Getting to Know Blackhawks New Head Coach

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James
June 26, 2022 (11:41)

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After what felt like forever, the Chicago Blackhawks have finally found their permanent head coach - and, fortunately for Hawks fans, they appear to have chose a good one in longtime NHL defenseman and current Montreal Canadiens assistant coach Luke Richardson.

The 53-year-old has paid his dues in the coaching business with previous stops in Ottawa, Binghamton (AHL), Elmont (Islanders) and most recently Montreal. He's earned the opportunity he's being given in Chicago.

Richardson spent the last four years as an assistant in Montreal and is credited with turning a putrid Canadiens' defense into an impressive force. In last year's Stanley Cup playoffs, Richardson took over the Canadiens bench when coach Dominique Ducharme entered the NHL COVID-19 protocol. He went 3-3 and guided the Canadiens past the Vegas Golden Knights to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Current Tampa winger Corey Perry who played for Montreal last season has fond memories of working with Richardson.

It's impossible to do research on Richardson and NOT find comments from his players, former teammates or media personalities, praising his coaching and work ethic.

Former teammate and current Hawks broadcaster Eddie Olczyk told the Daily Herald, he couldn't be happier for his friend, the organization and the fan base.

He's got great respect around the league, not only as a coach but as being one of the all-time great teammates. This guy has certainly paid his dues and his work speaks for itself. He will represent the Blackhawks to the very best of his ability, both on and off the ice. That's all you can ask for," Olczyk said. "He'll fit in well in our town. His personality, his demeanor, his love for hockey. Our fans will appreciate him. There's no fluff. He's got it."

The biggest challenge for Richardson, however, will be making the Blackhawks into an above-average defensive unit. It's true the Canadiens had the worst goals-against average in the entire league this past year at a bloated 3.87 number, but Chicago wasn't much better at 3.52. Their defense corps is led by 27-year-old Seth Jones, but it isn't particularly deep.

Richardson knows quite a bit about how to play defense in the NHL with a physical edge as he played 21 seasons and accumulated 2,014 penalty minutes, the 51st most in NHL history. Current St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube is 7th on that list with 3,149 PIMS. Enjoy a video of the two of them scrapping!

Fun fact: Richardson made his NHL debut at Chicago Stadium in 1987 and he called it probably the best experience anyone could have. "There were 21,000 people there screaming when they played the National Anthem with the organ. My ears were ringing so I just got chills. It was pretty exciting."

Wonder if there will be some deja vu when Richardson first takes the ice as head coach in front of a packed house at the United Center. There is also wonder of what the Blackhawks roster will look like when the season starts. How quickly things will turn around is anyone's best guess, but for now, fans can know that general manager Kyle Davidson picked the right man for the job, a coach that will resonate with his players and bring a new voice to Chicago. It's an exciting time to be a Hawks fan. Best of luck coach!