The Chicago Blackhawks have fired coach Luke Richardson, the team announced on Thursday. Richardson was in his third season and had a just a 57-118-15 record with a winning percentage of .339 during that span.

The Blackhawks were off to an 8-16-2 start, putting them last in the NHL standings. That poor performance came after the team spent money to upgrade the roster in free agency. 

General manager Kyle Davidson announced Richardson's firing, and he cited the team's lack of progress on the ice as a major reason for the decision. Richardson, 55, was in the last year of a three-year contract. 

This was supposed to be a year in which the Blackhawks took a step forward, even if it was a small one. Connor Bedard, the 2024 Calder Trophy winner, is in his second season and Davidson tried to get more help around the young star.