ESPN Reports: Chicago Blackhawks have just brought back another dominant NHL player from overseas for their bench in a blockbuster deal worth…..Read more

Luke Richardson’s termination by the Chicago Blackhawks will set off a thorough search this offseason.
The Hawks will look at a lot of suitors to head the team next following Luke Richardson’s sacking on Thursday.

With 18 points over 26 games, the club chose to go beyond their bench boss with the squad sitting dead last in the league.

Sadly, less than a month ago the ideal Chicago Blackhawks candidate was taken up.
Chicago Blackhawks supporters were hoping Jim Montgomery would make it to the offseason when the Bruins let him go mid-November. The St. Louis Blues cut go of their lead man, Drew Bannister, not wanting to wait to land an interview with Montgomery over the summer. Soon after Boston showed him the door, the Blues recruited the 2022 Jack Adams award winner just five days later.

Being a proven winner, Montgomery would have been great behind the Chicago Blackhawks bench. Management wasted a great chance to bring in a someone who oversaw a reputable organization to ensure ongoing success in his stint out east. They were too late on the draw.

The Hawks might find great success following the path of looking for someone with loads of NHL experience.
Gerard Gallant has the experience to meet the criteria if the Chicago Blackhawks seek someone with more than ten years of running a locker room.

Gallant’s head coaching career in the NHL came back in the 2003–04 season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He carried on as the lead man until the completion of the 2006–2007 season, relieving Doug Maclean during the campaign. Funny enough, Luke Richardson was the Columbus captain when Gallant arrived. Gallant ended his three seasons in Ohio with a 56-76-4-6 record.

The now 61-year-old missed his next opportunity behind the bench until the 2014-15 season with the Florida Panthers. With a 96-65-25 record in his three years with the Panthers, Gallant had greater success in the Sunshine State than in the Midwest. During Gallant’s reign, the franchise made one postseason visit in the 2015–16 season.

Gallant’s next head coach assignment was somewhat significant. Before the 2017-18 season, he was named Vegas Golden Knights’ first head coach in history. Gallant guided the club toward the Stanley Cup Finals in their first season. The Knights declared themselves as an instant danger to the rest of the league even though they lost the series in five games to the Washington Capitals.

Jack Adams from that season was Gallant’s to lose; he claimed the honor for the first time in his career.

Gerard Gallant regarding Jack Adams’ #NHLAwards nomination: When you’re a finalist for this, it’s an organization award. Everyone performed a fantastic job; it’s why I am a finalist. pic.twitter.com/exkZPr99rt

June 20, 2018 Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights)

The Knights and Gallant broke up after the 2019–20 season. He missed a year from the game before being given an opportunity to run an Original 6 team. Gallant stayed with the Rangers for just two seasons before being let go straight after the team was kicked from the playoffs in the 2022–23 league year. In each of his two seasons, the seasoned veteran guided New York toward the playoffs; unfortunately, the outcomes simply did not match.

Although Gallant has been let go by several clubs, the Chicago Blackhawks might make use of the veteran voice in the room.
One could find red flags in Gallant’s letting go at several stops. Although that is undoubtedly one way to see him, it is well known how competitive the NHL can be. Ultimately, the most important thing the Chicago Blackhawks consider throughout the interview process should be Gallant’s accomplishments on his CV. Though Gallant should be on the top of his list, Kyle Davidson will have a lot of applicants to review.