The Flyers have performed fairly well under interim head coach Scott Gordon, posting a .551 points percentage since he took over for Dave Hakstol. Before the coaching change, there was plenty of speculation that Joel Quenneville was going to take over but that didn’t come to fruition. Despite their improved showing under Gordon, Dave Isaac of the Cherry Hill Courier-Post reports that Philadelphia will once again try to bring in the 60-year-old this offseason.
Quenneville has another year left on his deal with Chicago so the Flyers technically would have to ask permission to interview him for the position. Isaac suggests that a deal to bring him in earlier this season ultimately fell through so it’s unlikely the Blackhawks would stand in his way of pursuing a deal with Philadelphia or anyone else this summer.
The price tag will be quite high, however. Quenneville has another season left on his deal with a $6MM salary. When hiring coaches that have been relieved of their duties, teams must pay market value for the coach. In other words, they can’t agree to a cheap deal to make the team that let him go pay down most of the contract. Given the recent escalation of salaries to head coaches, it’s quite likely that the Flyers (or whoever hires Quenneville) will have to assume the majority, if not the entirety of the $6MM plus tack on a few more years for good measure.
Of course, the high price tag is justified given Quenneville’s track record. He won three Stanley Cups in his tenure with Chicago while his teams have posted a .609 points percentage over 1,636 games over his career that spans 21 seasons. Pretty much any team with a coaching vacancy this offseason will at least be making an inquiry to see if they can hire him.
As for Gordon, this season was his first as an NHL head coach since being let go by the Islanders back in 2010. Given how the Flyers improved after the coaching change, he has likely worked his way into consideration for other jobs if Philadelphia ultimately lands Quenneville.
Never get why you can fire a guy but still hold his rights. No other sport does that
I think Q would be a great fit for Philly. As a Hawks fan he loved his veterans and has trouble trusting rookies. Philly has a team that is mixed with both veterans and kids with a season or two under their belt. It would be a great addition for them. He will always be loved in Chicago.
Gotta think the Oilers will be calling Quennville, as well. Flyers don’t have a McDavid.
They don’t have anything else other than McDavid.
Sure they do. Kevin McDavid, beer vendor #71 at the Wells Fargo Center…
The Oilers have not put a team around McDavid that can win, regardless of who the coach is. The Flyers have some good pieces who haven’t been coached up for years. What team makes more sense for Q?
Quenneville and Karlsson would make great additions to the Flyers next season.
Id watch for him on the Kings too. Also, the holding rights once theyre fired is bush league. The NHL still cant get out of its own way.
Wish they’d jump on him…we need a proven leader on the bench to bring us back to where we need to be
It’s in the contract they sign.
And tell me why sitting home collecting 6M a year after being fired is a bad contract?
They also have Gritty !
Dave Hakstol has a higher winning percentage than Scott Gordon. If he got them to a playoff berth it would be a different story. Both Provorov and Ghost have gone down hill since he arrived (A coach that supposedly was excellent with younger players). Quenneville should be behind the bench next season. Write the Check.