Avalanche release Joel Quenneville
"After meeting with Joel, we mutually agreed that the best decision for both parties involved is to go separate ways," said Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Francois Giguere. "On behalf of the organization, I want to thank Joel for his years of service and wish him the best in his coaching career."I'm not sure which part of Giguere's brain thought up this idea. Quenneville, who was in the last year of his contract, had coached the Avalanche to a 131-92-23 record in his 3-year tenure, and this year led them past the Wild in round 1 only to be swept by Detroit in round 2. The roster was depleted most of the time this year yet Quenneville still got this gutsy bunch into the playoffs. How far could you expect the Avs to go without Stastny, Smyth and Forsberg (half the time)?
Oh well, that's business, right?
What are Avalanche fans saying?
Tapeleg at Jerseys and Hockey Love said this after the 8-2 drubbing by Detroit in game 4:
Perhaps this will make the people who like Joel Quenneville realize that he took this team into the ground. Missed the playoffs last season, swept in round two this season, backed a horse in Theodore that turned out to be a donkey. There is only so much I can take the injury argument, and getting swept is about that far.
Jibblescribbits has a massive post up about the firing, which includes:
I think Q has the tools to be a good coach, but he seems hell bent on making his personnel fit his scheme, rather than letting his scheme compliment his personnel. For example Smyth-Sakic-Hejduk should be a great line, puck control and great shots with a top-flight rebounder in front. But Q insisted that the puck starts behind the net, which isn't this roster's forté. Especially on the powerplay (which was an unmitigated disaster this season). To be a top flight coach you need to adjust your schemes to your personnel (See Bowman, Scotty; Babcock, Mike).Wow, no love for the giant f***ing Q in Avs land.
T Tags: Colorado+Avalanche+fire+Joel+Quenneville
Labels: Avalanche
8 Comments:
Hm. I dunno, I think the Avs just got crushed because they were old and busted. Trying to re-ignite the avs/wings rivalry of years ago with the same damn players didn't sound like a great idea.
Oh well, another potential candidate for the leafs! After Pat Burns, of course..
Oh, I am a massive fan of Pat Burns! You think he'd give the Leafs another go?
I hope so! He would fit in well with the Nonis/Burke tandem if they end up going that way too.. Gritty + defensive style hockey (for a change in leafland)
Burke? He's not going to Toronto!
Burke isn't going to toronto now, but the speculation is if the Leafs hire Nonis as GM this offseason it will be a powerful lure to get Burke there the following season when his contract in anaheim is done. Bear in mind he still hasn't signed the anaheim contract extension either. I bet something happens before the season starts, even..
So lure Burke and then fire Nonis? Nonis should except nothing less than a 3-4 year contract.
Guess we'll find out about Nonis on Tuesday. The Leafs would be smart to land this guy. He's good at rebuilding....like Jason Blake alluded to today....that the Leafs need to rebuild.
Don't think Burke would hang around in leafland if they did something as callous as canning Nonis after luring burke in.. I think it would be more like how they were in the Burke canucks era.. Nonis as assistant or director of player personnel or something like that.
As far as the hockey world goes (and of course my own leaf snobbery is in play here) being assistant GM on the leafs - especially while rebuilding - would still be an amazing opportunity.
We'll see if Atlanta interests Nonis more, though.. (*snort*)
Shit dude, I don't believe anything about what I hear out of Toronto. And when something DOES happen I say: "I don't fucking believe it!"
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