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Joel Quenneville closing in on being named coach of Eastern Conference team per top NHL reporter

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Daniel Lucente
October 16, 2024  (2:37 PM)
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Joel Quenneville seen behind the bench back when he was an NHL coach
Photo credit: NHL Hockey Wikia - Fandom

The Detroit Red Wings are trying to right the ship before it sinks again this year, and Joel Quenneville has been rumored to be headed there to coach next.

Joel Quenneville was once considered one of the most successful coaches in NHL history but has now also become one of its most divisive figures following his involvement in the Kyle Beach scandal while with the Chicago Blackhawks. While he and former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman were widely criticized for their part in mishandling the allegations, the NHL has since reinstated both men. This summer, Bowman quickly found himself employed by the Edmonton Oilers, while Quenneville remains unemployed despite being attached to several teams' rumors.

That might change fairly soon, according to a story from Larry Brooks of the New York Post. Brooks suggests the Detroit Red Wings may look at Quenneville as their next move after hiring head coach Derek Lalonde. The move would be pretty eyebrow-raising, aside from moving past Quenneville's questionable past, but also what he does to a Red Wings team looking to build off recent progress.

If the Red Wings were to bring in Quenneville, it would also stir a reunion of himself and his former player, star forward Patrick Kane. On paper, that seemed like a great move for a team that had designs on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Detroit's 1-2-0 start to the season has cast doubt on their ability to accomplish that feat under Lalonde. Brooks does indicate, however, that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is leery of the potential backlash from a fanbase that might not forgive or forget Quenneville's transgressions any time soon, not unlike the polarized response Bowman's hiring led to in Edmonton.

The potential hiring of Quenneville could prove a gamble of sorts for the Red Wings, being that ownership expects a winning season from them. Yzerman will need to balance the potential on-ice improvement against the possible ramifications of alienating a segment of the team's fanbase. Considering Quenneville's coaching pedigree, a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a legacy of success, well there's little doubt that there would be several other teams willing to take another chance on him, regardless of the cloud of controversy hanging over him and all.

The fact is, Joel Quenneville's return to the NHL seems only a matter of time. As unlikely to reunite with Stan Bowman in Edmonton as he is, his credentials and reputation for winning will eventually appeal to any team looking for a proven coach. Whether Detroit is willing to take that risk, though, is another story altogether. But don't be surprised if Quenneville finds his way back behind the bench before the season is out.

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16 OCTOBRE   |   62 ANSWERS
Joel Quenneville closing in on being named coach of Eastern Conference team per top NHL reporter

Will Joel Quenneville ever coach again in the NHL?

Yes4267.7 %
No2032.3 %
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