3 destinations for Joel Quenneville if coaching market is explored

2. Philadelphia Flyers

At one point in the 2017-18 NHL season, it almost looked as if Flyers coach Dave Hakstol had lost his organization’s locker room and in turn was on the verge of losing his job. Chants of “Fire Hakstol” had even started to occupy the Wells Fargo Center on a host of evenings, as fans yearned for the outset of better days.

Nevertheless, Flyers GM Ron Hextall stood by his coach, electing to ensure that Hakstol would remain “part of the GM’s process of slowly building a competitive Stanley Cup contender that can be sustained over the long term.” The decision ultimately paid off, as the season culminated with a playoff berth, wherein the Flyers endured a hard battle against its rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, over the course of six games.

Going into the 2018-19 campaign, few thought Hakstol was something of a contentious figure among Philadelphia’s fans. Now the fourth-longest tenured coach in the realm of professional hockey, Hakstol has been both revered and despised by his critics, praised for his ability to yield results in the face of pressure, while simultaneously attacked for his capacity to frustrate players and fans alike.

Should Hextall embark upon a leap of faith — unlikely though it may be, but a curious enough prospect to entertain — expect Quenneville to front his list of priorities. The Flyers’ GM has certainly garnered a reputation for backing the team’s coach, but comments of the guarded variety — “You look at our team on paper, and we’ve got a pretty good team … But paper doesn’t mean a whole lot. We need to play better” — may prompt hockey lovers to think otherwise.