Controversial Joel Quenneville Linked to Atlantic Team for Head Coaching Role
Former NHL head coach Joel Quenneville could be returning to the league behind the bench, as he has been linked to the Detroit Red Wings as the team struggles.
The Detroit Red Wings are staring at the grim prospect of another disappointing season under head coach Derek Lalonde.
Hopes were high for the team to take a step forward this year, but they once again find themselves on the fringes of the NHL playoff race.
According to TSN insider Darren Dreger, the fate of their season, and potentially Lalonde's job, hinges on their current three-game homestand.
According to Dreger, if the performance is poor, perhaps coming away with one win, or none, there's a chance that Lalonde will be fired and a coach promoted internally to serve on an interim basis. But Detroit started the homestand with a 2-0 start.
We know that Steve Yzerman is loyal to his coaches, but they have to remain competitive.
So if they have a good home stand everything should be fine. If they don't that might force Yzerman to make a decision and the sense is that they would go with an internal interim-candidate and then hope that a top coach eventually becomes available.
- Darren Dreger
The current staff also features assistants Bob Boughner, Alex Tanguay, and Jay Varady, any of whom could be in line for a temporary promotion if a change is made.
Meanwhile, with the possibility that Detroit will indeed decide to bring in a new head coach, ESPN insider Greg Wyshynski suggests the Red Wings may target NHL coaching legend Joel Quenneville.
"Two weeks ago, I heard Quenneville for Detroit," a coaching source said.
- Greg Wyshynski
Quenneville resigned from the Florida Panthers in 2021 amid the fallout of the Brad Aldrich scandal and has been out of the league since.
While he was effectively suspended from coaching by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, reports suggest Quenneville has made efforts to rehabilitate his image and many in the hockey world would be considered to give him a second chance.
Could Detroit be the team to give Quenneville his second chance? Only time will tell.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Taylor Hall | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Brayden Point | 3 | - | 3 | |
| Brock Nelson | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Bryan Rust | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Pavel Zacha | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Quinn Hughes | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Erik Karlsson | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Elias Lindholm | - | 3 | 3 | |
| David Pastrnak | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Tim Stutzle | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Adam Gaudette | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Dylan Holloway | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Brad Marchand | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Aleksander Barkov | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sam Bennett | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sean Couturier | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex DeBrincat | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jack Drury | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Cutter Gauthier | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 23 | 18 | 5 | - | 36 | |
Hurricanes | 22 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 33 | |
Wild | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 32 | |
Devils | 25 | 15 | 8 | 2 | 32 | |
Capitals | 22 | 15 | 6 | 1 | 31 | |
Golden Knights | 23 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 31 | |
Maple Leafs | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Flames | 23 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 28 | |
Panthers | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 27 | |
Kings | 23 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 27 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||