Quenville Heading for a Rocky Mountain High

Former St. Lous Blues coach, Joel Quenville, will be named the new coach of the Colorado Avalanche, according to TSN.CA. Quenville will replace Tony Granato, who took over for Bob Hartley in 2002. Quenville was let go by the Blues last season. Quenville was interviewed by the New York Rangers but not given the job as they announced today that Tom Renney would retain the head coaching position. For more info, head to TSN.CA.


44 Responses to Quenville Heading for a Rocky Mountain High

  1. Lint07 says:

    Best move the Avs could do.

    I liked to refer to him as Tony ”I’ll let Rick Tocchet handle it” Granato last year.

    He clearly didn’t have what it takes to be a head coach and has been badly outcoached, particularly in the playoffs.

    Quenneville will look great coaching a talented team like Colorado.

  2. Freeze says:

    I look forward to the Avs making the playoffs for many years to come, not winning another Stanley Cup, and becoming a completely undisciplined goon squad. Good move, Pierre.

  3. Enigma says:

    If you’re happy just to make the playoffs then this is a great move. However if you actually want to win the cup then Ted Nolan might have been the way to go. Quenneville had a very talented team in St. Louis, and they failed to win the cup. If you want to blame that on the blues’ goaltending then so be it. Last I checked though even Osgood won a cup and Aebischer has not (and i doubt he’s capable of it).

  4. big_booty says:

    ”I’ll let Rick Tocchet handle it”

    WHHHOOoooooo………

    Thanks, Marcos, for the best laugh I’ve had all day.

  5. big_booty says:

    Please.

    Don’t even begin to compare Aebischer to Osgood.

    Osgood has two rings in spite of himself. He has done nothing outside of Detroit to convince anyone that he can put a team on his back and lead them to the promised land.

    I would take Abby over No-good any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

  6. Lint07 says:

    no goalie = no cup. It’s that simple.

    No matter who would’ve been behind the bench in St.Louis they didn’t have the team to win it all. (and yes I am aware that Osgood won a cup).

    Ask yourself this question: Is Joel Quenneville a better coach than Tony Granato?

    Then yes, it is a good move.

  7. big_booty says:

    Despite what the unwashed heathen may believe, this is an excellent move by Pierre Lacroix.

    Tony Granato couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag, much less handle all the egos in the Colorado locker room.

    Quenneville is a steady, systems-oriented guy who is looking for a good team to put over the top. New York made a huge mistake in not grabbing him.

    Granato was a stopgap, nothing more.

  8. Lint07 says:

    no problem, pal. It was free of charge! 😉

  9. Lint07 says:

    ”Tony Granato couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag”

    hey, that one made me laugh too. Good job!

  10. mikster says:

    I would not say huge. Could Quenneville handle a bunch of early 20 year olds? Quenneville is more fit for veteran teams like the Avs, Blues…….Wings, Flyers, Leafs.

    Those types of teams.

    I would have prefered to see the Rangers get Francis or Maurice, but Renney deserves a chance and he knows all the players in the system inside out. He’s been a good player developper in Canada, knows his hockey with young players.

    I guess it was a good move, though a bit unsure….

    One thing for sure if the Panthers never hired Keenan, Martin would have been named Rangers coach in June.

  11. justsomeguy says:

    Wow is this unexpected!! Coming from Av-land I hadn’t even heard a peep of this until I saw it on the evening news. What’s more interesting is that it was just last month that Pierre was adamant about Granato not being displaced by any summer changes the Avs made. Oh well, I guess it’s better to eat crow, look like an ass and end up with a superior coach than to pass up the opportunity to make a clear coaching upgrade.

    Anyway, I like the move. Quennville is a proven winner, even despite his lack of playoff success. My hope is that his playoff track record can change now since he’s coaching a core of guys who know what it takes to get at the Cup, but who, over the past couple years haven’t had the playoff leadership needed. Hopefully the Avs can end Quennville’s playoff jinx just like they helped end Ray Bourque’s.

    On another note, this move will make it interesting to see how the Avs act now in the free agent market. Obviously, the looming CBA/lockout issue is the prime determinitive factor in all teams summer signing pattern, but I can’t help but wonder if the Avs won’t be a bit more agressive now that they have restocked behind their bench.

    So far they have grabbed Laperrierre and Laaksonen, and resigned a few existing players. But with what appears to be the departure of Selanne and Kariya the Avs sure have some holes to fill, even if Forsberg returns. They would be left with Sakic, Hejduk, Tanguay, Konowalchuk, Svatos, Gratton, and maybe Forsberg (not to mention the third and fourth line players). Fact is that Gratton is not a second line player. Svatos and Konowalchuk are but the Avs are gonna need to fill a roster slot with a player capable of playing on the second line. So far they haven’t picked up anyone to fill that need. My secret hope is that they end up resigning Kariya, but with the amount of money he wants, probably not gonna happen. All of this though doesn’t even address the Avs need for another top 4 defenseman. Blake, Foote, Liles… here’e where it starts to get thin… Boughner, Vaananen and Sauer.

    So, in a perfect world, Forsberg and Kariya return, the Avs make a move for Matthieu Schneider, I win the lottery and my water faucet starts dispensing beer.

  12. Flyers_01 says:

    The Avs have a huge problem if Forsberg returns and there’s a 35 mill salary cap. It would be very difficult with just Blake and Sakic but with all 3 the total for the 3 is around 30 mill.

  13. defenestrate says:

    Odds are, if there is a cap, it will not be an immediate hard cap. In fact, chances are excellent that it will be a soft cap, like baseball. Pierre and Stan will gladly pay the overage freight to keep Forsberg around.

    Btw, your 4th defenseman is Skrastins.

  14. defenestrate says:

    Well…..

    When Pierre made his “vote of confidence” speech, anyone who follows this team to a reasonable degree packed Tony’s bags for him, and wrote him a note in advance because his metal head plate sets off the security gates at D.I.A.

    Tony had a huge rift towards the end of the season with Teemu Selanne, who is very well-liked in the locker room. The players also resented his continual line-jockeying, since they had no chance to build any kind of chemistry.

    Personally, I would have preferred Cami Granato coaching, since I think she has bigger stones than Tony, yet is easier on the eyes at the same time. But now that Ray “Chicken Parm” Ferraro has taken her off the market….

    Look for Tocchet to be gone as well very soon. He is immensely unpopular with the core group of players (i.e. Sakic, Foote, Blake).

    A question – why does Ted Nolan’s name keep coming up? How long can you sustain a reputation based on “almost” winning the Cup? If that’s your basis for recommendation, why isn’t Lindsey Ruff in here?

  15. justsomeguy says:

    Skrastins… damn. You know I thought of him right after I finished. Sorry to have left him out, I really like the way he plays.

  16. justsomeguy says:

    Just read in the Denver Post that Tocchet is already gone. Wants to head back to the East Coast b/c that’s where his family is. Oh well, the Avs didn’t have to look far for a new assistant coach. Wonder how Granato will respond to the demotion.

  17. big_booty says:

    Hard to believe that Tocchet wasn’t well-liked. He was immensely popular as a player in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, LA, and Phoenix. Those organizations (as far as I know) will always have an open door for him.

    I thought he and Blake were boys going back to their time in LA.

    There is nothing “easy on the eyes” about any member of the Granato family – anyone can tell that they are descended from raccoons.

    I am waiting for Lacroix to make a bigger splash – the team has a very thin farm system right now, and needs an influx of young talent.

  18. toto says:

    According to TSN, Quenville has gone on record as saying ” …..there really was no other job openings any where else. I didn’t have much of a choice.” This was in regards to his acceptance of the head coaching position in Colorado.

    Sounds to me like Joel would rather be stocking shelves at A&P than be in Colorado or sitting around watching his ass get fatter like his new Colorado counterpart, local cheerleader and gloryhole operator, defenestrate.

  19. toto says:

    besides the laugh at the fact that you haven’t seen your own dick in 3 years?

  20. StuWild says:

    I hate the Avs but have to admit this is a great move for them! He will right the ship and get this team back on track. A few good signings already in Laperierre and Laaksonen. They should sign free agent centre, Mike RICCI who was an integral part of their first cup. My Leafs aren’t interested in Ricci apparently? The Avs have to bring back some grit. They have been too soft for a couple years now by bringing in the free agent talent that does not know where the corners of the rink are.

  21. canucks_suxors says:

    abby has a ring from 2001 ………. hahahahaha

  22. defenestrate says:

    Because he’s a stay-at-home defensemen, he tends to blend into the landscape. He had a pretty good year, though. He’s the new Greg DeVries (no comparison on the playoff beard, though).

  23. defenestrate says:

    I said “easier” on the eyes. It’s like choosing the smartest kid in Special Ed.

    I thought they were descended from an unholy mating of Anthony Perkins and Miss Hathaway from the “Beverley Hillbillies”.

    As for Tocchet, I guess having to wear his parole hearing suit and tie all the time cut off the flow of blood to his brain……

    And yes, Virginia – the farm system is in bad, bad shape. There’s nothing left but a chickenhawk named Henry, a Widow Hen, and a little old lint-pickin’ weasel.

  24. Madman9 says:

    wow, you are an absolute genius, aren’t you? i’m sure that is EXACTLY what Joel is thinking since he accepted the job….

  25. justsomeguy says:

    Agreed about Skrastins… real happy the Avs reupped him. And right on about DeVries and his playoff beard. Being a redhead myself I appreciate a good firebeard. He and Commodore from Calgary look like they are ready to grab some horned helmets and plunder some Saxon villages.

  26. defenestrate says:

    But Commodore has the added bonus of the best white boy ‘fro this side of Screech.

    The ghost of Ogie Ogilthorpe…..

  27. Enigma says:

    I guess if you look at it that way then yes it is a good move. I thought new york would’ve gotten him though.

  28. Enigma says:

    I heard the leafs have not even spoken to Ricci’s agent, so i’m assuming they aren’t interested at all.

  29. canucks_suxors says:

    He obviously made up the quote and is a complete idiot !!

  30. toto says:

    Obviously!!!!

  31. original6dan says:

    In any other organization, this would be an excellent move, however…

    I think this will only make Forsberg’s decision easier (and possibly other UFAs). Quennville is a taskmaster and carries a big stick — just like Bob Hartley, and the players managed to stop working for him.

    Granato was not a stopgap — he was a “yes” man who answered to the players, not the other way around.

    A great coach with a lesser team won’t help.

    Dan

  32. habsoverserver says:

    If Forsberg bolts maybe they grab Demitra as well. Nothing like a Wal-mart rivalry.

  33. MantaRay says:

    What are you talking about Spinster?

    Every year Quinville had to get a bunch of rookies in the system and every year he succeeded without alot of help. This WAS a huge mistake by Sather (4 coaches in 4 years?).

    It was also reported before Martin signed with the Panthers that Martin was not interested in the Rangers job.

  34. MantaRay says:

    BB:

    Granato was a huge mistake and everyone who followed hockey new it. This was a very divided team with half the team looking at Tocchet as the real coach of the Avs.

    My only concern about the Q-Man is his health. The Av’s don’t have much too work with this season and the prospect well has run dry.

  35. defenestrate says:

    ….and the new mascot will be the yellow “price-slashing” dot…

  36. Freeze says:

    Good point. Quenville had to pack it in on April 25 of this year as coach of Canada at the World Championships because he was “burned out” and “had to be sedated.” What condition is this man in physically and emotionally?

    I don’t understand all the enthusiasm for this coach, who is described at tsn.ca as follows:

    “Under Quenneville, the Blues won 40 or more games five of the six full seasons he was in charge, but the Blues couldn’t translate regular season success into the post-season. His .500 record in the playoffs (34-34) includes only one trip to the Western Conference final since taking over midway through the 1996-97 season.”

    Excellent regular season coaches who flounder in the playoffs are usually called losers and, like Quenville, eventually get fired.

  37. big_booty says:

    If it weren’t for Hartley, players like Forsberg wouldn’t have had that second Cup.

    “Yes” men, no matter who they say “yes” too, are stopgaps – it is inherent to their nature.

    Granato, for the record, said yes to everyone – management and player alike. Hence the change.

  38. mikster says:

    Yeah one or two rookies….not half the roster as basically rookies and sophs…..

    Thinking helps.

    It was reported that Martin was down to three teams, the Yotes, Rangers, and Florida. If Keenan did not come back as GM, Martin was going to the Rangers.

    I know so for myself as well.

  39. big_booty says:

    Quenneville can easily develop young players. All of the following players were in their early- to mid-twenties when coached by Quenneville:

    Chris Pronger

    Lubos Bartecko

    Barret Jackman

    Craig Conroy

    Eric Bouginecki

    Christian Backman

    Bryce Salvador

    Petr Cajanek

    Pavol Demitra

    Michal Handzus

    Ladislav Nagy

    etc.

    To say that he could only handle veteran teams is folly. He thrives on finding the right mix of youth and experience.

    Renney is yet another marionette. He belongs in the old “THUNDERBIRDS” TV show alongside fellow puppets Trottier and Low.

    Martin wanted nothing to do with the Rangers. He’s not that stupid.

  40. CommonSense says:

    I like this move by the Avs – although as a Blues fan, I would have preferred Joel take his act to Broadway.

    Herbie is a class act and will be WELL liked amongst the players. And he CAN coach his way out of a paper bag, he just hasn’t figured out how to get past the Conference Finals…..

  41. Hahliday says:

    Rockin! We should’ve done this a while ago. Thank god Granato is gone.

    -Hahliday

  42. commonwealth says:

    If you are Pierre, you have to make this move and it’s a good one. What are your other choices? Give Granato control again? Granato has no pull in that locker room. When the Avs were in the slump the only one who pulled them out was Foote. Where was Granato for the inspiration? Instead they have a “players only” meeting and go on a win streak.

    Quenneville is a big name coach with much more experience. It’s easy to believe more UFA’s will want to play in COL under him then old Punching Bag Tony. But I doubt Kayria will resign, Sellanne has proven his best days are behind him so Kayria will probally head off to L.A. to beat the ducks in a Kings uniform. I think Demitra would bring alot to the Avalanche.. but without Forsberg OR Kayria, The Avs would need one more big offensive producer….and maybe some defense…

    p.s. Vaanaen isn’t THAT bad, but he could be alot better. (Sauer is a goon, trade him)

    -out

  43. habsoverserver says:

    I think the yellow dot has been hired by the owners to do some salary slashing.

  44. defenestrate says:

    Good one….of course, if we had a Wal-Mart league, we’d have teams every 5 miles, and the players would make about 3.00 an hour after taxes..

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