The Anaheim Ducks hired three-time Stanley Cup winner Joel Quenneville as their new head coach on Thursday.
Quenneville, 66, won three championships with the Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013 and 2015) and ranks No. 2 in NHL history with 969 wins for four teams over 25 seasons.
He resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers in October 2021 after an independent investigation came to light about how he and other Blackhawks leaders had handled a 2010 sexual assault allegation against the team’s video coach, Brad Aldrich. Commissioner Gary Bettman said at the time that the coach would have to meet with the NHL should he seek future employment in the league, and the league reinstated Quenneville in July 2024.
“Today is a great day for the Anaheim Ducks,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “Joel is a proven winner and one of the top coaches in NHL history. We believe this is a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender.
“Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates, while simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of what took place while Joel was head coach of the Blackhawks in 2010. We spoke with dozens of individuals, including advocates for positive change in hockey and leadership of the NHL, which last July officially cleared Joel to seek employment in the league. Our findings are consistent with Joel’s account that he was not fully aware of the severity of what transpired in 2010. It is clear that Joel deeply regrets not following up with more questions at the time, has demonstrated meaningful personal growth and accountability, and has earned the opportunity to return to coaching.”
The Ducks fired Greg Cronin last month after he compiled a record of 62-87-15 in two seasons. Anaheim has missed the playoffs in each of the past seven seasons.
Quenneville was 969-572-150 with 77 ties as head coach of the St. Louis Blues (1996-2004), Colorado Avalanche (2005-08), Blackhawks (2008-18) and Panthers (2019-21). He won the Jack Adams Award as the league’s coach of the year in 1999-2000.
“I’m excited to join the Anaheim Ducks,” Quenneville said. “This is the organization I wanted to restart my career with and am truly grateful for this opportunity. The Ducks have incredible ownership, management and passionate fans. In nearly four years away from the game, I have learned from my prior mistakes and realized it will be actions over words that demonstrate my commitment to being a better leader.”
Former Blackhawks prospect Kyle Beach made assault claims against Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. The investigation found that Quenneville and Chicago executives decided to defer any actions against Aldrich until after the Stanley Cup Final to avoid any distractions.
“I want to express my sorrow for the pain this young man, Kyle Beach, has suffered,” Quenneville said after leaving his job with the Panthers in 2021. “My former team — the Blackhawks — failed Kyle, and I own my share of that. I want to reflect on how all this happened and take the time to educate myself on ensuring hockey spaces are safe for everyone.”
–Field Level Media
