Quenneville to coach Colorado

[nccanes]

Quenneville to coach Colorado


TSN.ca Staff
7/6/2004

TSN has learned that the Colorado Avalanche will name Joel Quenneville as their new head coach, replacing Tony Granato who had been at the helm since 2002.

This will mark Quenneville's second stint with the Avalanche organization. He was hired as Mark Crawford's assistant in the 1995-96 season and played a large role in the club's first ever Stanley Cup victory.

Considered one of the most respected coaches in the League, Quenneville was fired by the St. Louis Blues in February after serving as the teams head coach since 1997. He guided the Blues to a franchise record 114 points during the 1999-2000 season and was the recipient of the Jack Adams award as coach of the year.

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.

The lowest scoring team in this year's post-season, the Blues lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks. It was the second straight first round elimination for the club.

In May, Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said he was disappointed with the way the 2003-04 season ended but that coach Granato would not pay the price for the team's playoff failure.

"I'm telling you Tony Granato will be there (as head coach) and should be there a long time, with the way he has worked this year and last year," Lacroix told the Denver Post.

"It's never crossed our mind that any of our coaches, including Tony, haven't done a great job ... and we're very pleased about what he delivered to this organization. If someone wants to put the blame on the coach, that is not the route we're going to take."

[nccanes]

Quenneville to coach Colorado


TSN.ca Staff
7/6/2004

TSN has learned that the Colorado Avalanche will name Joel Quenneville as their new head coach, replacing Tony Granato who had been at the helm since 2002.

This will mark Quenneville's second stint with the Avalanche organization. He was hired as Mark Crawford's assistant in the 1995-96 season and played a large role in the club's first ever Stanley Cup victory.

Considered one of the most respected coaches in the League, Quenneville was fired by the St. Louis Blues in February after serving as the teams head coach since 1997. He guided the Blues to a franchise record 114 points during the 1999-2000 season and was the recipient of the Jack Adams award as coach of the year.

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.

The lowest scoring team in this year's post-season, the Blues lost in the first round to the San Jose Sharks. It was the second straight first round elimination for the club.

In May, Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said he was disappointed with the way the 2003-04 season ended but that coach Granato would not pay the price for the team's playoff failure.

"I'm telling you Tony Granato will be there (as head coach) and should be there a long time, with the way he has worked this year and last year," Lacroix told the Denver Post.

"It's never crossed our mind that any of our coaches, including Tony, haven't done a great job ... and we're very pleased about what he delivered to this organization. If someone wants to put the blame on the coach, that is not the route we're going to take."

[CANESFREAKinDET]

WTF I just read this a few seconds ago over on tsn. I was shocked. I had heard of Ottawa, and New York and St. Louis and a few others getting new coached but this one never crossed my mind. I seem to be the only one who's surprised lol. This is DEFINITELY a good move...as I can see Quenneville rejuvenating a team that has done worse under Granato. Maybe Joel will be the man to bring back some of their glory days, although hopefully after OUR glory days have returned lmao. :D Good yet surprising move. :spin:

[CANESFREAKinDET]

WTF I just read this a few seconds ago over on tsn. I was shocked. I had heard of Ottawa, and New York and St. Louis and a few others getting new coached but this one never crossed my mind. I seem to be the only one who's surprised lol. This is DEFINITELY a good move...as I can see Quenneville rejuvenating a team that has done worse under Granato. Maybe Joel will be the man to bring back some of their glory days, although hopefully after OUR glory days have returned lmao. :D Good yet surprising move. :spin:

[Mona]

Colorado don't play do they?? With the records they have had in the past two seasons and made the playoffs both years????? :crazy:

[Mona]

Colorado don't play do they?? With the records they have had in the past two seasons and made the playoffs both years????? :crazy:

[guinevere]

A bit more info...

Granato demoted

Quenneville to take position as fourth head coach for Avalanche. The former
skipper will continue with the Colorado organization, but as an assistant.


By Adrian Dater
Denver Post Staff Writer

Joel Quenneville, the former Avalanche assistant coach and player with
Denver's first NHL team, will take over for Tony Granato as Avalanche head coach, a
team source confirmed Tuesday.

An Avalanche source confirmed thatQuenneville, 45, will be introduced today
as the team's fourth head coach since moving to Denver in 1995. But, in a
surprise move,Granato will return to his former position as an Avs assistant.

Quenneville, who left the Avalanche as an assistant in 1997 to take a
coaching job with St. Louis, was fired after 61 games with the Blues last season. In
593 games with the Blues, Quenneville compiled a 307-191- 77-18 record. After
the firing, Quenneville worked as a part-time analyst for Canadian television
network, TSN.

Rumors that Quenneville would coach the Avalanche surfaced shortly after he
was fired by the Blues, but Granato finished out the season.

Quenneville was a popular assistant with the Avalanche, which included the
team's Stanley Cup 1995-96 season. He has a solid reputation in the NHL for his
handling of players and knowledge of the game. His only strike has been his
lack of playoff success. He posted a 34-34 postseason record with the Blues. His
longest playoff run was in 2001, when the Blues lost to the Avs in the
Western Conference finals.

Granato's demotion comes not long after Avs president and general manager
Pierre Lacroix stated his job was not in jeopardy - which may have been a matter
of semantics.

Shortly after the Avs were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs,
Lacroix said Granato would return for the 2004-05 season.

"I'm telling you that Tony Granato will be there and should be there a long
time, with the way he has worked this year and last year," Lacroix told The
Post. "If someone wants to put the blame on the coach, that is not the route
we're going to take."

But there were signs of instability within the Avalanche coaching ranks.
Assistant Rick Tocchet resigned from the team last week for what was described as
"family reasons." Now, Granato takes over Tocchet's job, with longtime
assistant Jacques Cloutier slated to return for a 10th season.

Quenneville, from Windsor, Ontario, has battled health problems in recent
months. He was slated to coach Canada at the world championships in the Czech
Republic in April, but missed the tournament after suffering an
exhaustion-related breakdown. He recently said he felt recovered enough to resume coaching this
season.

"I look back and it was a combination of poor preparation on my part,"
Quenneville told the New York Daily News, after interviewing with the Rangers for
their head coaching job.Louis. Everything is fine now."

Quenneville played for the Colorado Rockies from 1979-82 as a defenseman. He
played 803 career NHL games.

[guinevere]

A bit more info...

Granato demoted

Quenneville to take position as fourth head coach for Avalanche. The former
skipper will continue with the Colorado organization, but as an assistant.


By Adrian Dater
Denver Post Staff Writer

Joel Quenneville, the former Avalanche assistant coach and player with
Denver's first NHL team, will take over for Tony Granato as Avalanche head coach, a
team source confirmed Tuesday.

An Avalanche source confirmed thatQuenneville, 45, will be introduced today
as the team's fourth head coach since moving to Denver in 1995. But, in a
surprise move,Granato will return to his former position as an Avs assistant.

Quenneville, who left the Avalanche as an assistant in 1997 to take a
coaching job with St. Louis, was fired after 61 games with the Blues last season. In
593 games with the Blues, Quenneville compiled a 307-191- 77-18 record. After
the firing, Quenneville worked as a part-time analyst for Canadian television
network, TSN.

Rumors that Quenneville would coach the Avalanche surfaced shortly after he
was fired by the Blues, but Granato finished out the season.

Quenneville was a popular assistant with the Avalanche, which included the
team's Stanley Cup 1995-96 season. He has a solid reputation in the NHL for his
handling of players and knowledge of the game. His only strike has been his
lack of playoff success. He posted a 34-34 postseason record with the Blues. His
longest playoff run was in 2001, when the Blues lost to the Avs in the
Western Conference finals.

Granato's demotion comes not long after Avs president and general manager
Pierre Lacroix stated his job was not in jeopardy - which may have been a matter
of semantics.

Shortly after the Avs were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs,
Lacroix said Granato would return for the 2004-05 season.

"I'm telling you that Tony Granato will be there and should be there a long
time, with the way he has worked this year and last year," Lacroix told The
Post. "If someone wants to put the blame on the coach, that is not the route
we're going to take."

But there were signs of instability within the Avalanche coaching ranks.
Assistant Rick Tocchet resigned from the team last week for what was described as
"family reasons." Now, Granato takes over Tocchet's job, with longtime
assistant Jacques Cloutier slated to return for a 10th season.

Quenneville, from Windsor, Ontario, has battled health problems in recent
months. He was slated to coach Canada at the world championships in the Czech
Republic in April, but missed the tournament after suffering an
exhaustion-related breakdown. He recently said he felt recovered enough to resume coaching this
season.

"I look back and it was a combination of poor preparation on my part,"
Quenneville told the New York Daily News, after interviewing with the Rangers for
their head coaching job.Louis. Everything is fine now."

Quenneville played for the Colorado Rockies from 1979-82 as a defenseman. He
played 803 career NHL games.