The Blackhawks have found their new head coach

The Chicago Blackhawks have reportedly found their new head coach. According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Face-Off, the Hawks are expected to announce Luke Richardson as their choice for the job.

As of now, the term and dollar figures for the deal remain unknown.

Chicago had been on a coaching search after Derek King had taken over as the interim head coach for the fired Jeremy Colliton during the 2021-22 season.

The Blackhawks began their search in the offseason, interviewing Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Brad Shaw, but then focusing on Richardson after asking the Montreal Canadiens for permission to speak with their assistant coach.
Richardson got the job and will become the 40th coach in franchise history.

The 53-year-old Richardson joined the Canadiens as an assistant coach in 2018 and worked under three head coaches — Claude Julien, Dominique Ducharme and Martin St. Louis. In 2021, he filled in for Ducharme as head coach for the final four games of the Conference Finals after a positive COVID-19 test, guiding the Canadiens to a win over the Vegas Golden Knights. He remained in charge for the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.

He also has been an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders and a head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators, and coached Canada to a Spengler Cup win in 2017.

Richardson comes in to Chicago as the Hawks have missed the playoffs in two straight seasons and four of its past five. It was time for a change and Richardson is expected to be the right fit for the rebuilding club.