Da Windy City
Fansided

4 Blackhawks on Chopping Block After Luke Richardson Firing

After head coach Luke Richardson was fired on Thursday, one of these four Blackhawks could be the next name on the chopping block in Chicago.

By Devon Platana

Recently fired Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson looks on in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.
Recently fired Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson looks on in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. / Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

2. Taylor Hall, LW

It isn't a secret that Taylor Hall's first full season with the Blackhawks has been a disappointment.

After fans hoped for a bounce-back performance after last year's underwhelming output, Hall has gone on to record just five goals and 10 points in his first 25 outings. The veteran winger only has three goals in his last 18 games as of Friday and it's worth noting that each of those goals came in a hat trick against the Dallas Stars on Nov. 27.

Hall, 33, just isn't providing the presence that the Blackhawks assumed he'd bring to Chicago. The former Hart Memorial Trophy now only has seven goals and 14 points in 35 career outings with the franchise, suggesting that his best days are firmly in the rearview mirror.

With Hall being an unrestricted free agent in the summer, teams will likely call GM Davidson about his services soon. While he might not be the player he once was, the former All-Star winger's name could be enough to land the Blackhawks a decent return — especially if they retain any salary.

3. Alec Martinez, D

The Blackhawks attempted to shore up their blue line by signing veteran defenseman Alec Martinez to a one-year contract in free agency. Although he's never been the best player at this position, Martinez is an experienced defender with over 1,000 games of experience between the playoffs and the regular season.

That's without mentioning his three Stanley Cup rings. In other words, management was hoping for that experience to rub off on the Blackhawks' younger players.

But rather than thrive while being surrounded by youth, Martinez is in the middle of one of his more underwhelming seasons.

The left-handed defenseman only has three assists and a minus-8 rating without a goal in his first 14 appearances. Martinez is also averaging three giveaways for every takeaway he makes, which is his worst ratio since the 2018-19 season. The Blackhawks' .889 save percentage when he's on the ice is also his worst effort in five years.

At the end of the day, Martinez appears to be better suited for a team with a more experienced backend. He's just not the type of player who can anchor the defense on his own anymore, especially after turning 37 in July. It wouldn't be shocking if the Blackhawks attempted to do him a solid by moving him before the trade deadline rather than forcing him to spend the remainder of the season on a bottom-feeder.

If that's the case, look for trade speculation to ramp up in the coming months.

Home/Chicago Blackhawks