BREAKING NEWS> Head coach of the Blackhawks, Luke Richardson, is formally under investigation.
The Athletic finally revealed their staff predictions for the NHL this week following free agency, and the Blackhawks were undoubtedly well-represented. Chicago, which finished as the second-worst team in the league the previous season, was considered as a possible surprise playoff team. They are widely regarded as one of the league’s most improved teams.
However, a lot of Blackhawks supporters were also interested in the head coaching position. This is due to the fact that Luke Richardson, the head coach of Chicago, was mentioned as a contender for the Jack Adams award (best head coach) as well as the title of first bench boss sacked this season.
The Blackhawks have come up with every justification under the sun for Richardson since he was appointed to his first head coaching position in the summer of 2022. The squad is rebuilding, he had low expectations, he is inexperienced and still learning—the list is endless. Not that any of those justifications aren’t valid; after all, everyone was aware that Richardson’s work would be difficult and require time.
Nevertheless, Richardson has guided the Blackhawks to a 49-102-13 record over the course of two complete seasons, which is a historically poor winning percentage. But this year, a dismal roster has been completely transformed.On July 1, eight free agents signed, signifying a significant shift in Richardson’s and Chicago’s expectations.
The winning % isn’t exactly indicative of how people feel about Richardson’s performance as head coach thus far. Players have praised his systems, such as his aggressive zone defensive strategy, and they have occasionally appeared to be effective. Richardson has made it a priority to play with a diligent, obnoxious approach that can result in prompt turnovers and scoring opportunities.
Now Richardson will have a roster that is truly skilled and can demonstrate the effectiveness of his systems. He will have a little more continuity once the team chemistry is established, assuming the injury bug doesn’t bite the Blackhawks as hard as it did the previous season. The addition of seasoned free agents has made the roster and pipeline considerably deeper, even if he loses a couple guys to the disabled list.
But that opportunity to show himself also carries the risk of being found out. That risk cannot be disregarded, as the aforementioned article could imply. What happens if the Blackhawks perform poorly this year? If they don’t succeed, all eyes will be on Richardson because of their roster, which is seen to be fairly competent and NHL-caliber. In any case, the coach, who is suddenly under fire, is facing a crucial, make-or-break campaign this season.