Photo by David Zalubowski/Associated Press
Colorado Avalanche head coach Joel Quenneville, right, and assistant coach Tony Granato, left, argue a call during a game in February.
An offseason that began with plenty of uncertainties for the Avalanche has one certainty today: Joel Quenneville will not be back as the head coach.
The team announced Friday afternoon that Quenneville, 49, will not be offered a new contract when his expires June 30. He will be free to talk with other teams.
"After meeting with Joel, we mutually agreed that the best decision for both parties involved is to go separate ways," said Francois Giguere, Avalanche executive vice president and general manager. "On behalf of the organization, I want to thank Joel for his years of service and wish him the best in his coaching career."
Quenneville was 131-92-23 in three seasons in Denver but just 2-2 in playoff series after inheriting a team that was on the slide after a decade of dominance in the National Hockey League.
This is only the start of a busy offseason for Giguere, who must make decisions on 13 players who will become unrestricted free agents if they're not re-signed. The Avalanche was swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the playoffs last week after winning four of six games against the Minnesota Wild in the first round.
Giguere was vague about his decision Friday, calling Quenneville a good coach but citing a difference in philosophies as the main reason for the split. Giguere declined to outline a timetable for the coaching search but indicated he probably wouldn't be going to the upcoming world championship tournament, where there will be plenty of candidates.
Giguere also wouldn't say what he is looking for in a coach, other than that he wants to play the same up-tempo style.
Quenneville took over as Avalanche coach in July 2004, replacing Tony Granato, who was demoted to an assistant role. Previously, Quenneville was an assistant under former coach Marc Crawford when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996.
The former NHL defenseman left the team the following season to coach St. Louis and was named the 2000 NHL Coach of the Year with the Blues.
Post your comment
Registration is required. Click here to create your free user account, or login below.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.
May 9, 2008
12:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
RickyLee writes:
There goes those lucrative GMC commercials....
May 9, 2008
12:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Firefox writes:
I hope they contiune to make big changes, it is time to retune!!
May 9, 2008
12:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
dilligaf writes:
Bring back Hartley. He is available.
May 9, 2008
12:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Squatch writes:
I dont even watch hockey and knew this was coming. Thanks for trying to win another Stanley Cup.
May 9, 2008
1:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Kered writes:
I would rather see Forsberg not return next year than Coach Q. Thanks Coach for keeping the Avs competitive when most "fans" abandoned them just because they assumed Lord Stanley's Cup lived in Denver.
Don't bring back Hartley!!!
May 9, 2008
1:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
pcordoba writes:
Hey Kered! You're confused.
Q won nothing and Hartley won a Cup.
I hope the best choice would be Pat Burns.
May 9, 2008
1:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
ilovegambling writes:
Big mistake letting Coach Q go. Maybe they can bring Hartley back, since the Av's are all about getting the band back together. Glory days are gone, hope they focus on rebuilding like the Penguins have. Q is probably going to Toronto. Hope he does well there.
May 9, 2008
2:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
RickyLee writes:
Yeah. Let's get Osgood as well......
May 9, 2008
2:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
BonBon writes:
URAholes needs to be banned.
I was happy when the Avs got Q, but his system just never really fit with the way the Avs are built to play. I wish him the best.
May 9, 2008
2:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
Coach Q, thanks for your time here. I didn't always agree with your Jekyl Hyde attitude towards goalies, but you held the ship together this year.
Francois, time to see what kind of an executive/gambler you are.
May 9, 2008
2:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
mareksvatos writes:
UR... nice handle and nice class. Way to represent Detroit. BTW I suggested your comments b removed.
May 9, 2008
2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
mareksvatos writes:
UR... wow! that didn't take too long. Great job RMN staff!
May 9, 2008
2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
BO writes:
URAholes-
Ah- A Red Wing fan so proud of his team and the city of Detroit that he now lives in Denver. Detroit, the city of abandoned buildings, Devil's Night, clubbing of figure skaters, and a huge population drop since the 1950s. What a great town. Make the US a better place- sell Detroit to Canada (or pay them to take it if we have to).
May 9, 2008
2:35 p.m.
RaidersRule1975 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 9, 2008
2:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaiderNation82 writes:
Svatos your a loser. Go cry to your mommy that the big kids are being mean.
May 9, 2008
2:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaidersRule1975 writes:
That is it!!! I am having you BANNED. Have a good life dude.
May 9, 2008
2:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaiderNation82 writes:
the avs are full of tools they definatly need some help
May 9, 2008
2:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaidersRule1975 writes:
Come on RMN... BAN HIM!! Ruin his life!
May 9, 2008
2:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaiderNation82 writes:
Hey zwivenrl;akj if I live in denver why wouldn't why log on to a denver paper- you dumba$$.
May 9, 2008
2:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaidersRule1975 writes:
Avs_suck SUCKS
May 9, 2008
2:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaidersRule1975 writes:
and can't spell... must be from Detroit
May 9, 2008
2:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
RaiderNation82 writes:
Nope i is from denber
May 9, 2008
3:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
twofistedmario writes:
Comedy 'Scotty Bowman' option
May 9, 2008
3:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
gmo80 writes:
I liked Coach Q but the second Jose shows up for game 1 in Detroit and is throwing up, you have got to put in Budaj. I know Jose stood on his head against the Mild, doesnt matter. Budaj plays better against Detroit. He should have started Budaj in game 2 as well. Bring back Coach Bob, his accent is PRICELESS!
May 9, 2008
3:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
Ur, I too asked for your removal of comments. We all have passion for our teams here, but you are ludicrious.
avs suck you are a pathetic example of a fan. You sound like a 3rd grader.nahnahnahnahnah..
I miss Steamboatwill. Where are ya dude ?
Hope you are safe.
May 9, 2008
3:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
T1anda writes:
Q wasn't much of a coach for the Blues either. I was puzzled when the Avs hired him, they were well aware of his questionable coaching skills in 2004. Oh well, good luck Q.
May 9, 2008
4:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
mareksvatos writes:
wow, I leave for a few hours to do some work and I come back to find a copy-cat. I'm flattered! :P
May 9, 2008
4:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
mareksvatos writes:
I'm not sold on Burns. I've heard he favors a defensive game and he did coach the Devils. He's also been around the block a few times, so I'd rather see a fresh face next year. What do we know about Kevin Dineen as a coach?
May 9, 2008
5:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
Fresh writes:
who gives a damn, Q is gone and we are probably better off for it.
May 9, 2008
5:41 p.m.
Suggest removal
Kered writes:
"pcordoba" I'm not confused, Q never had quite the team Hartley did while he was here...
May 9, 2008
5:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
Wildshot ? Patrick Roy ;)
May 9, 2008
6:10 p.m.
dietpepsi writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
May 9, 2008
6:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
dietpepsi writes:
and i hope "q" takes BOTH his worthless ned flanderth worshiping incompetant goalies with him. yeah go cuddle together and work the 3-way rotation OUT. maybe in one of d-rock cities rusty night"clubth"?! y'all can have warshedUp thithy theo and his rightWINGchristian sidekick boo-die
and: next year why don't all the poser avz fans buy the redwingfanth beer? i cain't believe how many of them were there IN DENVER!! and nobody even thought about throwing beer on 'em!!
May 9, 2008
6:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
52hockey writes:
If Sakic chooses to retire, he would be the perfect choice. He is what the Av's are about. He has class, technique and can coach every young player on the team. Plus there isn't one player or coach in the NHL that doesn't respect him. He's the NHL's equivalent of the Bronco's Rod Smith. If Sakic doesn't retire, promote Tony Granato. He should be ready now.
May 9, 2008
9:43 p.m.
Suggest removal
WingNut1967 writes:
So,,, do you think he would have been fired if he would have started that other Goalie instead of Josieve Threeorfour????
May 10, 2008
2:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
Detroitrockcity writes:
From Detroit,
We are sorry to see Q go, I mean we won 7 out of 7 games against the crapalanche this season. Hey Bernie where are you buddy? What happened to that 6 game series you predicted over the mighty Detroit Red Wings? Haha idiot. Oh well sorry Avs fans, your franchise has fallen far below even our expectations of a respectable rival. Good luck and see you turds next year.
May 10, 2008
7:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
AvalancheSuck writes:
I would love to see Patricia Wah as the coach. That would put some zing back into the rivalry.
The Av's should be able to get almost anyone they want, they have the reputation of a good franchise and they should take advantage of that.
May 10, 2008
9:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
CyberHostage writes:
I don't know why the Avs let Bob Hartley go in the first place. He had a solid, winning record in every season coaching here; and won the Cup in 2000-2001* (* great defense in the form of Ray Bourque and Adam Foote helped a tad ;-)
Hartley was 10-8 when he was let go. This tells me he must have had a falling out / flare up with that regime.
Bring back Hartley, and keep an Assistant seat warm for Sakic as the eventual heir-apparent.
Also, stop making dumb trades, like the Tanquay deal. Obviously Francois Giguere is nowhere near the shrewd GM that Pierre Lacroix was.
Finally, a huge part of Detroit's consistent success is their stellar shut-down defense, which we haven't had since 2000-2001.
May 10, 2008
9:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Miles writes:
Someone please tell Giguere and the Avs they should at least TRY to stike up a conversation with Scotty Bowman. He is still helping the Red Wings DOMINATE professional hockey. This isn't a better match out there. And, he recognizes the committment of the Avs ownership to do whatever is necessary to bring back the Cup. This is an opportunity one can only hope management is pursuing behind the scenes. Although we all love and rrespect Roy's committment to winning, he isn't ready. With Scotty behind the bench look for the Avs to return to their form of old and probably a Cup final in the next two years.
May 10, 2008
5:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
52hockey writes:
Scotty Bowman will never leave Detroit. He is great, but he belongs to Detroit. If he wanted to coach again, it would be there. I just don't see him anywhere else. I love the Av's. I also have the utmost respect for Scotty Bowman. He was one of the best.