CHICAGO – Joel Quenneville knew the deal. After three Stanley Cup titles and nine playoff appearances with the Chicago Blackhawks, the longtime coach figured this was a big season for him.
"I only think we're in the winning business, and we better win," Quenneville said on the first day of training camp.
Two months later, it was over.
The Blackhawks fired Quenneville on Tuesday, ending a wildly successful run that returned the franchise to the top of the NHL after years of heartache.
"We want to win," team President John McDonough said. "We want to re-win. We want our building filled, and we want our fans to see an exciting brand of hockey. Sometimes, as painful as it is, you need a fresh start."
The move comes in the wake of a winless three-game trip, extending Chicago's losing streak to five in a row heading into Thursday's home game against Carolina. The power play, a persistent problem, ranked 27th in the NHL heading into Tuesday. The Blackhawks (6-6-3) also are allowing an unseemly 3.73 goals per game.
The 60-year-old Quenneville was the longest-tenured head coach in the NHL. He had another year left on a three-year contract extension he signed in 2016 that pays him $6 million per year, second highest in the NHL behind Mike Babcock in Toronto.
He also was the second coach fired in the past three days after the Los Angeles Kings dismissed John Stevens.
