A few destinations for the unemployed Joel Quenneville

Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville was fired today, so let the lottery for his services begin.

Through 10 games of the newly minted NHL season, the Chicago Blackhawks were good again. At least, it seemed that way. They were 6-2-2 despite retaining a roster which has aged as poorly as untended goats milk. Head bench guru Joel Quenneville was back on track with the club he’d led to three Stanley Cups, and rumors of his demise — rumors which stretched all the way to last year even before the club came to a last place Central Division finish — had subsided.

Welp.

Those first 10 games are but a mirage now, as the ‘Hawks have lost five in a row and Quenneville is officially out. Gone. Kaput. Sayonara Joel.

Hey, do you remember back when Quenneville forced Chicago to hand out long-term deals that won’t expire until certain players near their ’40s? Or that time he was forced to trade Artemi Panarin because, well, no money.

Oh you don’t? Neither do we. And some club out there right this second is contemplating bringing him into the fold. Let’s look at a few possibilities.

We wouldn’t doubt the Kings to pursue this move. The team just fired John Stevens and promoted Willie Desjardins to interim head coach, but a get like Quenneville might be too good to pass on. Los Angeles is pretty well in the same spot as the Blackhawks, though. They’re in win-now mode with an aging lineup and a lot of players that can’t be traded. Also, despite being in win-now mode, they aren’t winning. Like, ever. Move along, Joel. This ain’t it.

Edmonton is third in the Pacific, so at the moment there simply isn’t going to be a coaching change. But that doesn’t mean the door won’t open down the line, especially considering the young talent on the roster (McDavid much?) that so greatly underachieved last season (78 points). We have to wonder what Quenneville could do with this group, and so Todd McLellan might want to keep one eye over his shoulder while hoping the Oil don’t slip on any extended rough patches.

Ugh.

The Flyers seem one of the more logical landing spots right now. As with Edmonton, they have a talented group that’s both young and experienced (Sean Couturier, Claude Giroux), and they’re coming off a 98 point season meaning Philly is ready to compete and compete hard. But out of the gate, they aren’t doing so hot at 7-7-1. This is Dave Hakstol’s fourth year behind the Flyers’ bench, and mediocre results might be wearing thin. Sure he’s led them to the playoffs, but they’ve yet to advance beyond the first round. With a large core in or nearing their prime, does Philadelphia have Quenneville on speed dial?

The teams here of course aren’t comprehensive, and for what it’s worth Quenneville could retire and simply call it a career. What do you think? Let us know on Twitter @FanSidedNHL!