Chicago Blackhawks’ owner Rocky Wirtz says coach Joel Quenneville’s jobs is safe-NHL News
Chicago Blackhawks’ owner, Rocky Wirtz, has ruled out parting of ways with head coach, Joel Quenneville, despite the team’s poor form this season.
He said that the decision of retaining the coach was made in line with the feedback from the team, especially from players, who are said to be happy with the coach.
Blackhawks were on the longest losing skid of nine games this National Hockey League (NHL) season and a number of commentators believe the head coach’s job might be on the line as an outcome of it.
The owner, however, said that he was leaving the matter for some other day and added that he had made the choice in consultation with the general manager, Stan Bowman.
He said that he had asked the GM whether the players were ‘quit’ on the coach and his reply was ‘No’.
He said:
"Oh yeah, there would be no reason [not to retain him). He's signed, they're playing for him. He's not a players' coach, which is good, but he's good with younger players.”
He added:
“St. Louis is a prime example. They changed coaches and there was nothing wrong, he just wasn't good with younger players. You have to have coaches willing to adapt. Mike Keenan is terrific if you have an older team, but you don't expect him to be around
for four years."
It is one of the rare times for the coach to have come under fire over the poor form of the team. He has been credited for taking Blackhawks to Stanley Cup in 2010.
The team is still on the chance for the playoff berth from the Western Conference and the owner is hopeful of better performance in the future as he said all of the team’s members were working hard.
However, he emphasised that some short-term decisions must be taken and not let the emotions come into the way of those decisions, as they benefit the team in the longer run.
Due to the competitive nature of the Western Conference, Blackhawks will not find it easy to reach the playoffs.
Quenneville himself refrained from commenting on any aspects of the talk around his future, reflecting that he is focused on the job of taking take the team to the second round.
Tags: