Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville rejects rumours about shifting teams -NHL Update
Chicago Blackhawks head coach, Joel Quenneville, came out in the open a day after rumours began to float around about his future in Chicago and the possibility of a transition to Montreal Canadiens following the hiring of former Blackhawks assistant general
manager as their GM.
As Marc Bergevin joined Montreal Canadiens as their new GM, it was speculated that Joel Quenneville would be joining him up North but according to the Blackhawks’ coach, he has no plans on doing so.
"I think over the last few days there was some speculation on other things that were going on about here in Chicago and me being somewhere else, and first and foremost, I'm excited about being here in Chicago," Quenneville said Tuesday on a conference call.
"I love the opportunity, I love the organization, I love where we're heading in the future and that's something I wanted to put to bed right from the outset."
With two years left on his contract with Chicago Blackhawks, the rumours started arising due to speculation that the team would not be keeping him past that deadline while Bergevin could promise him an extension if he joined Montreal.
"I have two years left on the contract, I'm very happy here, and (leaving is) the last thing I was thinking about," Quenneville added. "I was happy for (Bergevin) that he got the job in Montreal.
With the early ousting of Chicago Blackhawks from the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Playoffs as Phoenix Coyotes routed them in six games, Quenneville had hinted at their being some changes being made during their longer than usual offseason.
The changes were expected to be including him as Blackhawks could have been looking for another to take his place but instead, it was Chicago’s assistant coach, Mike Haviland, who was fired.
Now, the only thing Quenneville will be looking forward to doing is finding a replacement for Haviland before they begin their offseason training for the upcoming hockey year. Having won a Stanley Cup back in 2010, Chicago Blackhawks have not been able to
find that ground again that led them to the championship.
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