Joel Quenneville Under Fire After Callout from NHL Star

PUBLICATION

Ryan Hall
November 22, 2023 (11:55)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Florida Panthers' starting goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky, has experienced a tumultuous period since joining the team in 2019-2020.

Throughout his time, he has had three head coaches, played a pivotal role in the Panthers winning the Presidents' Trophy in 2022, and was also a key factor in the team's downfall the following year, where they narrowly missed the playoffs.

Bobrovsky recently shared his thoughts on his experience as a teammate and player under the coaching of former Blackhawks and Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville.

The three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach resigned from his position in the Panthers organization following the revelation of the Kyle Beach scandal during his tenure with the Blackhawks.

Bobrovsky explained that he never felt like a true part of the Panthers team when Quenneville was behind the bench. He expressed that the majority of the pressure fell on his shoulders, particularly during losses.

"Yeah, Quenneville is a great coach. He's won three Stanley Cups, and the guys loved playing for him. But as much as they enjoyed playing for him, it was just as challenging for me. It's hard to say what would have happened if he had stayed with the club, but playing under him was definitely the most challenging part of my career."

"Overall, it was a bit of everything. I didn't feel integrated into the team; I felt like a separate entity. When we won, I didn't sense that I was part of the winning team, and when we lost, I felt like I was the reason for the loss."

Bobrovsky's performance last season was subpar, contributing to the Panthers' narrow entry into the playoffs. However, during the playoffs, the former Vezina winner Bobrovsky decided to make an appearance, carrying the team to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Vegas Golden Knights.

It remains to be seen how his performance will unfold in the current season.