1:52: Richards reports that Florida is still trying to get a deal done, but other teams have no gotten involved, including both the Philadelphia Flyers and most recently, the Buffalo Sabres.
12:51: ESPN’s Greg Wyshinski writes that the Florida Panthers have offered Quenneville a multi-year contract in excess of $6MM per year, including bonuses. Currently, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is the highest paid coach at $6.25MM.
12:44: New York Post’s Brett Cyrgalis reports that the deal between Florida and Quenneville is done with an announcement coming tomorrow. He also adds that former New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow, who was fired last summer, is likely to find a role with the Panthers in some capacity as well.
12:12: The Florida Panthers are holding a press conference on Monday, according to The Athletic’s George Richards, who asked Tallon whether it will be to introduce a new coach.
“I can’t tell you,” Tallon responded. Then.. “That would be our goal. Yep.”
12:01: It’s been just a few hours since the Florida Panthers fired head coach Bob Boughner, but that hasn’t stopped the team from pursuing their replacement quicker than many people expected. While the name of Joel Quenneville was already rumored to be a legitimate candidate for Florida to hire, it is now believed the two sides are already closing in on a deal.
In fact, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that a potential deal between Quenneville and the Florida Panthers is much closer than anyone realized. While it’s not a done deal, they are close. The Athletic’s George Richards also writes that something could be worked out soon and that the team has already asked the Chicago Blackhawks for permission to interview Quenneville.
“We have to raise the bar here,” Florida general manager Dale Tallon said today. “We’re not happy right now.”
Adding Quenneville could turn Florida into an instant contender as the team is already loaded with offensive talent and only needs a few pieces, which the Panthers are hoping to get this offseason with their available cap space. Quenneville already has a great relationship with Artemi Panarin, who played for him in Chicago. Already having been rumored to be interested in playing in Florida, the addition of Quenneville might tip the scales for Panarin. The team is also rumored to be interested in goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who would also fill a major hole on the team.
Hiring Quenneville would be a change from their normal hiring practices as the team hasn’t hired a head coach with extensive experience since the days of Mike Keenan or Jacques Martin.
Regardless, the Panthers already have a tremendous amount of talent on their top lines, including Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Mike Hoffman, Evgenii Dadonov and Vincent Trocheck. The team also has some promising young players, including Henrik Borgstrom, Owen Tippett and eventually Grigori Denisenko.
jdgoat
Best FA signing they’ll have, even if they do end up with some of the big names.
MacJablonski--NotVegasLegend
That would be a mixed bag, Coach Q. Not sure there isn’t a better deal for you elsewhere…
kenleyfornia2
Q probably only wanted to coach in So Cal or Florida.
Marner#16
JD too bad your pet Dorian and clown owner are too stupid to go after a great coach like Joel!
ski44
Why did the Panthers have to get permission from the Hawks???
jdgoat
It’s just an odd NHL rule ski. He was still under contract for Chicago next year even though he was fired. If the coach would still be under contract for when you want to sign them, you need permission.
tim2686
Because Q is still under contract for next season with the Blackhawks. This is one of the reasons he held out after being fired. He is in no rush to sign anywhere unless he wants to.
tim2686
Called it like 10 minutes before this came out. Uncle Dale always gets his man.
Marner#16
Wow Jd your actually reading and doing your homework now so you don’t look so much the goof you are.
imgman09
Marner,I think his Brains went packing! Just from the outside,great signing Florida,they have a lot of good young players that just need direction and Q is perfect ,if Management let’s him do his thing,Florida will soon be successful
Marner#16
I agree img. Rowe screwed them up a few years back now Dale is back to right the ship!
sports is life
Pegulas need to open the check book sign Joel. There is do much talent in Buffalo, similar to when he molded Kane in Chicago
Marner#16
Good idea. But if I’m Joel they’re is more talent on the Panthers. I’d go to where it’s warmer weather!
Marner#16
sports he didn’t mold Kane actually watch a Blackhawks game he let Kane play his game with all that talent … had the best 2 way captain in the game in toews. A healthy Crawford and one of the best defences in the league at the time. A good solid core of responsible forwards where Coach Q could role 3 sometimes 4 lines . Miss the days of Eager and Burris’s rocking guys and big Buff flipping between d a forward.
Josip Tomic
Hello HOLGER STOLZENBERG
You made a typo mistake, you put have “no” gotten involved. Should it be “now” gotten involved not “no”
sweetg
surprise that rumor he would sign somewhere about to win was not true. Don’t blame him get all the cash you can.
Marner#16
Sweet it’s not about the money it’s about the championships!