Former Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson joins division rival

The Nashville Predators announced on Tuesday that former Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson had joined the Nashville Predators coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Richardson, 56, coached the Blackhawks from 2022 to 2024, before being let go after starting the 2024-25 NHL Season 8-16-2. Throughout Richardson's two and a quarter season career in Chicago, Richardson led the Hawks to a 57-118-15 NHL record.

Chicago was Richardson's first opportunity as an NHL head coach, and the Blackhawks by no means gave him a roster to compete with from year to year. Now, the former head coach heads to Nashville to be a part of Andrew Brunette's coaching staff.

The Blackhawks will have plenty of opportunities to face off against their former head coach next season.

With Nashville being in the Central Division, Richardson isn't traveling very far from Chicago. The Blackhawks could very well form a bit of a rivalry with Richardson and the Predators, especially with both teams being outside of contention and working to improve.

A significant factor here is that Richardson's joining of the Predators could potentially lead to his return as a head coach in the near future. The Predators just had one of their biggest underachievement of a season in franchise history, and there is no doubt that Brunette's seat will be warm entering the new season.

Richardson is a great addition to the Predators coaching staff, and he could also serve as a potential interim head coach if the Predators do end up making a move next season.

It's great to see Richardson get another opportunity in the NHL. While his time in Chicago did not end on a good note, Richardson was not dealt the best cards in Chicago. The Blackhawks were rebuilding and were putting together a pretty bleak roster night in and night out. Like the Blackhawks' hiring of Jeff Blashill, everyone deserves a second chance.