Detroit Red Wings On Verge Of Huge Shakeup Behind The Bench In Joel Quenneville Per Report

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Ryan Hall
November 29, 2024 (10:35)

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According to several hockey insiders including Darren Dreger, the Detroit Red Wings may be poised to make a coaching change and have linked to former Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville.

It was expected that the Red Wings would continue where they left off from last season where they practically willed themselves to the playoffs on Game 82.

However, due to the tie breaker rule, the Red Wings were unable to make it to the tournament had been forced to sit on the sidelines yet again.

This season has been dreadful having the Red Wings have not played to their standards and maybe on the verge of a coaching change Dreger feels there's a strong possibility that another coach maybe what they're looking for to turn things around.

Their only three points out of a Wild Card spot and they've got a crucial three-game homestand happening this week. What happens if they go 1 for 3 or 0 for 3? We know that Steve Yzerman is loyal to his coaches, but they have to remain competitive. So if they have a good home stand everything should be fine. If they don't that might force Yzerman to make a decision and the sense is that they would go with an internal interim-candidate and then hope that a top coach eventually becomes available.

Another NHL insider Greg Wyszynski gave a more direct link towards Quenneville and the Red Wings as he reports that the team is looking at the possibility of bringing him in.

There also has been speculation that it might happen, and one rumor that made the rounds in NHL coaching circles this month was that Joel Quenneville might take over the Detroit bench.

Two weeks ago, I heard Quenneville for Detroit, a coaching source said.

The former Blackhawks head coach has been out of the NHL since he resigned from the Florida Panthers after the Kyle Beach scandal rocked the NHL.

For him to become an NHL coach again, reinstatement would need to be done, and
the NHL has granted him the ability to do so.

It remains to be seen on what the Red Wings will do, but it's safe to say that a change is likely on the horizon if things do not turn around dramatically.