Firing an NHL head coach isn't a decision that just comes overnight. It is usually a long list of things that lead to a move like that being made.
That was the case with now-former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson. He was let go for a variety of reasons but their current four-game losing streak has something to do with it.
It is interesting timing for GM Kyle Davidson. If he knew that this was possible, why did it take this long to do it? There are two moments earlier in the year that would have made more sense.
The first is the day after the road contest against the Vancouver Canucks where Taylor Hall was scratched. Hall was critical of that coaching decision after the fact but claimed that he and Richardson worked it out. Hall has played in every game since.
The other was a couple of weeks ago when the Boston Bruins fired their head coach Jim Montgomery. Since winning a National Championship at Denver, Montgomery has been an excellent head coach in the NHL with both the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins.
Chicago would have had a chance to hire him if they had gone for it right when Boston made their move. Instead, they hung onto Richardson, and Montgomery will be with their biggest division rival (the St. Louis Blues) for a long time.
After letting that opportunity get away from them, it became unnecessary to make the change this season. They were never supposed to be a good team anyway.
The only thing they can hope for now that they did make the switch is that Sorensen's push for more offense will help Connor Bedard. Still, even if he succeeds, missing Montgomery may come back to haunt them.
