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Controversial Coach Joel Quenneville Contacted by Western Conference Team

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 1, 2025 7:06 PM ET

Joel Quenneville has been out of the NHL due to major controversies, but now, it appears he could be on the way back as he has a second interview with the Ducks.

The Anaheim Ducks fired Greg Cronin after the team took a solid step forward this past season, and now, it appears they're casting a very wide net in the search for their next Head Coach.

That search so far involves the likes of Jay Woodcroft and University of Denver coach David Carle, but on Thursday, Pierre LeBrun has revealed that it's Joel Quenneville that will be first to get a second interview with the team.

On paper, Quenneville's past accolades would be fantastic to help this young team continue to grow, but given the controversy surrounding his past as an NHL coach, it's safe to say that the Ducks have received plenty of backlash for the interest in him.

However, former Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman was hired this past summer to lead the Edmonton Oilers moving forward, and if he is able to return to the NHL and teams have no problem hiring him, it was only a matter of time until Quenneville started to receive similar interest from teams.

Unsurprisingly, hearing of the potential that he could return to the NHL, fans on social media have voiced their outrage that Quenneville and even Bowman have been allowed to return to the NHL.

Ultimately though, this Ducks squad is young and very talented, and it's clear the organization is now looking to find the coach to take them from promising team to genuine playoff threat in the Western Conference, and if they believe he deserves to return to the league, don't be shocked to see him hired this off-season.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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