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Veteran NHLers Perplexed by the Blackhawks' Firing of Luke Richardson

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Joshua Deeds
December 16, 2024 (3:33 PM)

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The Blackhawks had to make a move, and fired Head Coach Luke Richardson in late November, Riley Cote and Derek Settlemyre of Nasty Knuckles Pod disagreed with the move.

Richardson was fired by GM Kyle Davidson after a dismal 8-16-2 start to the 2024-2025 season. The team while still in a rebuild acquired pieces who Kyle Davidson thought to be players who'd improve the roster significantly. Yet Richardson and the team underperformed.

Fast forward to December, former Rockford IceHogs Head Coach Anders Sorensen was promoted to the NHL afterward.

Settlemyre, and Cote felt that it was an unfair move by Kyle Davidson, considering the team is still undergoing a rebuild.

They feel like the move was puzzling, considering a lot of the pieces Davidson signed were past their prime.

"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," Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said. "We wish Luke and his family all the best moving forward."

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While Riley Cote would dance around the fact that many of the pieces were past their prime, I don't think he's wrong.

Considering that they have Seth Jones, and Nick Foligno post-2019 is an example of veterans who will never produce like they did in Columbus.

While Jason Dickinson has been a brightspot, along with Ryan Donato these players were never gamebreakers.

Let's not forget Tyler Bertuzzi, who has been cold the majority of the season who has 13 points( 8 G, 5 A) in 31 games.

His production has stagnated in Chicago, as last season he scored 43 points, (21 G, 22 A) and now is on pace for a staggering 34!

So maybe, Riley and Derek aren't wrong about the Blackhawks. Maybe some of the Hawks players need to be held accountable too, as they've failed to make their mark this season.

Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

3 Blackhawks Players Who GM Kyle Davidson Could Move At The Trade Deadline

Blackhawks Connor Bedard Praises Fans During Latest Team Victory

NHL Issues Statement On Chicago Blackhawks Vs New York Islanders Game Hours After

POLL
DECEMBRE 16 \| 206 ANSWERS Veteran NHLers Perplexed by the Blackhawks' Firing of Luke Richardson Do you think firing Former Coach Luke Richardson was the right answer for the Chicago Blackhawks?
Yes	162	78.6 %
No	44	21.4 %
List of polls

Veteran NHLers Perplexed by the Blackhawks' Firing of Luke Richardson

The Blackhawks had to make a move, and fired Head Coach Luke Richardson in late November, Riley Cote and Derek Settlemyre of Nasty Knuckles Pod disagreed with the move.

Do you think firing Former Coach Luke Richardson was the right answer for the Chicago Blackhawks?