After firing head coach Luke Richardson on Thursday, the Chicago Blackhawks named Rockford IceHogs head coach Anders Sorensen as the interim head coach of the NHL squad. In a corresponding move, current assistant general manager of the Blackhawks Mark Eaton was named interim head coach of the IceHogs. This article will dive into Richardson’s tenure, and the new head coaches at the NHL and AHL level.
Richardson’s coaching tenure
Brought to the organization in the summer of 2022, Richardson joined the Blackhawks with a decade of coaching experience split between the AHL and the NHL as an assistant. In just over two years as the head coach of Chicago, Richardson had a record of 49–102–13.
Meant to be a stabilizing force behind the bench for a rebuilding team, it became clear this season that expectations were not being met. In a press conference following the firing, Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson stated, “I think we have taken some nice steps, but we’re in last place.” This, along with concerns about Connor Bedard’s development, brought an end to Richardson’s time with Chicago.
Sorensen’s tenure begins
Sorensen has been a part of the Blackhawks organization since 2014. Spending his first five years with the organization as a development coach, Sorensen became an assistant coach for the IceHogs before the 2019–20 season. He later became the head coach of the team on an interim basis during the 2021–22 season, officially taking the reigns as head coach the following season.
When asked why he picked Sorensen over Blackhawks assistant coach Derek King, Davidson stated, “That’s no slight to Kinger. It’s just moreso Anders is a new face, new voice, new ideas. It was just something new. We’ve gone down that road with Kinger before, and I think there could be some fear of him just being the de facto ‘Interim Guy.'”
What this means for the Blackhawks
Firing Richardson and hiring Sorensen indicates a few things for the NHL club. The first is that being a last-place team is unacceptable with the current roster. Although nowhere near a playoff squad, playing uninspired hockey night after night when positive strides were expected put Davidson in an untenable position. With Sorensen and his success at the AHL level, the hope is that improvements can be made throughout the rest of the season.
Another indication by this move is that it allows Chicago to get an extended look at Sorensen without having to commit to him beyond this season. The optimistic view is that he could become Chicago’s Jon Cooper or Mike Sullivan. Perhaps Chicago could find long-term success with the coach who was responsible for the development of multiple prospects in the AHL. If he does not succeed, the Blackhawks can wash their hands of it, send Sorensen back to Rockford and begin a head coach search in the 2025 offseason.
Eaton takes over in Rockford
The last significant change to take place was making Eaton, the current assistant general manager of the Blackhawks, the interim head coach of the IceHogs. Eaton had an extensive NHL career and has had nearly a decade of experience in the Blackhawks front office.
Eaton’s playing career
Mark Eaton was an integral part of the 2008–09 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. (Photo courtesy of Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)
A left-handed defenseman, Eaton was known as a shot-blocking, bottom-pair defenseman throughout his professional career.
Eaton signed his first professional contract in 1998 as an undrafted free agent to the Philadelphia Flyers. After spending the 1999–00 season with Philadelphia, he was traded to the Nashville Predators before the following season for a third-round pick in 2001. With that pick, the Flyers went on to select Blackhawks legend Patrick Sharp.
Following a stint with Nashville from 2000 to 2006, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an unrestricted free agent. His first two seasons with Pittsburgh was plagued with injury, but he shined in the 2009 playoffs, scoring four goals during the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championship run.
Once the 2009–10 season ended, Eaton signed with the New York Islanders. After two seasons on Long Island, Eaton was signed to a professional tryout with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. When released from his tryout, Eaton signed back with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he finished out the 2012–13 season. He retired following the season.
Eaton enjoyed a 13-year career, finishing with 21 goals and 64 assists in 650 NHL games.
Eaton’s executive career
Mark Eaton, new interim head coach of the Rockford IceHogs, has been part of the Blackhawks organization since 2014. (Photo courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks)
Like Sorensen, Eaton joined the Blackhawks organization before the 2014–15 season, starting as a development coach at the NHL level. Following two years in this role, Eaton was promoted to director of player development, a role he held until the 2019–20 season.
After four years as director of player development, Eaton was named the assistant general manager of the Blackhawks starting in the 2020–21 season, a position he has held until being named interim head coach of the IceHogs yesterday.
What this means for the IceHogs
The development and success of these young IceHogs is now in the hands of Mark Eaton. (Photo courtesy of Kristin Ostrowski / Rockford IceHogs)
With a current record of 8–9–2, Rockford sits in fourth place in the AHL’s Central Division and expect to make the playoffs this season. Along with playoff aspirations, the continued development of prospects like Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov is a top priority. With Sorensen’s staff unchanged, Mark should step in and continue the positive strides made this season.
The question remains of who will coach this young IceHogs team next season. That answer may have to wait until the offseason. For now, Eaton has the chance to coach multiple players who he helped draft into the organization.