In April, the Ottawa Senators announced that Binghamton Senators head coach Luke Richardson will not be returning to their bench for the 2016-17 season after coming to a mutual agreement with the organization to vacate the position to pursue a new opportunity.
On Wednesday, the B-Sens went back to the future to find Richardson's replacement. The Senators have issued a statement that the organization has named Kurt Kleinendorst head coach of the AHL Binghamton Senators. The contract is a two-year agreement and will run through the 2017-18 season.
Kleinendorst, 55, returns to Bingo where he delivered the franchise’s only Calder Cup championship in 2011.
In two years with the B-Sens, Kleindendorst posted a 71-70-8-7 regular season record and went 16-7 during the championship 2011 post-season. Assistant coach Steve Stirling has also agreed to return to the B-Sens coaching staff, reuniting the pair of coaches that led the team to the Calder Cup championship. “Kurt has a proven record of being able to balance both development and winning at the AHL level,… said Binghamton Senators general manager Randy Lee. “During his time in the organization our prospects were taught what it takes to be a good professional and how to understand their role as part of a successful team concept. We’re very excited to have him back in the organization.…
“Coaching experience was key to what we wanted to add to the organization this summer and with hirings in Ottawa and now the addition of both Kurt and Steve, we have accomplished that,… said Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion. “Kurt’s coaching philosophy fits exactly with what we are hoping to have at the American League level and will be a great compliment to our new staff in Ottawa.…
Following his departure from Binghamton, he spent the 2012-13 season as the head coach of Alabama-Huntsville before spending parts of the last two season as head coach of the AHL’s Iowa Wild. He spent the 2015-16 season as the coach of ERC Ingolstadt of the German league.
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As for Richardson, he is rumored to be interviewing for assistant coaching jobs in the NHL.
Richardson was a candidate to succeed Dave Cameron when he was given the bum rush by the Sens at the end of the disappointing 2015-16 regular season that saw the Sens miss qualifying for the playoffs.
One assumed that Richardson would be a shoe in to take over the Ottawa Senators bench due to the fact that 13 of his former players now populate the Ottawa roster. The logical move for the Sens would have been to promote the AHL head coach to the NHL head coaching vacancy. You know, for continuity sake. See: Mike Sullivan transitioning seamlessly from AHL Wilkes Barre to NHL Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hastag: "WINNING"
Nope. Not Ottawa. Their meddling owner Eugene Melnyk scorched earth at a March presser in assessing Cameron's handling of players among other pet peeves of his. It was clear weeks before the end of the season that Cameron was a goner. Melnyk promised changes. Then when the season ended, Bryan Murray was reassigned to a special advisor position and the Sens promoted AGM Pierre Dorion to the GM office. As for the head coaching search in Ottawa, Dorion opted to go against the grain and hire former NHL head coaches Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford to give the Senators a stiff defensive kick in the hockey pants that their previous head coaches had failed to do on a consistent basis.
Perhaps Richardson will now land in Buffalo with his former boss and good friend Tim Murray. Dan Bylsma's coaching staff shrunk by two coaches in the last month when Dan Lambert left Buffalo to become the new head coach of the Rochester Amerks. Last week, Dave Barr left Buffalo to become Gerard Gallant's right hand many on the Florida Panthers bench.
Richardson spoke glowingly of his time in the Ottawa organization:
“I’ve enjoyed my four years of coaching in Binghamton and am proud of the accomplishments of the players and team,… said Richardson. “I’d like to thank the Senators organization for providing me with the opportunity to be a head coach and I am looking forward to the next challenge in my coaching career.…
Richardson, 47, posted a 153-120-17-14 record in 304 games and led the B-Sens to two playoff appearances (2012-13 and 2013-14) in four seasons behind the bench. He was named head coach of the Eastern Conference all-star team in 2012-13 after compiling the conference’s best record ahead of the all-star break.
“One of Luke’s greatest assets is his ability to teach players the nuances of what it takes to be a professional,… said B-Sens general manager Randy Lee. “I’m certain that when many of our young players reflect on their respective development, Luke will be among the first people they consider in realizing the significant impact he’s had on their progress. The fact that 13 players were recalled from Binghamton this season, including seven who made their National Hockey League debut, is a testament to the good work of Luke, Steve (Stirling) and Tim (Marks).…
Prior to joining the B-Sens, Richardson spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Ottawa. He began his coaching career following his retirement as an active player during the 2008-09 campaign and joined the Ottawa coaching staff for the final three months of that season.
A 20-year NHL vet, Richardson played in 1,417 career games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Senators, recording 35 goals, 166 assists and 2,055 penalty minutes. He added eight assists and 130 penalty minutes in 69 career NHL playoff games.