The Ducks announced disgraced former Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville as the 12th head coach in franchise history. In 2021, Quenneville resigned as coach of the Florida Panthers after allegations of sexual assault by former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich became public.
Kyle Beach, the Blackhawks’ first-round pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, sued the Blackhawks in May 2021. He claimed they failed to adequately address assault allegations against Aldrich when they first became aware of them, prompting the franchise to hire law firm Jenner & Block for an independent investigation.
That investigation found Quenneville and other Blackhawks front office staff, who the league has since reinstated, knew about the allegations and declined to take action until after the team’s 2010 Stanley Cup win. (h/t Yahoo Sports)
In 2023, a second former Blackhawks player, known as John Doe, sued the team for its mishandling of sexual assault allegations he also shared in 2010.
Aldrich left the organization quietly following its Stanley Cup win. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to a charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct after assaulting a minor, although his name remained on Chicago’s 2010 Stanley Cup trophy until 2021.
“Over the last two weeks, we conducted interviews with many outstanding coaching candidates,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said after hiring Quenneville.
“Our findings are consistent with Joel’s that he was not fully aware of the severity of the what transpired in 2010,” Verbeek continued, later adding that Quenneville “has earned the opportunity to return to coaching.”
The Ducks aren’t the first morally bankrupt team, and aren’t the only ones who should be blamed for Quenneville’s hiring. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman deserves criticism for reinstating those involved with enabling Aldrich in July 2024.
But Anaheim must wear the Quenneville hiring as a scarlet letter. Every win will serve as a reminder of the seedy deal it made to try to be relevant.
It’s hard to believe that in an open coaching search with “many outstanding candidates,” the one who played a role in keeping sexual assault allegations from coming to light was the last man standing.
It speaks to the type of organization Verbeek runs. Maybe he and Quenneville were made for each other.
