Joel Quenneville rumors: 5 ideal landing spots
4. Detroit Red Wings
Why Quenneville’s a fit for them: The Detroit Red Wings are in an awkward position. They’re a rebuilding team who can’t really rebuild because Ken Holland has given out so many long-term deals with no-trade clauses to so many old players who didn’t deserve them.
Complicating things is the Red Wings brand new arena. Attendance is dropping, and it’s not hard to see why. Though Jeff Blashill deserves a better fate than being a scapegoat, he hasn’t done much to warrant serious consideration to be the coach moving forward. The Red Wings need a coach who is used to the expectations of coaching an Original Six team. Quenneville’s got that.
Why the Red Wings are a fit for Quenneville: If the Red Wings want to pony up like the recently departed Mike Illitch did, they’re one of the few teams who could give Quenneville the money he likely desires. Some people embrace challenges. Quenneville didn’t back away from taking a job with the Blackhawks despite the expectations there. Maybe he’s one of those guys who’d love a new challenge.
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Why it will never happen: Quenneville’s going to want a much better front office than the current one the Red Wings have constructed. Why would he willingly coach a team with Holland as his general manager? Quenneville could get money anywhere.
But…: Luckily, this guy named Steve Yzerman recently stepped down from his job with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Just so happens, he’s arguably the second or third best player the Red Wings have ever had (depending on how you feel about Nicklas Lidstrom). It would take a miracle to save the Red Wings. Quenneville and Yzerman might be able to create one together.