Elliotte Friedman Offers Inside Details On A New Head Coaching Announcement For The Chicago Blackhawks
Photo credit: Bleacher Nation
The Chicago Blackhawks have fired Luke Richardson after a dismal 8-16-2 start to the regular season. He wasn't able to turn this Blackhawks roster into a competitive team, which is unfortunate.
The lack of traction during the start of the season was evident early, and now GM Kyle Davidson and the Hawks have hired former IceHogs coach Anders Sorensen in the interim.
Sorensen has taken the Rockford IceHogs to the Calder Cup playoffs three times during his tenure.
He's also responsible for developing players like Alex Vlasic, Nolan Allan, Wyatt Kaiser, and other prospects in the NHL.
What are the next steps for the Blackhawks, while they don't have an official head coach?
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, they will keep Sorensen around for the rest of the season, and conduct a search afterward.
Sorensen will have a chance to develop Connor Bedard into the superstar center they'd hope he will be.
After last season when he won a Calder Trophy, scoring 61 points, a moment like this is crucial to keep him progressing. Whereas under Richardson it felt as if Bedard was unable to take a leap forward.
Scott Powers wrote the following about Sorensen's task ahead:
Now, it's Sorensen's job to figure out how to get the most out of [Connor] Bedard. Some of what Sorensen learned by working with [Lukas] Reichel and Frank Nazar over the last few years in Rockford might apply. Sorensen has definitely gotten Nazar going the past month. It sounds like Davidson has some ideas about where he thinks Sorensen can help Bedard, but he wants to hear Sorensen's ideas, too.
Now, it's Sorensen's job to figure out how to get the most out of [Connor] Bedard. Some of what Sorensen learned by working with [Lukas] Reichel and Frank Nazar over the last few years in Rockford might apply. Sorensen has definitely gotten Nazar going the past month. It sounds like Davidson has some ideas about where he thinks Sorensen can help Bedard, but he wants to hear Sorensen's ideas, too.
One has to think if Sorensen can turn this lineup around, and find a way to improve the record significantly, he can't secure the head coaching position.
Keep in mind Richardson left him 8th in the Central Division, and while Cinderella stories are nice, not every coach is Craig Berube, and this team isn't the 2019 St. Louis Blues.
The excitement around the Blackhawks is palpable, and Sorensen needs to deliver significant change to stick around longer.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 6 | 171 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman Offers Inside Details On A New Head Coaching Announcement For The Chicago Blackhawks Do you think that Interim Head Coach Anders Sorensen can become the Chicago Blackhawks' next Head Coach? | ||
| Yes | 60 | 35.1 % |
| No | 111 | 64.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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