The Chicago Blackhawks fired head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday, replacing him with Anders Sorensen as interim coach for the remainder of the season. Expected to improve at least slightly this season, the Blackhawks currently hold both the league’s lowest point total (18) and the league’s lowest winning percentage (.346) with an 8-16-2 record.
The initial thought is that a coaching change has to help Connor Bedard, who has often looked frustrated this season. Bedard has been a better all-around player this season, but that has perhaps come at the expense of his scoring. Bedard has just five goals (and 14 assists) in 26 games, and we all know he has the potential for a lot more. New coaches can have positive short-term effects on certain players, as I’ll discuss with another team later.
On the other hand, the Blackhawks as constructed simply lack the high-end talent needed to compete for a playoff spot, no matter who the coach is. Bringing in Teuvo Teravainen and Tyler Bertuzzi was supposed to help, but both players have only two even-strength goals each in 26 games. Richardson had opted not to stick Bedard with Teravainen or Bertuzzi for extended minutes at 5-on-5, instead frequently rotating linemates in an attempt to find something that will click. At the rate the Blackhawks are going, the Dobber fourth-year breakout theory might have to apply to Bedard. He may even need more time than that to show his true upside if he can’t be surrounded by players closer to his caliber.
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Thatcher Demko appears to be getting close to making his season debut, telling reporters that he might be able to serve as a backup goalie sometime within the Canucks’ next three games. Because of the unknown nature of the type of knee injury Demko has (ever heard of the popliteus muscle?) expect him to be eased in once he is ready. With Kevin Lankinen playing as well as he has, Demko might be in a timeshare situation for the rest of the season so he isn’t overworked and risks re-injury.
Patrick Kane returned to the Red Wings lineup on Thursday, although he was held without a point in 15:36 of icetime. He is without a point in his last six games and has just two points in his last 10 games. The Wings as a team have struggled to score this season, so don’t expect the Kane of old. Kane also has just three goals in 20 games.
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* Is firing the coach a sustainable solution for the Blackhawks’ long-term struggles?
## Blackhawks Fire Richardson: Will It Help Bedard?
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re diving into the breaking news coming out of Chicago: the Blackhawks have fired Head Coach Luke Richardson, replacing him with Anders Sorensen on an interim basis. Joining me to discuss this move is Alex Reed, hockey analyst extraordinaire. Welcome to the show, Alex Reed!
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me!
**Host:** So, let’s get right to it. The Blackhawks were hoping to see some improvement this season, but they’re currently at the bottom of the league standings. Do you think firing Richardson was the right move?
**Alex Reed:** It’s a tough call, but with the team struggling as they are, and particularly expecting some kind of leap this year, it’s understandable that the organization made a change. [[1](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/breaking-news-chicago-blackhawks-fire-head-coach-luke-richardson)]mentions the dismal 8-16-2 record and bottom-of-the-league standings. Something had to give.
**Host:** One name we’re all thinking about is Connor Bedard. He seems frustrated this season, his scoring is down from what we hoped for. Can a coaching change help him right the ship?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely, a new voice behind the bench can be a jolt for a player like Bedard. [[1](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/breaking-news-chicago-blackhawks-fire-head-coach-luke-richardson)]even mentions the possibility of a new coach positively impacting individual players. Sometimes a fresh perspective and a different tactical approach is all it takes to unlock a player’s full potential.
**Host:** But even with Bedard at his best, the Blackhawks still seem to lack the overall talent needed to compete for a playoff spot. Is a coaching change just a band-aid on a bigger problem?
**Alex Reed:** You hit the nail on the head. While a coaching change might provide a spark in the short term, it’s not a long-term solution for a team with this much rebuilding to do. [[1](https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/breaking-news-chicago-blackhawks-fire-head-coach-luke-richardson)]points out that the team simply needs more high-end talent to truly compete.
**Host:** Good points, Alex Reed. It’ll be interesting to see how this shake-up affects the Blackhawks in the long run. Thanks for sharing your insights with us today!
**Alex Reed:** My pleasure!
