Richardson savors chance to coach Blackhawks

For Luke Richardson, the start of training camp couldn't come soon enough.

"It's been an exciting summer, but I've been waiting for this, especially the last few weeks," he said with a laugh Wednesday, the day before camp began for the Chicago Blackhawks, who hired Richardson as coach June 27.
"The coach has been preparing and you just want to get going. You kind of feel the same feeling a player has this time of the year. We're ready, so we really want to get the ball rolling."
Richardson has been waiting more than a few weeks for this. After being an assistant with the Ottawa Senators (2009-12), New York Islanders (2017-18) and Montreal Canadiens (2018-22), the 53-year-old is getting his first opportunity as an NHL coach. Those who have coached with or played for Richardson said he is ready for the opportunity.
"I've seen how he is with players and everything, the respect he commands and just how good of a human being he is," said Blackhawks forward Max Domi, who played under Richardson in Montreal from 2018-20.
When Domi found out Richardson was being hired by Chicago, he told his agent he wanted to sign there.
"A lot of these coaches, it's a coach-player kind of thing," Domi said. "He's person-person. He treats players with respect, doesn't play games and is pretty much on the straight and narrow. You play hard and you do what you're asked to do, he's going to play you. There are no games there. So, I think that's pretty exciting for everyone. He brings a lot of experience, a long career as a player and he's had a great career so far as a coach too. I think he'll make a big difference for the veterans we have and the younger kids coming in."
Those around Richardson said one of his biggest assets is patience. It's something he'll need with the Blackhawks, who are in a full rebuild after finishing 28-42-12 last season (seventh in the Central Division) and haven't qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs four of the past five seasons.
Forwards Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are the only players remaining from the Stanley Cup-winning teams of 2010, 2013 and 2015, with the Blackhawks mainly a mix of young players and veterans on short-term contracts.

"He's very even keeled all the time and he's a good choice for the Blackhawks with the way his demeanor is," said former Senators coach Paul MacLean, who had Richardson as an assistant from 2011-12. "He has a good sense of humor, he likes to laugh, he likes to work hard. If they all work in the gym and train as hard as he does, they'll be one of the best conditioned teams in the League."
Richardson has shown his own physical training, sometimes taking part in post-practice conditioning skates with the players. Seattle Kraken goaltender Chris Driedger didn't participate in many of them but saw them firsthand while playing for Richardson with Binghamton, Ottawa's American Hockey League affiliate, from 2014-17.
"Guys are talking obviously but I think it just instills respect, you know?" Driedger said. "Guys talked about [coach Rod] Brind'Amour in Carolina and it's kind of the same thing. He's a guy who's in great shape and I get the feeling that, and I felt this too, it makes you want to go to war for him. He's putting in the work, why shouldn't you? It doesn't give you any excuse not to."
Developing the Blackhawks' young players will be key over the next few seasons, and Richardson got a lot of experience doing that while coaching Binghamton from 2012-16. Canadiens defenseman Chris Wideman, who played for Richardson there from 2012-15, said he learned a lot in those seasons.
"I could sit here and tell you for certain if not for Luke Richardson, I don't think I would've ever achieved my goal of playing in the NHL," said Wideman, who reunited with Richardson in Montreal last season. "Just the little things he was able to show me along the way, trying to create leverage against bigger guys, trying to use angles to take away time and space. Just things you really aren't going to get from guys who haven't played in the NHL for as long as he did.
"We're two totally different types of players, but that's one of his strong suits, is to see quality in each player and try to help them use that to their advantage."
Richardson, a former defenseman, had 201 points (35 goals, 166 assists) in 1,417 NHL games during 21 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning and Senators from 1987-2009.
Former NHL forward Doug Weight, Richardson's teammate with the Oilers from 1992-97, said Richardson hasn't changed much over the years.
"He was a lot like he is now: very stoic, great leader, just great work ethic, professional but just a great guy, too," said Weight, who had Richardson as an assistant when he coached the Islanders. "There's going to be no shortage of respect for Luke, the way he played in his career and way he holds himself. He's very honest. He studies the game, he knows the game and knows what type of team he wants to have. He's one of the most fair people that you can play for in any era."
In the aftermath of what has unquestionably been the hardest moment of his life, Richardson showed his character, resolve and willingness to help others. In November 2010, his daughter Daron died of suicide at age 14. Luke and his wife Stephanie soon launched Do It For Daron (DIFD) to create awareness, inspire conversations and transform youth mental health.
"You've seen a lot of things that happen that tear families apart because people can't get over them," Weight said. "When you see how strong they are united as a group and how much they're fighting, trying to respect Daron's legacy and to help other people says so much about Luke and Steph and (daughter) Morgan and the friends they have around him.
"It says what type of people they are. It was a terrible time, but they are striving to help people after Daron, they get up every morning and go to work and that's just the type of people they are. I'm very proud of them, proud to be a part of Do It For Daron."
Richardson is like any other competitor: He wants to win and he'll do everything to help the Blackhawks do that. It's a daunting task, but he's been preparing for this opportunity for a while and is ready.
"I know there will be lots of things I learn along the way and making sure I'm open to learning and having new ideas and growing as a coach," said Richardson, who coached six games for the Canadiens in the 2021 playoffs, when coach Dominique Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19. "I've done it for a while now, and I've been a head coach at the American League level, but I know it's not the same as this.
"I like to come to the rink fresh every day and being positive, and that's something that rubs off on players. If you come the other way and you're negative and grumpy, that rubs off on other people as well. I want to make sure I'm consistent, but I'm still growing and learning things to make sure I improve as a coach. That just helps the team and the players."