Joel Quenneville may be on the verge of returning to hockey per top NHL reporter

An NHL reporter has revealed that the Detroit Red Wings have been discussing potentially changing coaches and Joel Quenneville could be the replacement.

There has been talk that the Detroit Red Wings could consider Joel Quenneville to be their next head coach. According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, this may happen in the case of an early struggle by the Red Wings to start the 2024-25 season. An eight-year playoff drought is staring them in the face, and there is immense pressure on both the team organization and GM Steve Yzerman to make those big moves that will alter their course.

Acquiring Joel Quenneville, a three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, would bring experience to the Red Wings. Most notably, he'd be reunited with superstar Patrick Kane, a key member of his Blackhawks teams of the past. Immediately, it could spark the team because Kane is a player who knows Quenneville and his style inside and out.

The Red Wings entered the season with high hopes predicated on a number of significant offseason acquisitions and promptly lost 6-3 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The early setback only raises speculation of a coaching change and whether or not Quenneville could be the man to get things back on track.

But the hiring of Quenneville does not come without some very contentious decisions. He was suspended by the NHL back in 2021 because of his role in attempting to cover up a scandal when he was with the Blackhawks. While that suspension was lifted by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman this past July 2024, there is still some concern. Brooks wrote that Quenneville's possible return to the NHL is reminiscent of the Edmonton Oilers' recent hire of Stan Bowman, who also had involvement with the Blackhawks scandal.

His experience and past success make Joel Quenneville an attractive fit for the Red Wings, but the move to hire him means a lot of baggage comes along with it. Detroit needs to consider the benefit versus the backlash that will ensue. Should the Wings risk a playoff return or not? Or does this controversy make his case too big to take on?

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