NHL: Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche - Source: Imagn — Luke Richardson on the sidelines of Chicago Blackhawks vs Colorado Avalanche - Source: Imagn

Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson discloses reason for firing head coach Luke Richardson

Modified Dec 06, 2024 11:30 GMT

The Chicago Blackhawks parted ways with head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday after an underwhelming start to the season. The Blackhawks are bottom of the league with an 8-16-2 record.

GM Kyle Davidson said the team's "results did not match expectations" and confirmed Richardson would be replaced by Rockford IceHogs coach Anders Sorensen on an interim basis.

"Today I made the difficult decision to move on from Luke as our head coach. We thank him for his efforts and contributions to the organization and our community,” Davidson said in a statement.

“As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary."

The Blackhawks have struggled in the 26 games they've played this season and are on a four-game losing streak.

Richardson registered a 57-118-15 record across 190 games. His departure, two months into his third season, marked the third head coaching change this year following the dismissals of Drew Bannister by the St. Louis Blues and Jim Montgomery by the Boston Bruins.

Chicago Blackhawks hope to bounce back under interim coach Anders Sorensen

Anders Sorensen appointed Blackhawks Interim HC - Source: Getty

Anders Sorensen, 49, will step up from the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League. He has been associated with the Blackhawks organization for more than a decade.

Sorenson started off as a development coach in 2013-14 and was promoted to assistant coach in 2018-19. He was made associate coach in 2021-22 and led them to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2017-18 season.

He has taken the IceHogs to the playoffs in each of the three seasons behind the bench.

Sorensen will become the first Sweden-born coach in NHL history when he takes charge of the game against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.