Blackhawks Conflicting Reports on Richardson Remains Debatable

Chicago Blackhawks’ head coach Luke Richardson’s job security has been a hot topic through the first month of the season. After all, they have a 7-12-2 record, and after general manager Kyle Davidson’s words in April, “It’s time to take a step forward,”[In 2022-23], we finished third-last. This year, we finished second-last. That can’t happen again. We need to start moving up and onward.”

So far, the team has not seen improvement in the standings, as they sit in last place in the NHL. Because Davidson said the bottom of the standings for the Blackhawks would be unacceptable, it’s fair to wonder how management feels about Richardson.

According to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, he listed Richardson’s seat in the category of “heating up” when discussing all NHL head coach’s job security. The article states, “To me right now, it’s more of a ‘when’ and not an ‘if’ on Richardson, a coaching source said.”

Hearing a coaching source give that information is surprising. On one hand, it makes sense, considering where the Blackhawks are right now. On the other hand, it contradicts what Davidson recently said about Richardson on Nov. 3 when speaking with Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times,

“We’ve asked for some improvements in areas [such as] the defensive play, our structure and the resilience of the group, and we have seen some positive strides there,” Davidson said. “Whether it’s the team [or] the coaches, whoever you’re evaluating, it’s still a very incomplete evaluation on the season. I hope to see those things continue to progress, but I do like the strides we’ve made.”

Furthermore, he was adamant that calling for Richardson’s seat was “ridiculous thoughts.”

Things move fast in hockey, and what was felt then could be different now. Since Nov. 3, the Blackhawks have lost six of eight games. However, their power play is 13th in the NHL, their penalty kill is 15th, and their goals-against per game is 13th. Last season, all three of those categories were in the bottom-six in the NHL, so you could argue that there is some improvement. However, their offense is second-worst in the NHL, which is only a slight improvement from the NHL’s worst last season, but still not the results they wanted to see with a better roster.

The flip side to those improvements is based on the performances themselves. Often, the players are not ready to go and don’t start on time. Sometimes, they start on time and then let the game get the best of them. Even defenseman Connor Murphy discussed the team’s mentality shift based on their opponents, which goes along with the scattered play we see on the ice.

Granted, the Blackhawks were not expected to be contenders, but as Davidson said, they must show progress. Some areas are better, and that does mean something, but not much if it is not reflected in the standings.

I don’t think Richardson will be let go this season. He is in the third year of a four-year deal, and according to Scott Powers of The Athletic, the fourth year is a club option, likely meaning the team will ride it out until the end of the season, especially because they are not competing.  There are also questions about whether Davidson would want to fire his first head coach early.

However, I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility. Ryan Donato leads the team in goals (8), which shows that the top guys haven’t hit their stride and it doesn’t help with the 47 different line combinations tried in 21 games. Connor Bedard only has three goals this season, and seven other players on the roster, who are their mainstays, have less than six points, which is concerning. If this continues, say, into January, I’m not sure what, if any, changes the Blackhawks would be willing to make just to keep this team out of the bottom-three in the standings.

The Blackhawks are in a rebuild, but management said they expect to see different results, and if the coach cannot help the team or players start to turn a corner, then there should be a conversation.

Overall, there are conflicting reports regarding Richardson’s position, but only one will be proven right, and until then, it’s a waiting game.

For more Blackhawks News from Jim Lynch and Brooke LoFurno, visit Chicago Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.

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