Latest news with #JoelQuenneville
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ducks Urged to Pursue Maple Leafs' Star After Joel Quenneville Hire
Ducks Urged to Pursue Maple Leafs' Star After Joel Quenneville Hire originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Anaheim Ducks hired former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville to lead the team forward. Anaheim believes that Quenneville can help this team take that next step to get back to the postseason and contend for a Stanley Cup title. Advertisement But with Quenneville now in the mix, Anaheim seems ready to make a splash across the roster. The Ducks desperately need a boost offensively, and the team could solve some issues by going after one player in free agency. That would be star Mitch Marner from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who is expected to have a robust market. But Anaheim would be a perfect landing spot for the forward. In fact, Ducks insider Eric Stephens of The Athletic is urging Anaheim to make a heavy push to land the Maple Leafs star. "The Ducks are positioned to make a gigantic splash in free agency. Marner was the NHL's fifth-leading scorer. Wanting him and getting him might be different matters, but the last Ducks player to finish that high in the scoring race was Ryan Getzlaf (with 87 points) in 2013-14. Can you imagine a top line with Marner, Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier as they chart a path to the playoffs?" Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) during a break in the action against the Colorado Avalanche at Scotiabank Arena. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Marner could help this young Ducks team grow immensely, and his skill set would fit well alongside some of the other players on the roster. The veteran has been in the media circus that is Toronto for his entire career, and if he were to come to Anaheim, it would be a stark difference. Advertisement It remains to be seen how involved the Ducks will be in the pursuit of Marner, but the team makes a lot of sense. Anaheim seems ready to strike, and Marner could be the spark to move them forward. Related: Oilers' Connor McDavid, Kris Knoblauch Turn Heads With Mattias Ekholm Comments This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Who stays, who goes for the Ducks this summer? What will Quenneville mean for Zegras' future?
Joel Quenneville knows he is walking into a promising situation with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks restarted Quenneville's NHL coaching career following a lengthy league ban for his role in the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal. It seemed inevitable that Quenneville would return once the league said he could. Anaheim, armed with ample salary-cap space, an array of young talent with high upside and a goal to spend money and be serious contenders for their first playoff berth in what will become eight years, was an attractive opening for prospective head coaches. Advertisement 'This is the only team that was appealing at that level, but it's amazing how many people were saying, 'This is the place to go,'' Quenneville said. 'And now that I'm here, it feels even better.' More than three months remain until Quenneville laces up his skates and runs his first Ducks practice. The roster is bound to look different from how it ended the 2024-25 season. Who is a lock to stay with the club and who could be headed out as the offseason continues to play out? Coming off his first 20-goal year, in which he pushed his points average up from 0.53 as a rookie to 0.59, Carlsson played a big role for Sweden at the World Championships. He had 10 points in 10 games, including a two-goal effort in the quarterfinals against Czechia and a two-assist game in the bronze medal win over Denmark. And with 29 points in his last 31 Ducks games, he's looking like a No. 1 center moving into his age-21 season. Thirteen goals over his last 33 games put him on a 32-goal pace. Gauthier started his rookie season by moving up and down the lineup, but eventually started to look like the top-six finisher he's been projected to become. Chemistry with Carlsson began to emerge. Over the last three weeks, he teamed with Carlsson on seven goals — five of which were his. And like Carlsson, Gauthier is still on an entry-level contract that ends next season. Dostal, 24, is due a big raise as an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent after finishing a cheap two-year extension in which he more than proved himself as a capable NHL starting goalie. He made a career-high 49 starts and, on many nights, he looked like a high-level No. 1, as he was required to make 40 or more saves five times. His second half wasn't as efficient and he displayed a nagging habit of allowing multiple first-period goals, but he's become The Guy in net. Advertisement Killorn, 35, played in all 82 games last season. He's come up shy of the 20-goal mark in Anaheim, which he reached three times during a long run with Tampa Bay, and there's been grousing over him having a top-line role at times because he isn't a top offensive threat. But the fact is, he's a good complementary player who brings a defensive conscience to a line and, more importantly, he's still on a pricey contract that runs through 2027. LaCombe was the breakout story for the Ducks last season. The 24-year-old defender took a significant leap in all areas, showing himself to be their top offensive threat from the blue line while also improving defensively. He's become their No. 1 on the back end. He can improve in quarterbacking their currently woeful power play. If he does that, LaCombe will be in line for a gigantic raise in 2026 and will move into untouchable status. McTavish, 22, is another of the young Ducks who needed to move forward in 2024-25. It didn't look that way for the first half of the season, but he finished with a flourish by posting 16 goals and 33 points in his final 36 games. He and Cronin didn't always see eye to eye, so it will be interesting to see how he works with Quenneville. There's been talk of him being an offer-sheet candidate, but the Ducks can easily match something that doesn't throw off their future salary scale. Terry, 27, will put up 20 to 25 goals and 55 to 60 points. Solid numbers, but not star numbers. Is he an untouchable? No. Can that production be replaced? Probably. But he's locked into a seven-year contract with a 10-team no-trade clause that kicks in July 1. What he provides is stability and cost certainty. The Ducks would like more production, but his $7 million salary amid a rising salary cap is about what a proven second-line winger will cost. The 21 goals and 45 points that Vatrano put up last season are more in line with his career numbers than his 37-goal, 60-point glow-up of 2023-24. Perhaps that regression was expected, but he's still providing solid middle-six scoring while adding in dashes of truculence. Vatrano starts his new three-year contract next season. Harkins, 28, is signed through this next season and he provides what every organization needs: an NHL-minimum depth player who can step in at a moment's notice to fill a hole, be a leading player for a team's AHL affiliate and accept playing different roles. An energy forward, Harkins can skate, and that makes him useful. Advertisement The 2024-25 season was a step back for Mintyukov. His ice time went down from his rookie year — particularly on the power play — and he was scratched at times. Part of that was attributable to LaCombe's meteoric ascent and part of it was Mintyukov being stuck in a logjam on the left side of the defense. Mintyukov is still on his entry-level deal and there's a lot of talent there for the new coaching staff to tap into. In addition to the statistical oddity of recording 41 points in each of his three Anaheim seasons, Strome has fallen into the habit of having solid starts to his seasons before fading in the second half. He had just five points in his last 22 games, including zero goals. What is interesting is that he doesn't have a trade clause as he enters the fourth year of a five-year deal. But his $5 million cap number presents some sticker shock. Trouba, 31, isn't going anywhere … for now. The Ducks wanted a tougher defensive presence on the blue line. The results weren't good, as his advanced metrics worsened nearly across the board in his 53 games after being acquired from the New York Rangers. But it's hard to see him and his salary ($8 million cap hit, but $6 million in real money) being moved right away. The trade deadline, however, could be a different story. Colangelo, 23, has shown a lot of improvement over the last two seasons after he seemed to stagnate at Northeastern. His transfer to Western Michigan was what he needed, and his stock continued to rise last year as a scorer in the AHL, and his touch around the net translated to Anaheim. Being able to screen goalies and successfully tip pucks is a skill few other Ducks have. He can still improve his skating. The Ducks had to feel good about getting Moore signed after he completed his fourth season at Harvard. It never hurts to have another right-shot defender in the system and the 23-year-old showed in his first three NHL games that he can play with poise, execute a first pass and get pucks to the net. It's likely that he's bound for more AHL seasoning, but he could work his way into first-call-up status. Washe played his first two games with Anaheim right after captaining Western Michigan to an NCAA title and signing his pro contract. It was seen as a bit of a coup for the Ducks, as the 23-year-old Washe was one of the top college free agents. The sample size is minuscule, but Washe had excellent play-driving metrics in his limited ice time. He's got size and faceoff acumen, and it looks like he could compete for the 4C position. Gudas, 34, has had two uneven seasons in Anaheim. He's delivered solid play for stretches of time. He's also been exposed at times, particularly in man-on-man situations, and his level of play falls off. Overall, Gudas remains a capable defender on the back end but probably would help the Ducks most in a third-pairing role. Anaheim's captain now enters a walk year. He could be trade bait if the Ducks don't move into playoff contention. Advertisement At the beginning of last season, Helleson appeared to be a call-up option, but not a lot more than that on a crowded Anaheim blue line. The Ducks ultimately needed more lefty-righty balance, and Helleson, the 24-year-old right-shot, took advantage in establishing himself as an everyday option. But with Gudas and Jacob Trouba still patrolling that side, along with Tristan Luneau pushing for a spot, Helleson must not take his situation for granted. What are the odds that Gibson starts his 13th NHL season with the only club he's played for? It's hard to say, but the conditions for a long-speculated trade might be better than ever. The injury bug that plagued him in his early seasons bit him again late last season, but the 31-year-old put up his best numbers in years, and his contract ($6.4 million cap hit) is now down to two years left in a rising-cap landscape. Johnston, 31, is heading into the final season of a contract the Ducks inherited when they claimed the forward off waivers from the New York Islanders. The $1.1 million owed to him is something Anaheim can easily work with, and he's the only 'enforcer' type on the club, but is that something Quenneville will want as part of his roster makeup? It was a grin-and-bear-it season for Zellweger, 21. On one hand, he played in more NHL games (62) than ever in his young career and chipped in seven goals and 20 points from the blue line. His skating and vision are assets. On the other hand, he was often scratched, and the defense mix now (and in the near future) remains crowded. It won't be completely shocking if he becomes a trade chip for a proven scoring forward. Trevor Zegras A longtime candidate to be traded, Zegras is at a crossroads in his Ducks career. The last two seasons have been filled with injuries and extended absences. It has affected his potential production — he totaled only 18 goals and 47 points in 88 games during that span. Zegras's offensive numbers have cratered, though he's worked to become a more responsible defender. But the change to Quenneville, who coached a superstar in Patrick Kane, might be what Zegras needs to mutate into an elite playmaking winger. Fabbri's season ended on Feb. 25, when he suffered his second significant injury. The thought was that he'd be a third-line presence who could forecheck and chip in some secondary offense, but the oft-injured 29-year-old either wasn't in the lineup enough (just 44 games) or didn't deliver that depth scoring to offset some rough defensive metrics. He's a UFA. Husso, 30, made three starts with the Ducks when Gibson dealt with a late-season injury. He performed well, stopping 114 of 122 shots for a .934 save percentage. After his pickup from Detroit on Feb. 24, the Finn stabilized the goaltending for the AHL's San Diego Gulls. There is reason to offer him a contract at a much lower price point. Both sides could also look for other options. Advertisement The quiet 25-year-old made his name with the Ducks through responsible, defense-first play, but even that took a hit this season as he leaked many more chances at five-on-five than he created. His goal differential was decidedly in the negative, and he has yet to exceed 50 percent at the faceoff dot or effectively drive possession. It doesn't add up to a new contract. Kylington was a deadline addition for the Ducks, who essentially got the 28-year-old defenseman for nothing (often it's some form of deferred asset compensation). He played six games with Anaheim, recorded one assist and had passable metrics. It's possible the Ducks could re-sign him on a cheap deal for depth, but they could just as easily move on. Leason, 26, is an arb-eligible RFA who didn't keep a spot in Cronin's lineup because of inconsistent play. He's a good skater for his size, but he didn't use his 6-foot-5 frame to his advantage enough. It feels like his spot could be freed up for an upgrade or a hungry prospect. Injuries wrecked McGinn through much of his two-plus seasons with Anaheim. A torn ACL ended his 2024-25 in December. The 31-year-old free agent was effective in a bottom-six role at the time of his injury, but he suited up in only 65 games total with Anaheim. (Photo of Trevor Zegras: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Struggling Western Conference Team Named 'Team to Watch' for Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner
Struggling Western Conference Team Named 'Team to Watch' for Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With the NHL offseason fast approaching and Mitch Marner on track to become the best unrestricted free agent available on July 1, speculation around the Toronto Maple Leafs forward's next team has accelerated. Advertisement The 28-year-old just completed a six-year, $65.4 million contract and could leave Toronto, where scrutiny and pressure have followed him his entire career. The conversation around potential landing spots has largely focused on familiar destinations like the Vegas Golden Knights, who already tried to acquire him recently, but a new suitor has emerged. NHL insider Frank Seravalli identified the struggling Anaheim Ducks, who have failed to make the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, as a team to watch closely in the coming weeks. Speaking on Sportsnet 590's "The FAN Morning Show," Seravalli pointed to Anaheim's two biggest assets in any pitch to Marner: cap space and discretion. Advertisement "The Anaheim Ducks are a team to watch for Mitch Marner in addition to Vegas," Seravalli said, per @NHLRumourReport. "Anaheim offers more anonymity and is willing to pay big money." The Ducks are entering a pivotal stage in their rebuild. According to PuckPedia, Anaheim has over $38 million in projected cap space and recently hired veteran coach Joel Quenneville to lead a new era. Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon already linked the Ducks to Marner, assuming the winger gets to free agency on July 1. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) looks up at the scoreboard against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images According to Seravalli, the club is among the few willing to push into the $15 million-per-season range to sign Marner, potentially topping at a maximum offer of seven years in term with a total value north of $100 million. Advertisement "Anonymity and financial power," Seravalli said. "Those are two of the biggest things the Ducks can offer." Related: Maple Leafs GM Makes 'Emotional' Admission About Discussion With Mitch Marner Related: 'Aggressive' Offseason Scenario Has Mitch Marner Signing With Struggling Divisional Rival This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ducks Predicted to Trade for $81M Star to Fuel Joel Quenneville Era
The Anaheim Ducks have missed the playoffs for longer than anyone in the organization could care to admit. But the team is hopeful that the best is yet to come for the young squad after hiring veteran Joel Quenneville to take over as the head coach. Quenneville gives the Ducks an experienced leader behind the bench, and he understands what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. But for Anaheim to become competitive again, the roster will need to be greatly improved. Advertisement As the offseason approaches for the Ducks, they could be major players on the trade market. Anaheim needs a "go-to" type of star to lead the team, and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers could make sense. NHL writer Joe Yerdon of Bleacher Report linked the Ducks with Panarin amid trade rumors, and the pairing does make a lot of sense. "If the Ducks are going to take a step next season and return to the playoffs, they absolutely need more goals and Panarin would provide an instant upgrade there, particularly in a contract year. There's also the part where the Ducks hired Panarin's first NHL head coach, Joel Quenneville, to take over behind the bench and that kind of connection is really hard to ignore. Anaheim has plenty of young players or less-expensive productive veterans to make a deal happen so... why not, right?" New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) checks Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) during the third period at Madison Square Schneidler-Imagn Images Panarin playing for Quenneville could make a big difference here, and could see the Ducks become a prime landing spot if he is made available. The Rangers star scored 37 goals and 52 assists this season, and that type of production could drastically change everything for Anahrim. Advertisement It remains to be seen if the Rangers were willing to part with Panarin, but the Ducks have the tools to pull a deal off. Anaheim needs to make a splash, and there wouldn't be many bigger names than Panarin to make it happen. Related: Avalanche Predicted to Trade For Mikko Rantanen Replacement Ducks Predicted to Trade for $81M Star to Fuel Joel Quenneville Era first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
New York Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bruins coaching candidates 2.0: Who's left after the big names signed elsewhere?
The New York Rangers wasted no time targeting Mike Sullivan. Four days after the Marshfield native's time with the Pittsburgh Penguins concluded, the Rangers signed Sullivan to a five-year, $32.5 million contract. Another Metropolitan Division team landed its preferred coach Wednesday. The Philadelphia Flyers signed Rick Tocchet to a five-year, $26.25 million deal. Tocchet's five-year deal pays him $5.25M a year. He had multiple teams chasing him. Strong market ends up in a very good contract. — Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 15, 2025 Tocchet was a former Boston Bruins teammate of team president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney. He was high on the Bruins' list, according to a source granted anonymity to discuss conversations with hockey operations personnel. As for Joel Quenneville, the three-time Stanley Cup winner signed with the Anaheim Ducks. Advertisement 'The first tier,' the source said of prospective coaches, 'is pretty much gone.' Whether the Bruins considered any of the three coaches a must-have target is unknown. It could be that they view a coach from the No. 2 tier as a better fit as the organization rebuilds around David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy. Also, the Bruins have been reluctant about signing coaches to long-term, high-end contracts. They made a multi-year offer to Jim Montgomery as he began the third and final season of his deal. Montgomery did not sign. He was fired on Nov. 19, 2024, and subsequently helped the St. Louis Blues turn around their season. So where does this leave the Bruins? Interim coach Joe Sacco and assistant Jay Leach remain in the mix. Two of the possibilities listed previously are not under consideration. University of Denver coach David Carle signed a multi-year extension with the Pioneers. According to a Boston University spokesperson, the Bruins have not asked permission to interview Jay Pandolfo. On May 5, Sweeney acknowledged there was at least one candidate whose team was still active in Round 2 of the playoffs. A hire, then, does not appear to be imminent. Here are 11 remaining candidates: A three-year assistant under Jon Cooper with the Tampa Bay Lightning after serving as the Detroit Red Wings head coach for seven seasons, Blashill has had an initial interview, per a league source. He's in charge of the Lightning's defense, which allowed 2.63 goals per game in 2024-25, fourth-fewest in the NHL. The Arlington native was in the running for the Bruins opening that was filled by Montgomery. He was recently let go by the Anaheim Ducks after two seasons, replaced by Quenneville. He's a hard-charging, high-energy personality who emphasized structure with the Ducks as a first-time NHL head coach. In his second season as a Dallas Stars assistant under Peter DeBoer, Donskov was also part of DeBoer's staff with the Vegas Golden Knights and remained an assistant under Bruce Cassidy for the team's 2023 Cup. He was a Team Canada assistant at the 4 Nations Face-Off with Sweeney as GM. Leach is regarded highly enough by Sweeney that he was brought back to the organization following three seasons with the Seattle Kraken. As assistant, he was in charge of a defense that suffered with the losses of McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm. He was the head coach in Providence when Spencer Carbery was his assistant, which reflects well on Leach, considering his coworker's success with the Washington Capitals. Advertisement The Franklin native and former Bruins assistant is arguably the biggest name available following his ouster from the Rangers. However, given how the franchise was not aggressive in pursuing Sullivan, Tocchet or Quenneville, Laviolette may not match the Bruins' preferred profile. He has a history of rapid turnarounds upon landing a new gig. In his second season as Carbery's assistant with the Capitals, Love is in charge of Washington's defense. He has two years of AHL head coaching experience with the Stockton Heat and Calgary Wranglers, the Calgary Flames' affiliates. He has talked to the Bruins, per a league source, though that would most likely have been a call with the Capitals still playing, with a more formal sitdown to come. Mougenel just concluded his fourth season as Providence's head coach with a second-round loss to the Charlotte Checkers. Matt Poitras, one of the Bruins' most important prospects, scored 41 points in 40 games for Mougenel, adding two goals and two assists in the playoffs. Like Love, Muller is in his second season on Carbery's staff in Washington. He fits the Bruins' defense-first philosophy given his previous bosses: Darryl Sutter (Calgary), Claude Julien (Montreal Canadiens) and Ken Hitchcock (St. Louis Blues), all sticklers for D-zone thoroughness. He was an assistant on the Montreal side of the Bruins-Canadiens rivalry at the most recent height in the late 2000s and had Elias Lindholm in one of his three seasons as head coach with the Carolina Hurricanes. Commitment to checking is the biggest checkmark in Sacco's column, as Sweeney has identified defense and structure as paramount qualities. It's undetermined whether he would want to stay with the organization if he doesn't get the full-time designation. The ex-Bruin has interviewed for the position, according to a league source. He just finished his third season as head coach of the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings' AHL team. As a four-year assistant with the Kings, he was imprinted with the organization's emphasis on defending. Advertisement The longtime lieutenant of Todd McLellan, who has been out of work since being dismissed by the Edmonton Oilers in 2023, has interviewed for the job, according to a league source. In 2022-23, Woodcroft's final full season with Edmonton, the Oilers had a league-best 32.4 percent conversion rate on the power play. Notably, Sweeney identified the power play (15.2 percent in 2024-25, No. 29) as a critical area of improvement. (Top photo of Marco Sturm: Marcel Kusch / Getty Images)
