With the New York Rangers’ disappointing Game 7 shutout loss in the rearview mirror, speculation about changes to the team’s roster and coaching staff fired up as soon as the horn blew to end the game. Today, TSN’s Darren Dreger reports that speculation includes longtime NHL coach Joel Quenneville as a possible replacement behind the bench if the Rangers opt to move on from head coach Gerard Gallant. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski doubled down on ties between the Rangers and Quenneville.
Any move involving Quenneville will be met with a great amount of scrutiny. Quenneville currently requires approval from the commissioners’ office to work any job in the league again due to his involvement in the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks’ response to former video coach Brad Aldrich’s alleged sexual abuse of former player Kyle Beach.
Per the investigation report released by independent legal firm Jenner and Block, multiple witnesses stated Quenneville participated in a meeting to discuss the Aldrich allegations shortly after the Blackhawks advanced to the 2010 Stanley Cup Final, where he and other Blackhawks leaders opted to defer action on Aldrich until the end of the playoff run so as to “not cause a distraction” to the team’s on-ice success. Prior to the report coming to light, Quenneville had claimed publically he had no previous knowledge of the allegations against Aldrich.
Dreger confirmed that Quenneville has not yet been cleared by the league to return to coaching and said that an official interview request from the Rangers would “likely encourage commissioner approval.”
Quenneville last coached in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers, posting a 7-0-0 record before resigning and being conditionally held out of NHL work by the commissioner’s office.
Hmm, seems like I have finally predicted something right during these play-offs!
Bring him back! He won’t do that again!
Can’t blame Gallant. GM is to blame for sure. Too many “soft” top $$ players with NO chemistry. Kane was brought in and really had no fit. Gallant made a statement to that affect. NY has always been over paying for years. Quenneville another dinosaur. DON’T DO IT.
Correct except Kane will be fine when the coach stops messing with lines. Also their defense is soft outside of Trouba. They lack a true Superstar which wins in this league. Fox way overrated gets way too much ice time and he’s slow as shit. Zibanajad is a number 2 playing on a number 1 line . My 92 year old mother is a better stick handler than Kreider. Unload him if possible. The Rangers were too slow to keep up with the Devils so they need some creativity in the off season to plug holes unload players and show some heart which they lacked most of the year and in the playoffs.
Bad take on Zib. 9th most points among centers over the last 5 seasons. That makes makes him a number 1 on almost every team in the league
Quenville will be perfect for Kane
Fire Gallant and free him up for a 2nd stint in Columbus!
If he is let go by NYR he lands in Calgary to coach Hubbie dubbie doo again
Part of me: disappointed for no Bruins-Rangers series
Other part: LMAO IDIOTS GET REKT
Quennville may or may not get reinstated this year but hard to believe Bettman would allow his good buddy James Dolan to hire him.