Blackhawks Make Quenneville Extension Official

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Stan Bowman wanted to keep Joel Quenneville in Chicago, and the coach had no desire to leave.

After two Stanley Cup titles in four seasons, this was a no-brainer.

The Blackhawks announced a three-year contract extension for Quenneville on Friday, kicking off their annual fan convention with a crowd-pleasing move that keeps the coach in Chicago through the 2016-17 season.

The 54-year-old Quenneville is 222-106 in five seasons in Chicago. He led the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 2010, ending a 49-year drought, and then coached them to another title this year.

“I think you always know what you’re going to get with him and I think that’s probably the biggest thing for us, why we have success,” defenseman Duncan Keith said before Game 5 of this year’s Stanley Cup finals. “He’s level-headed, brings that even-keel attitude to the team.”

Quenneville’s deal was set to expire after the upcoming season, but general manager Bowman had said an extension was a priority and the coach talked all along about how much he enjoyed being part of the organization.

This is Quenneville’s third stop as a head coach in the NHL. The former defenseman is 660-389-77 in 16 seasons with St. Louis, Colorado and Chicago. He won the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the head coach who has contributed most to his team’s success, in 2000 with the Blues and was a nominee for the award again this year.

Quenneville led Chicago to a NHL-best 36-7-5 record this season. The Blackhawks earned at least one point in each of their first 24 games, setting an NHL record.

The Windsor, Ontario, native was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 1978 draft and played 803 games in parts of 13 seasons in the NHL. He is one of two men in NHL history to play in 800 or more games and coach 1,000 or more games.

He has recorded at least 40 wins in nine of his 10 full seasons as a coach. His best total was 52 victories with Chicago for the 2009-10 season.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iew the original article here

Harris: Quenneville Grateful For Contract Extension, Credits Players

Joel Quenneville hoists the Stanley Cup. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

By Adam Harris

(CBS) – Joel Quenneville will be in Chicago for at least four more years, and his players are all smiles.

“It’s great to see and we have a lot of consistency with him (Quenneville) as our coach and our leader,” said Captain Jonathan Toews, smiling throughout the press conference. “We are looking forward to continuing on down the road.”

Quenneville is already under contract for next season, so the extension is technically for three years. Quenneville won his second Stanley Cup Championship in four seasons, earning this extension; however he says his players deserve tons of credit.

“Looking over here and seeing the guys, they’re a big part of it,” Quenneville said, with eight of his players looking on. “I’m privileged to coach the best group, probably, in the league. I haven’t seen them for three weeks, and I look forward to hearing their stories about their summers.”

Summer Nights

Many players have had relaxing summers, with winger Bryan Bickell getting married and Captain Jonathan Toews going on a long two-week vacation.

Patrick Kane has stayed out of trouble as well, enjoying some time in his home town of Buffalo.

“I’ve tried to keep out of trouble I guess, and keep maturing as a person, but it seems easier these days as you get older,” Kane said. “I’m obviously going to have some fun, but I can still prove a lot more as a player and accomplish some more things with this team.”

Injured Wings

Bryan Bickell tore a ligament in his thumb and has had surgery to repair it. Doctors took a ligament from his finger and put it in his thumb. He says he will be ready for the regular season.

Hangover Cure

When asked how to avoid another Stanley Cup hangover, players said they need to “turn the page” after this weekend.

“It’s important to recognize it’s a new season,” defenseman Duncan Keith said. “Teams are going to be playing their hardest against us and we knew that last time, but individually and as a team you have to make sure that you don’t just come to camp ready to turn the page. You turn the page in the offseason. This is the time now, where after this convention, it turns into August and you start to get your minds focused.”

Follow Adam on Twitter at @AHarris670 and listen for him on Score Overnights, with Les Grobstein.

View the original article here

Blackhawks Make Quenneville Extension Official

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Stan Bowman wanted to keep Joel Quenneville in Chicago, and the coach had no desire to leave.

After two Stanley Cup titles in four seasons, this was a no-brainer.

The Blackhawks announced a three-year contract extension for Quenneville on Friday, kicking off their annual fan convention with a crowd-pleasing move that keeps the coach in Chicago through the 2016-17 season.

The 54-year-old Quenneville is 222-106 in five seasons in Chicago. He led the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 2010, ending a 49-year drought, and then coached them to another title this year.

“I think you always know what you’re going to get with him and I think that’s probably the biggest thing for us, why we have success,” defenseman Duncan Keith said before Game 5 of this year’s Stanley Cup finals. “He’s level-headed, brings that even-keel attitude to the team.”

View the original article here

Blackhawks Make Quenneville Extension Official

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Stan Bowman wanted to keep Joel Quenneville in Chicago, and the coach had no desire to leave.

After two Stanley Cup titles in four seasons, this was a no-brainer.

The Blackhawks announced a three-year contract extension for Quenneville on Friday, kicking off their annual fan convention with a crowd-pleasing move that keeps the coach in Chicago through the 2016-17 season.

The 54-year-old Quenneville is 222-106 in five seasons in Chicago. He led the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup in 2010, ending a 49-year drought, and then coached them to another title this year.

“I think you always know what you’re going to get with him and I think that’s probably the biggest thing for us, why we have success,” defenseman Duncan Keith said before Game 5 of this year’s Stanley Cup finals. “He’s level-headed, brings that even-keel attitude to the team.”

Quenneville’s deal was set to expire after the upcoming season, but general manager Bowman had said an extension was a priority and the coach talked all along about how much he enjoyed being part of the organization.

This is Quenneville’s third stop as a head coach in the NHL. The former defenseman is 660-389-77 in 16 seasons with St. Louis, Colorado and Chicago. He won the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the head coach who has contributed most to his team’s success, in 2000 with the Blues and was a nominee for the award again this year.

Quenneville led Chicago to a NHL-best 36-7-5 record this season. The Blackhawks earned at least one point in each of their first 24 games, setting an NHL record.

The Windsor, Ontario, native was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 1978 draft and played 803 games in parts of 13 seasons in the NHL. He is one of two men in NHL history to play in 800 or more games and coach 1,000 or more games.

He has recorded at least 40 wins in nine of his 10 full seasons as a coach. His best total was 52 victories with Chicago for the 2009-10 season.

(© 2013 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.)

 

View the original article here