few "young" GMs have not had great results.

Dubas good regular season success but nothing beyond, Chayka (enough said), and now Davidson (whose book isnt written quite yet by any stretch).

Meh.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

One of the most overrated coaches in the league.

Remember when he cried and demanded a trade when Yzerman left him off Canada.

Careful I questioned him in the summer and was badly attacked, I'm used to it though

[FireGilbert]

The Hawks spent a ton of money to improve around Bedard and so far have been a disaster.

Rebuilding is hard, especially when you go full scorched earth.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

The Hawks spent a ton of money to improve around Bedard and so far have been a disaster.

Rebuilding is hard, especially when you go full scorched earth.

Pat Maroon, Bertuzzi, Hall, Brodie, Milheyev, Folgino. Some elite pieces to help Bedard.

[transplant99]

Those are the kind of guys you get in free agency when you're bad though.

Upper tier guys aren't signing with a scorched earth team very often.

Thats why i find it mind boggling that Davidson can look at the team he built and decide coaching is the issue.

Its absurd,

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by MrMike

How DARE you. That man is a scholar and a gentleman.

And a concert pianist!

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Those are the kind of guys you get in free agency when you're bad though.

Upper tier guys aren't signing with a scorched earth team very often.

Thats why i find it mind boggling that Davidson can look at the team he built and decide coaching is the issue.

Its absurd,

You’re not wrong, but Richardson had to know what he signed on for.
A deliberately bad team, and you’ll be fired long before they get good.

They will burn through 2-3 more coaches and 1-2 more GMs before - if - they turn the corner. A tank is a decade even if you nab a Berard.

[Ped]

No one expected the Hawks to be a playoff team. But look at who was in their lineup last year:

COle Guttman
Taylor Raddysh
Colin Blackwell
Mackenzie Entwhistle
Boris Katchouk
Jarred Tinordi
Nikita Zaitsev
Reese Johnson
Zach Sanford
Jaycob Megna

Most of these guys aren't even in the NHL anymore. This year they've got:

They should be better, even with guys like Brodie, Smith, and Mikhevey pretty much dead weight. Not good. Not even okay. But better. But they have one guy in double digits in goals, no one at 20 points yet, and only 3 guys even averaging 1/2 a PPG. Coaching is definitely not the only issue, but it was an issue.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by activeStick

Return of Joel Quenneville?

Originally Posted by direwolf

Only if the Oilers don’t hire him first.

If I'm Quenneville, I'm begging for the Chicago job just to make sure the Oilers don't try to hire me first.