Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson looks for improvement from team after firing coach

CHICAGO (AP) — Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson passed the point of no return following a 4-2 loss to Boston on Wednesday night.

That's when he decided to replace coach Luke Richardson.

“I don’t think once you cross that threshold in your own mind, you can go back,” Davidson said. “And so I crossed that point after the Boston game the other night.”

The aftermath of that decision began in earnest on Friday, when Chicago practiced for the first time under interim coach Anders Sorensen — a day after the Richardson move was announced by the organization.

The big task for Sorensen is turning around a team that wasn't exactly built for a playoff run this season, but one Davidson feels is better than its NHL-worst 8-16-2 record. The offensively challenged Blackhawks have lost four in a row and eight of 10 overall going into Saturday's game against Winnipeg.

“I don’t believe this is a last-place group. And that’s where we find ourselves,” Davidson said in his first media session since Richardson was fired. “Do I believe we deserve better in some games that we didn’t get a point or two points out of this year? Yes. But dissect that. Why didn’t we get those points? I feel like there were things that could be cleaned up. And maybe some things kept popping up here and there that, again, probably should have been improved upon.”

Richardson, 55, had a 57-118-15 record in two-plus seasons with Chicago. The coaching change comes with the Blackhawks set to host the Winter Classic on Dec. 31 against the St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field.

In a statement released by the team, Richardson said he was grateful for the opportunity to coach the Blackhawks and wished the team and its fans the best for the rest of the season.

Sorensen, 49, was the head coach at Rockford in the AHL before he got the interim job, making him a familiar face for many of the Blackhawks. He was hired by the organization as a development coach ahead of the 2013-14 season. He joined the IceHogs staff as an assistant coach beginning in 2018-19.

Sorensen becomes the first Swedish-born head coach in NHL history.

“I think for me, I’ve been a big believer in where my two feet are is where I’m going to work and try to get better and we’ll see what happens,” Sorensen said. “Obviously, like you said, you want to strive to improve and get up to higher levels. It’s surreal right now, trying to digest.”

Asked what he needs to do to secure the job long-term, a chuckling Sorensen responded: “Win games.”

“We want to see progress with a lot of our younger players,” he continued. “We want to make sure we’re kind of building off this and progressing and that’s the biggest thing.”

Connor Bedard’s development has always been the most important part of this season for Chicago, and it seemed as if his progress had stalled a bit with Richardson in charge — at least offensively. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft has five goals and 14 assists in 26 games after he had 11 goals and 10 assists at the same point last season.

While he has been more responsible defensively, the 19-year-old Bedard and the Blackhawks were hoping for more offensive production in his second year.

“He’s one of those guys we have to get him up the ice and get skating,” Sorensen said. “That’s when he’s at his best. We all see what he can do when the puck’s on his stick. We have to get a way for him to get the puck in motion. That’s the biggest thing right now.”

Bedard called Richardson “a really good guy” and said he was sad seeing him go. But he also was looking forward to working with Sorensen.

“It’s good to have the first skate and get comfortable and talk to him,” Bedard said. “It’s good we all know him a little bit from being at training camps and stuff like that, so it was a good first day.”

While Bedard attracts the most attention, Chicago's offensive trouble runs a lot deeper than its young center. The Blackhawks signed Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen in free agency, and the two forwards have combined for just 11 goals and 11 assists.

Chicago is averaging 2.42 goals per game, ranked No. 31 in the NHL ahead of only Nashville going into Friday night’s games. The Blackhawks finished with a league-low 178 goals last season.

“Everyone needs to take ownership of this,” captain Nick Foligno said. “The sad part is one person maybe takes the fall, but it’s all of us that need to be better in here. We’re excited to get to work with Anders, and I think Luke would want us to forge ahead, too. He cares a lot about this group and this organization so the best we can do is get moving ahead here and show we can be that team.”

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Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen skates during NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen speaks with reporters after NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen speaks with reporters after NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen directs players during NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen and Ryan Donato (8) discuss drills during NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen speaks with reporters after NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen speaks to reporters after NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen directs players during NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen speaks with Jason Dickinson (16) during NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks interim head coach Anders Sorensen directs players during NHL hockey practice at Fifth Third Arena, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson, center top, talks to his players during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Chicago, Sunday, Dec.1, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills fans arrived early and lingered long after the game ended to bid what could be farewell to their long-time home stadium filled with 53 years of memories — and often piles of snow.

After singing along together to The Killers' “Mr. Brightside” in the closing minutes of a 35-8 victory against the New York Jets, most everyone in the crowd of 70,944 remained in their seats to bask in the glow of fireworks as Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World” played over the stadium speakers.

Several players stopped in the end zone to watch a retrospective video, with the Buffalo-based Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris” as the soundtrack while fans recorded selfie videos of the celebratory scene. Offensive lineman Alec Anderson even jumped into the crowd to pose for pictures before leaving the field.

With the Bills (12-5), the AFC's 6th seed, opening the playoffs at Jacksonville in the wild-card round next week, there's but a slim chance they'll play at their old home again. Next season, Buffalo is set to move into its new $1.2 billion facility being built across the street.

The farewell game evoked “a lifetime of memories,” said Therese Forton-Barnes, selected the team’s Fan of the Year, before the Bills kicked of their regular-season finale. “In our culture that we know and love, we can bond together from that experience. Our love for this team, our love for this city, have branched from those roots.”

Forton-Barnes, a past president of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, attended Bills games as a child at the old War Memorial Stadium in downtown Buffalo, colloquially known as “The Rockpile.” She has been a season ticket holder since Jim Kelly joined the Bills in 1986 at what was then Rich Stadium, later renamed for the team’s founding owner Ralph Wilson, and then corporate sponsors New Era and Highmark.

“I’ve been to over 350 games,” she said. “Today we’re here to cherish and celebrate the past, present and future. We have so many memories that you can’t erase at Rich Stadium, The Ralph, and now Highmark. Forever we will hold these memories when we move across the street.”

There was a celebratory mood to the day, with fans arriving early. Cars lined Abbott Road some 90 minutes before the stadium lots opened for a game the Bills rested most of their starters, with a brisk wind blowing in off of nearby Lake Erie and with temperatures dipping into the low 20s.

And most were in their seats when Bills owner Terry Pegula thanked fans and stadium workers in a pregame address.

With Buffalo leading 21-0 at halftime, many fans stayed in their seats as Kelly and fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Andre Reed addressed them from the field, and the team played a video message from 100-year-old Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy.

“The fans have been unbelievable,” said Jack Hofstetter, a ticket-taker since the stadium opened in 1973 who was presented with Super Bowl tickets before Sunday’s game by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “I was a kid making 8 bucks a game back in those days. I got to see all the sports, ushering in the stadium and taking tickets later on. All the memories, it’s been fantastic.”

Bud Light commemorated the stadium finale and Bills fan culture with the release of a special-edition beer brewed with melted snow shoveled out of the stadium earlier this season.

In what has become a winter tradition at the stadium, fans were hired to clear the stands after a lake-effect storm dropped more than a foot of snow on the region this week.

The few remaining shovelers were still present clearing the pathways and end zone stands of snow some five hours before kickoff. The new stadium won’t require as many shovelers, with the field heated and with more than two-thirds of the 60,000-plus seats covered by a curved roof overhang.

Fears of fans rushing the field were abated with large contingent of security personnel and backed by New York State troopers began lining the field during the final 2-minute warning.

Fans stayed in the stands, singing along to the music, with many lingering to take one last glimpse inside the stadium where the scoreboard broadcast one last message:

“Thank You, Bills Mafia.”

AP Sports Writer John Wawrow contributed.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) remains on the field to watch a tribute video after the Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans watch a ceremony after the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets in the Bills' final regular-season NFL football home game in Highmark Stadium Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Fans celebrate after the Buffalo Bills scored a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Fans celebrate and throw snow in the stands after an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Aga Deters, right, and her husband Fred Deters, walk near Highmark Stadium before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Michael Wygant shoves snow from a tunnel before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Alec Anderson (70) spikes the ball after running back Ty Johnson scored a touchdown against the New York Jets in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

FILE - The existing Highmark Stadium, foreground, frames the construction on the new Highmark Stadium, upper right, which is scheduled to open with the 2026 season, shown before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots, Oct. 5, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Salt crew member Jim Earl sprinkles salt in the upper deck before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)