Luke Richardson has inherited a huge Chicago Blackhawks mess

The Chicago Blackhawks just made a huge announcement on Monday. We knew before the weekend started thanks to some inside sources but they have hired a new head coach. Luke Richardson is the guy for the job going forward. 

Richardson seems like a candidate that deserves the opportunity to be a first-time coach in the National Hockey League. He played in over 1400 NHL games as a defensive defenseman so you know he thinks about the game like a coach.

He also had four years as an AHL head coach and another eight years as an NHL assistant coach along the way. He has certainly learned his trade well and will be looking to get this team back into contention.

Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t have the roster to contend for the playoffs right now. Guys like Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, and Jonathan Toews might be on their way out, they don’t have a concrete plan in goal, and most of the young prospects aren’t what we thought they were.

Luke Richardson is inheriting a very bad Chicago Blackhawks roster right now.

The roster is not very good on paper, the farm system is weak, and they don’t have a first-round pick this year. There is no doubt that 2022-23 is a transition year for the Blackhawks. Richardson would not have been hired if he didn’t accept that.

Connor Bedard is a very good prospect that is currently projected to be the top pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. Obviously, things can change but he is getting early comparisons to Connor McDavid which tells you everything you need to know.

They say those guys come once every ten years or so and McDavid (2015) will have been eight years prior to Bedard. The Blackhawks are in a position to have a chance at this guy. They will need the lottery balls to fall their way but it is even a deep draft after him as well.

There is no doubt that this organization was left in a mess by Stan Bowman. General Manager Kyle Davidson is going to try and pick up the pieces but Luke Richardson is not inheriting a very good roster.

We can only hope that he helps the players that are there become good pros. That could help them if they are able to stick around and play on the next great Hawks team. Some of the young kids are going to get their opportunity. It may be a transition year but it will certainly be an interesting year too.