Ducks’ Joel Quenneville becomes second NHL coach to win 1,000 games
Joel Quenneville became just the second head coach in NHL history to win 1,000 career games on Wednesday as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Edmonton Oilers 6-5.
“I wasn’t prioritizing the number. I just wanted to play well tonight and find a way to win,” Quenneville told reporters after the game. “That was the motivation, and it turned out to be a very special one, as well.”
Ducks’ forward Cutter Gauthier scored the go-ahead goal with 1:14 left in the third period to give Anaheim the win, improving their record to 31-23-3 and moving them one point ahead of the Oilers for second in the Pacific Division.
CUTTER GAUTHIER SCORES THE GAME-WINNING GOAL! 🤩
“It was a tremendous game as far as the unpredictability of the outcome,” Quenneville said. “Both teams looked like they were in complete control of the game at some times of that game.”
The only other NHL head coach to reach 1,000 career regular-season wins is Scotty Bowman, who finished with 1,244.
Quenneville is the second-winningest coach in NHL history, compiling a record of 1,000-595-153 with 77 ties in 1,825 career regular-season games with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks and Florida Panthers. He led the Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
He was hired by the Ducks last May, becoming the 12th coach in franchise history.
Prior to coaching, Quenneville played 803 games in the NHL, where he scored 54 goals and recorded 190 points, along with 705 penalty minutes as a defenseman.
According to TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger, the Ducks “did an extensive background check” in relation to Quenneville’s involvement with the sexual assault allegation surrounding former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich and former Chicago forward Kyle Beach from 2010.
In 2021, a report from law firm Jenner & Block outlined Quenneville and the Blackhawks’ inaction through the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The report revealed that Quenneville was aware of the situation and took part in at least one meeting regarding the allegations during the postseason.
Quenneville had stated previously that he was made aware of the allegations during the summer through the media.
After meeting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Quenneville resigned as Panthers’ head coach in October 2021.
Soon after, Bettman released a statement saying that, “should (Quenneville) wish to re-enter (the NHL) in some capacity in the future, I will require a meeting with him in advance in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which such new employment might take place.”
After three years away from the game, the NHL reinstated Quenneville on July 1, 2024, saying an NHL club could again hire him.