By Jordan Long
The Chicago Blackhawks missed the postseason last year for the 1st time in 9 seasons. They finished with a record of 33-39-10 for 76 points. The Blackhawks were hoping that was a fluke. They didn’t start fast this year with a record of 6-6-3 for 15 points. They sit in 6th place in the Central Division. For their struggles the Blackhawks decided it was time to move on from Head Coach Joel Quenneville.
Quenneville has been one of the most successful coaches to ever coach the Blackhawks. In his 11 years with the team, his record is an impressive 452-249-96 or a winning percentage of .627. Chicago went to the playoffs 9 times under him. They won the Stanley Cup 3 times, most recently in 2015.
Chicago hasn’t started well out of the gate this season. Their offense has been average, scoring 3.07 goals per game ranking 17th in the NHL. The power play is struggling. They can’t set it up. If they do, a shot is blocked or teams poke check the puck away. The defense will then fire the puck to the other end of the ice which takes time off of the Blackhawks’ power play. Chicago scores on 14% of their opportunities, 5th worst in the NHL.
On defense Chicago can’t seem to move the puck out of their defensive zone. Teams spend time in the zone and fire it on net, ending in goals. The Blackhawks allow 3.73 goals against per game, 29th in the NHL. Their power play kill isn’t much better. It seems like every time a Blackhawks skater heads to the box, the opponents take advantage and score. They kill off 76.6% of the penalties they take.
The Blackhawks needed to make this move. They know the year isn’t over but Quenneville hasn’t made in-game adjustments to help them win games. They don’t want to keep the slide going to where they may not make the postseason.
According to ESPN.com, Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz said, “As Chicago Blackhawks fans have seen over the last decade, this organization no longer shies away from making tough decisions or ones based on emotion. Those days are long behind us. Of course, Joel’s was difficult, as it should have been. During his tenure as head coach to the Chicago Blackhawks, Joel brought the city of Chicago and our fans three Stanley Cups and an incredible era of hockey.”
The Blackhawks Head Coach for the rest of the season will be Jeremy Colliton. Colliton was the Head Coach of the Rockford Icehogs, the AHL (American Hockey League) affiliate for the Chicago Blackhawks. He is young at 33 years old. If the Blackhawks play well and make a run to the postseason, Colliton could earn the job for next year and maybe years to come.
For Quenneville, this might have been his last time coaching in the NHL. He has nothing left to prove behind the bench. Quenneville is 2nd on the NHL All-Time list for coaching wins with 890 victories, only Scotty Bowman has more at 1,244. Quenneville won 3 Stanley Cups as a Head Coach with the Blackhawks. It is time for him to step away. His next stop will be the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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