Hawks scandal: Joel Quenneville gets the green light to return to the NHL

Following the saga surrounding the Blackhawks (Kyle Beach) scandal, Joel Quenneville had to step down from his position with the Panthers.

That said, the possibility of him returning behind an NHL bench is on the table.

Because even with what happened in Chicago, he’s got the green light to return to the NHL.

The same goes for Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac, who were part of the Hawks organization at the time.

All three men will be eligible for signing as early as July 10, according to Frank Seravalli.

#NHL announces that former #Blackhawks executives Stan Bowman, Joel Quenneville and Al MacIsaac have been reinstated and are now eligible to seek employment in the league again.

Can be hired after July 10. pic.twitter.com/AVjkHLbeJP

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2024

How can I put this…

The NHL is not making any friends with this news.

In the eyes of many, anyone involved in the Kyle Beach controversy doesn’t deserve to be back in the NHL… Which makes sense.

But Quenneville doesn’t think that way.

He said in April that he “felt bad” about everything that happened several years ago… And that, in his opinion, he deserved the chance to coach an NHL club even with everything that happened.

That said, you really have to wonder whether his reputation and what happened before his eyes in Chicago could hurt him going forward.

After all, not every team in the National League will want to partner with him, for obvious reasons.

Because even if he openly said he didn’t know about “the whole affair”, it’s his image that has suffered in recent years.

The same goes for Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac.

Overtime

– Caufield is happy with Slaf’s new contract.

Cole Caufield on IG: “ LFG Juraj Slafkovsky” pic.twitter.com/45mA0AOGpR

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 1, 2024

– A return to Carolina for the Phantom.

Still not finalized, but Carolina has agreed to a three-year deal with Shayne Gostisbere at a $3.2 M AAV per season ($9.6 M total) https://t.co/R8z4Iokx4v

– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2024

– Two years at $5 M per season for Wennberg.

Alex Wenneberg heads to San Jose on a two-year deal paying $5 M AAV per season

– Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) July 1, 2024

– Nice contract.

#Canes sign Sean Walker to a five-year deal at a 3.6M AAV

Really solid deal, like that a lot for Carolina.

– Brennan Klak (@nhlupdate) July 1, 2024

– Whew.

Not sure there is a team in a worse cap situation than #Avs. It is hellacious.

11 forwards (with Landeskog and Nichushkin)
5 defensemen
2 goalies

And they have… (checks notes) … $300k in cap space. Legit not sure where they go from here.

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) July 1, 2024