Quenneville, Avs part ways
I'm a little surprised about this: Joel Quenneville is out as coach of the Colorado Avalanche after three seasons.
Quenneville was 131-92-23 in Denver, but just 2-2 in playoff series after inheriting a team that was on the slide after a decade of dominance in the NHL.
Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said that the decision was mutual.
"After meeting with Joel, we mutually agreed that the best decision for both parties involved is to go separate ways," Giguere said in a team statement.
Quenneville was an assistant with the Avalanche during their Stanley Cup run in 1996, then was hired away by St. Louis. He spent eight seasons with the Blues, becoming the team's winningest coach with 307 victories. In 2004, Quenneville became the fourth coach in Avalanche history.
Quenneville coached his 800th game this season, joining Bob Pulford and Jacques Lemaire as the only coaches in NHL history to both play and coach in 800 or more games.
The Avs were swept out of the playoffs by the Red Wings last week, and Giguere faces a huge task this offseason, facing decisions on 13 players who will become unrestricted free agents if they're not re-signed.
For whatever reason, the Avalanche just really haven't been able to get over the hump the last few seasons after their nice run in the mid 1990s and in the four few years of this decade. Like most pro sports franchises, the head coach is the first to go. Does this mean wholesale changes down the road for the Avs? Stay tuned.
Quenneville was 131-92-23 in Denver, but just 2-2 in playoff series after inheriting a team that was on the slide after a decade of dominance in the NHL.
Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said that the decision was mutual.
"After meeting with Joel, we mutually agreed that the best decision for both parties involved is to go separate ways," Giguere said in a team statement.
Quenneville was an assistant with the Avalanche during their Stanley Cup run in 1996, then was hired away by St. Louis. He spent eight seasons with the Blues, becoming the team's winningest coach with 307 victories. In 2004, Quenneville became the fourth coach in Avalanche history.
Quenneville coached his 800th game this season, joining Bob Pulford and Jacques Lemaire as the only coaches in NHL history to both play and coach in 800 or more games.
The Avs were swept out of the playoffs by the Red Wings last week, and Giguere faces a huge task this offseason, facing decisions on 13 players who will become unrestricted free agents if they're not re-signed.
For whatever reason, the Avalanche just really haven't been able to get over the hump the last few seasons after their nice run in the mid 1990s and in the four few years of this decade. Like most pro sports franchises, the head coach is the first to go. Does this mean wholesale changes down the road for the Avs? Stay tuned.
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