In July, general manager Kyle Davidson announced Luke Richardson’s appointment as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. After nearly ten years as an assistant coach in the National Hockey League and four years as the head coach of an American Hockey League team, Richardson joins the organization. Richardson, 53, succeeds Derek King, who served as the Blackhawks’ interim head coach after Jeremy Colliton was sacked in November following a dismal 1-9-2 start. Under King, the Blackhawks had a final
record of 27-33-10.

Richardson worked as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders in the 2017–18 campaign before joining the Canadiens. He spent 2012 to 2016 as the American Hockey League’s head coach of the Binghamton Senators before moving to New York. Richardson led the team to a 153-120-31 record and two consecutive playoff appearances during his tenure there. The Ottawa, Ontario native made his NHL coaching debut in the 2008–09 season as an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators, the team from his birthplace. He would continue in that role during the 2012 campaign.

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In 2016–17, Richardson coached Hockey Canada, which helped them win the Spengler Cup as Team Canada’s head coach and go to the finals at the Deutschland Cup with his assistance. After being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leaf’s in the first round, seventh overall, at the 1987 NHL Draft, the former defenseman played 21 seasons in the league. In 1,417 NHL games with Toronto, Richardson recorded 35 goals, 166 assists, and 2,055 penalty minutes.

In terms of games played, Richardson ranks 10th all-time among league blueliners. He also participated in 69 postseason games, contributing eight times. In 1994 and 1996, Richardson competed for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship and took home gold and silver, respectively. His team’s guiding principle is to foster a climate of trust. With trust, connections will develop and evolve, enabling everyone to flourish and fulfill their responsibilities. His guiding principle is continually striving to be more committed and consistent than you were yesterday to improve.