So, Joel Quenneville is back in the NHL, taking the head coach position with the Anaheim Ducks, and it’s definitely stirring up quite a bit of controversy. After his role in Blackhawks’ 2010 Stanley Cup journey where it emerged the team didn’t handle harassment claims from Kyle Beach regarding video coach Brad Aldrich properly, many thought he was out of the NHL for good. Quenneville, who was the Hawks’ head coach back then, was found to have not done his due diligence. As a result he left his post with the Florida Panthers just a few days after the news came out in 2021, and was suspended till 2024.

Even so, his hiring by the Ducks has stirred up quite a conversation among fans and analysts. There are worries about what this means for accountability and how serious the league is about tackling past misconduct. It seems that as he joins his new team, the former Florida Panthers coach has already begun putting in the effort with them. David Pagnotta shared on X that “Not sure on timeframe, but hearing the Ducks and new head coach Joel Quenneville will be making some changes to the coaching staff.” He then followed up with an update, saying, “Sounds like the Ducks will be replacing their assistant coaches.”

Quenneville, with his disciplined style and championship experience, seems really focused on making an impact on the Ducks’ culture right away. He’s bringing in a team that shares his vision. After being away from the league for a while and the nature of his absence, every choice he makes is getting closely scrutinized.

Revamping the Ducks’ staff is a daring first move to help him get back on solid ground in the NHL. Anaheim, a team in the midst of rebuilding and searching for its identity, is hoping that Quenneville’s big changes will ignite the transformation they really need. He’s going to have a ton of work in the Ducks’ office.

A lot of work for the former Florida Panthers coach

The Anaheim Ducks are going through a big rebuild right now. This change is happening because they’ve struggled for a while, faced some ups and downs within the organization, and really need to come together as a team. For the last seven seasons, the Ducks have been on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs, wrapping up their latest season with a record of 35-37-10. This is the longest playoff drought for the franchise, pointing to some deeper issues that go beyond just what’s happening on the ice.

The team’s challenges have been made even tougher by the ongoing organizational instability. It’s interesting to see that head coach Greg Cronin was let go after just two seasons, even though there were signs of progress. It really highlights the team’s ongoing challenge in finding steady leadership.

General Manager Pat Verbeek highlighted the importance of a fresh approach, saying, “He [Greg Cronin] is responsible in many ways for the improvement we’ve seen from our young core. However, after several weeks of careful evaluation, I concluded we needed a change in direction and a new voice. This was an extremely difficult decision for me to make, but I felt it was necessary to continue our progress toward becoming a Stanley Cup contender that I know we can be.”

Even with these challenges, the Ducks have a bright group of young talent. They’ve got high draft picks like Leo Carlsson and Trevor Zegras, plus some up-and-coming defensemen like Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, and Tristan Luneau. But turning this potential into regular success really needs a thoughtful strategy for developing players and building team unity.