Quenneville hired to coach Ducks in NHL return

The Anaheim Ducks have hired Joel Quenneville as their new coach, the team announced Thursday.

"This is the organization I wanted to restart my career with and am truly grateful for this opportunity," Quenneville said in a statement. "The Ducks have incredible ownership, management and passionate fans. In nearly four years away from the game, I have learned from my prior mistakes and realized it will be actions over words that demonstrate my commitment to being a better leader."

Quenneville has been out of the NHL since 2021 after resigning as Florida Panthers coach in the fallout of the investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks. An independent report from a law firm in October 2021 detailed how the Blackhawks organization failed to properly address allegations by player Kyle Beach that he was sexually assaulted by video coach Brad Aldrich during the team's 2010 Stanley Cup run.

The league determined that then-coach Quenneville, then-general manager Stan Bowman and then-executive Al MacIsaac were ineligible to work for other NHL teams, and the Blackhawks were fined $2 million for having inadequate policies in place. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman lifted that ban in July 2024, with the league noting "sincere remorse" by the three men for their "unacceptable" response to the allegations. Bowman has since been hired as general manager of the Edmonton Oilers.

The Ducks did an extensive look into Quenneville's role over the past several weeks and spoke with advocacy groups that he had formed relationships with. Sources told ESPN that the team also spoke with Beach. The Ducks determined that Quenneville had continued to put in the necessary work to understand how to learn from the mistakes of 2010.

"Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates, while simultaneously conducting a comprehensive review of what took place while Joel was head coach of the Blackhawks in 2010," GM Pat Verbeek said in a statement. "We spoke with dozens of individuals, including advocates for positive change in hockey and leadership of the NHL, which last July officially cleared Joel to seek employment in the league. Our findings are consistent with Joel's account that he was not fully aware of the severity of what transpired in 2010. It is clear that Joel deeply regrets not following up with more questions at the time, has demonstrated meaningful personal growth and accountability, and has earned the opportunity to return to coaching."

Anaheim was looking for a coach after firing Greg Cronin following his second season. The Ducks have not made the playoffs in seven seasons, despite a 21-point improvement in 2024-25.

Sources said David Carle had a lengthy two-day interview with the Ducks before bowing out to sign an extension at Denver University. The Ducks reached out to Mike Sullivan but never interviewed him, as the longtime Pittsburgh Penguins coach chose the New York Rangers. Sources said Jay Woodcroft and Rick Tocchet were the two other candidates remaining when the Ducks hired Quenneville.

Quenneville, 66, ranks second all time in the NHL with 969 regular-season victories with the Colorado Avalanche, St. Louis Blues, Blackhawks and Panthers. Quenneville led Chicago to three Stanley Cups.