Joel Quenneville hired by Anaheim Ducks for 1st head coaching job since Blackhawks abuse scandal
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Quenneville's reputation and career were badly damaged by his role in the Blackhawks' handling of the accusations against Aldrich. After four seasons out of the sport, the 13-year NHL defenseman is getting another chance behind the bench — this time with a franchise in the middle of a lengthy rebuilding process.
Quenneville takes over a team that has missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, the third-longest active absence in the NHL. Anaheim finished sixth in the Pacific Division this season at 35-37-10 after being in the bottom two for the previous four consecutive years.
He replaces Greg Cronin, who was surprisingly fired by Verbeek at the conclusion of his second season in charge. Cronin led the Ducks to a 21-point improvement in his second season, but Verbeek changed course for reasons he declined to reveal when he announced the firing.
While announcing the change, Verbeek said he expects the Ducks to make the playoffs next season. That's a pronouncement that the first-time GM had never made during his 3 1/2 years in charge of owner Henry Samueli's franchise.
And Quenneville has plenty of experience in getting teams to the postseason. His teams have made 20 Stanley Cup playoff appearances, reaching the postseason in all but two of the 22 seasons he finished.
Quenneville inherits a team with an ample stock of young talent. The roster includes No. 2 overall pick Leo Carlsson, No. 3 overall picks Mason McTavish and Beckett Sennecke, promising forward Cutter Gauthier, rising defensemen Jackson LaCombe and Pavel Mintyukov, and several veteran forwards, including two-time All-Star Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras.
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Globe and Mail
6 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Excitement, nervousness and a sense of déjà vu as Edmonton prepares for the Stanley Cup Finals this week
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Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blackhawks hire Vellucci as an assistant coach under Blashill
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CTV News
9 hours ago
- CTV News
Let's get physical: Oilers eager to combat aggressive Panthers even minus NHL hits leader
Los Angeles Kings winger Warren Foegele, centre, loses his helmet as he is hit by Edmonton Oilers winger Zach Hyman, left, and winger Evander Kane as defenceman Darnell Nurse watches from the Oilers' bench during the second period in Game 2 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Los Angeles. Zach Hyman will be missed by the Edmonton Oilers in several ways. For his scoring: the team-leading scorer of 54 goals last season has five goals in the 2025 National Hockey League playoffs, tied for third on the team list with three others, and 11 points, good for fifth on the Oilers with Evander Kane. He has scored 40 goals and 73 points in 100 career NHL playoff games. For the winger's character: The 32-year-old is a popular leader. His speech in the dressing room after last June's heartbreaking Game 7 loss in the Stanley Cup final resonates with teammates and coaches alike now almost a year later. 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Kapanen scored the game-winning goal in overtime in his second game played this post-season to eliminate the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. The mid-season waiver wire pick-up from St. Louis has three goals in seven games played. Skinner drew back onto the active roster in Game 5 against the Dallas Stars – he played in the Oilers' playoff opener then was assigned to press box duty when Kane returned to action – scoring his team's third goal of the game in the Western Conference final-clinching 6-3 Edmonton win. Kane, seventh on the NHL playoff hits list with 68, says it's evident team depth is benefitting the Oilers. Oilers vs. Stars Dallas Stars' Roope Hintz (24) and Edmonton Oilers' Evander Kane (91) battle for the puck during second period NHL Western Conference final playoff action, in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS) 'If we need scoring, we have scoring. If we need some guys who can be a little more physical, we can be more physical,' said Kane, who has 68 hits this post-season, good for second on the team and seventh on the NHL list. 'We're going to have to use that depth, and we're going to have to get the job done with it.' 'We have a lot of guys in the room that can play that (physical) style, too.' — Darnell Nurse Knoblauch said the Oilers are 'better equipped this year' to handle the physical Panthers, who led the NHL in team hits during the regular season with 2,446 – an average of 29.83 per game. The Oilers ranked 32nd, last, in that category with 1,241, although until the playoffs began, they were without the likes of Kane and Trent Frederic, gritty power forwards both known for banging bodies. So far in the 2025 playoffs, Panthers players have delivered a collective 812 hits, their Oilers counterparts second among conference finalists with 636. Oilers Stars Hockey Dallas Stars centre Colin Blackwell (15) tussles with Edmonton Oilers defenceman Jake Walman, front left, and forward Trent Frederic (21) during the first period in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals in the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Friday, May 23, 2025, in Dallas. (LM Otero/AP) 'I think we're better equipped this year. We've got, especially up front, a lot more physical players,' said Knoblauch, highlighting the addition of Kane and Frederic to the lineup. Nurse said he expects the Cup final rematch with the Panthers will 'be a fun series.' 'They play a hard style of hockey. They play physical. They're in your face,' Nurse said. 'In each and every shift, you've got to go out there and – I know it's a cliche – give 100 per cent and work as hard as you can, because they're a team that doesn't give any free space. 'We have a lot of guys in the room that can play that style, too.'
