Joel Quenneville is back in the NHL, according to reports. The 3-time Stanley Cup winning head coach is expected to sign with one of the most exciting teams, coaching in the league for the first time since the 2021-22 season, when he resigned in October from his job with the Florida Panthers.
After being suspended by the NHL for over two years, Quenneville was reinstated in July 2024 to pursue a job in the league. However, he waited another year before finally returning behind the bench, reportedly signing with a rising organization featuring a promising pool of prospects and young talent.
Hockey-wise: Quenneville was one of the most exciting talents available in the coaching carousel. Yet, many organizations didn’t want to seek him due to the Kyle Beach case in the Blackhawks during the 2010 Stanley Cup run, in which Coach Q’s involvement arose much suspicion around the league.
Regardless, the NHL and its independent investigation has decided Quenneville is fit to coach again in the league, and one promising team has reportedly decided to sign the 3-time Stanley Cup champion ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Head coach Joel Quenneville looks on from the bench against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at BB&T Center on February 27, 2020 in Sunrise, Florida.
According to reports from TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Anaheim Ducks are signing Joel Quenneville to their vacant head coaching job ahead of a pivotal campaign for the team led on the ice by Troy Terry, Mason McTavish, and Leo Carlsson.
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No longer mighty
The Anaheim Ducks might not feature the most physically-imposing, though they ranked 12th for most hits delivered in the past season, but they boast an aggresive, fast-paced lineup starring some of the most exciting young talents in the league.
With the likes of Carlsson, Trevor Zegras, McTavish, and Lukas Dostal, the Ducks have the fifth-youngest team in the NHL, with an average age of 26.65 years old, per Elite Prospects.
Leo Carlsson #91 of the Anaheim Ducks plays the Colorado Avalanche in the second period at Ball Arena on October 18, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.
Power move
Upon arrival, Quenneville will find himself in a young locker room, hoping to make use of his extensive knowledge and experience to mold a contending roster, which can stand its ground against some of the juggernauts in the NHL.
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It won’t be a smooth-sailing journey for the Ducks, and Quenneville’s arrival is bound to stir the pot among media and fans. Still, the Anaheim organization felt the need to return to its roots—pulling off a vintage, quintessential Mighty Ducks move to finally spark their rise in the NHL.
