With interim head coach Anders Sorensen having navigated 21 games since taking over the Blackhawks, much of the buzz and “new coach boost” has worn off in Chicago. The on-ice product looks a bit different from what the Blackhawks displayed under former head coach Luke Richardson, with Sorensen’s high-risk, high-reward style being the direct opposite of Richardson’s conservative, grind-it-out mentality. The difference is having an expected effect, with the Blackhawks scoring more goals per game but giving up more.
But the coaching change didn’t do much to change Chicago’s status in the standings. While Richardson was fired after an 8-16-2 (.364) start, Sorensen now boasts a 7-12-2 (.381) mark, both among the worst in the league.
The coaching change hasn’t made the Blackhawks more successful yet, but a truly objective source said there could be hope on the horizon. Before his team knocked off Chicago in overtime on Monday night, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind-Amour delivered some heavy-hitting comments about the direction of the Blackhawks.
“Lately [they have] a lot more structure. When we're prescouting it, it's like, 'Ooo, they have a plan.' You can see exactly what's happening. That's what good teams do: they're going to be here, here, here. And yep, that's what they're doing. They obviously have the weapons, but it seems like there's a little more plan or structure. Maybe there's more buy-in, I don't know.”
-- Rod Brind-Amour
The first takeaway from Brind-Amour’s comments is that they’re a tough look for Richardson. The fact that they “have a plan,” which he says is a big change from where they were before, isn’t a glowing endorsement, especially for a coach who hopes to get another job in the NHL and work his way back up the ladder.
But beyond that tough indictment, Brind-Amour’s comments hold a lot of promise for Blackhawks fans. For those focused solely on Chicago’s performance, it can be tough to put success in perspective compared to the rest of the league. But when another team’s head coach acknowledges an improvement in structure, which is “what good teams do,” that holds a lot more weight. There’s no telling who the Blackhawks’ head coach will be six months from now – Sorensen is getting a shot at the job and making small improvements, but Chicago will be opening up its head coaching search to outside candidates as well. Hearing that there’s “more buy-in” and more of a plan than before is a great sign for Sorensen to take over the long-term job.
