Luke Richardson

Luke Richardson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach from Ottawa, Ontario.

Luke Richardson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach from Ottawa, Ontario. He played 21 NHL seasons for six teams and later coached in the NHL and AHL, including as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He is known for a long playing career marked by strong defensive play and a rapid transition into coaching.

Early life and junior hockey

Richardson was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. He played junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League, where his performance led to him being selected seventh overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.

NHL playing career

Richardson began his NHL career at age 18 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and went on to play 1,417 regular-season games over 21 seasons for six teams: Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators. He was a stay-at-home defenceman known for physical play and high penalty minutes, and he built his career on defensive reliability and toughness.

Coaching career

After retiring as a player in 2009, Richardson moved into coaching with the Ottawa Senators organization. He later served as an NHL assistant coach and as head coach of the Binghamton Senators in the American Hockey League. In 2022, he was hired as head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Recognition and legacy

Richardson has been recognized in Ottawa for both his playing career and his local hockey roots. He is widely described as a classic defensive defenceman whose career bridged elite playing and coaching. His career is often mentioned in discussions of Canadian hockey alongside personalities such as Don Cherry, Patrick Roy, and Corey Perry.