Joel Quenneville making NHL coaching return with Ducks

Joel Quenneville will become the next head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, the team announced Thursday.

"Today is a great day for the Anaheim Ducks," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. "Joel is a proven winner and one of the top coaches in NHL history. We believe this is a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender."

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The news comes more than three years after the NHL determined Quenneville had an "inadequate response" to allegations of sexual assault while he was coaching the Chicago Blackhawks.

Quenneville resigned seven games into the Florida Panthers' 2021-22 season amid a scandal in which former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach said he was sexually assaulted by Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

"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," Verbeek said. "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."

Quenneville said he was “truly grateful” to be back in the league.

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“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,” he said.

Quenneville, 66, is the second-winningest coach in NHL history with a 1,768-969-572 record across his 25 seasons. He also earned three Stanley Cup championships during his time with the Blackhawks (2010, 2013 and 2015).

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The Ducks will be Quenneville's fifth NHL coaching stop. He previously led the St. Louis Blues (1996-2004), Colorado Avalanche (2005-08), Blackhawks (2008-19) and Panthers (2019-21). Before coaching, he played 13 NHL seasons as a defenseman.

Anaheim went 35-37-10 (80 points) in 2024-25, finishing sixth place in the Pacific Division. The team fired head coach Greg Cronin last month after he held the job for two seasons.

The Ducks own the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.