Report: Joel Quenneville’s Return to the Bench Is a “Strong Possibility”
It’s been almost two full seasons since Joel Quenneville last coached an NHL game, but according to TSN NHL Insider Darren Dreger, Coach Q could be back behind an NHL bench soon.
The 3x-Stanley Cup-winning coach with the Blackhawks last coached the Florida Panthers. He resigned from his role as head coach in October of 2021 following a meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman about his involvement with the Kyle Beach & Chicago Blackhawks sexual abuse case.
Along with his resignation, Quenneville also released a statement at the time saying:
“I want to express my sorrow for the pain this young man, Kyle Beach, has suffered. My former team, the Blackhawks, failed Kyle and I own my share of that,” Quenneville said in a statement to TSN. “I want to reflect on how all of this happened and take the time to educate myself on ensuring hockey spaces are safe for everyone.”
Where Could Joel Quenneville End Up?
Following the Rangers’ first-round exit last night at the hands of the New Jersey Devils, rumors are swirling about Quenneville taking over for Gerard Gallant in New York. Quenneville has yet to be officially cleared by the NHL to return to coaching. However, according to Dreger, it seems if and when formal interview requests come in Quenneville will likely get the Commissioner’s approval.
If and when Quenneville does return, it seems likely that his landing spot could play a role in where Patrick Kane eventually ends up. Kane will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. A return to the Rangers isn’t out of the question, but New York is very much up against the salary cap so that could make things tricky. However, if Quenneville were to take over it would likely be a big selling point for Kane.
