The Chicago Blackhawks made a stunning decision on Tuesday to fire longtime head coach Joel Quenneville following the team’s 6-6-3 start, and you may have trouble finding people who agree with the move.
While the Blackhawks finished 33-39-10 last year and missed the playoffs, that was the first time they failed to reach the postseason since Quenneville was named the head coach in Chicago back in 2008. They also won three Stanley Cup titles under Quenneville, who was the longest-tenured coach in the NHL.
Quenneville was the second-winningest coach in Blackhawks history, and the list of reasons why people believe the 60-year-old deserved to keep his job goes on and on. Here’s a sampling of how shocked sports fans and media were:
Joel Quenneville won more than twice as many games as he lost..and won 3 Stanley Cups. Every other coach in Blackhawks history? 3 Stanley Cups combined
— trey wingo (@wingoz) November 6, 2018
Clearly, the Blackhawks have been just looking for a reason to fire Joel Quenneville. What, if Duncan Keith doesn't get ejected Saturday night and Corey Crawford staves off the Flames barrage, he's still employed today? What madness this is.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) November 6, 2018
joel quenneville is going to unemployed for like 2 minutes
— Mike Grinnell (@MikeGrinnell_) November 6, 2018
Joel Quenneville: Best #NHL coach of his generation? I don't think it's close. Three Stanley Cups, second all-time in wins to Scotty Bowman, career .610 points percentage, legendary 'stache.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 6, 2018
The Blackhawks’ decline in recent seasons wasn’t on Joel Quenneville.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 6, 2018
With Joel Quenneville now available on the coaching market, some hot *seats in the NHL are suddenly scorching.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 6, 2018
Joel Quenneville deserved better.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) November 6, 2018
I’ve lived in the Chicago area since 1999. Joel Quenneville has been easily the best coach of any pro sports team during my time here. Sorry to see him go, especially when Stan “nepotism” Bowman keeps his gig. So long to the ‘stache, a sure-fire Hall of Famer. pic.twitter.com/NyzQDYovzR
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 6, 2018
Get you a fall guy pic.twitter.com/VUsS1xfH4G
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) November 6, 2018
Assuming Quenneville wants to continue coaching, he should not be unemployed very long. There will be plenty of teams in the NHL that are willing to fire their current head coaches if Quenneville wants to lead them.
