Joel Quenneville wore blue on Sunday, prompting a few jokes at his expense. The Avalanche coach returned fire, noting that every media representative and team member in his presence also had the color somewhere in their clothing.
For nearly eight years, Quenneville and blue were synonymous. After helping the Avs win the 1996 Stanley Cup as an assistant coach, the St. Louis Blues hired Quenneville the following season and became one of the best teams in the NHL.
The only thing that didn’t happen for the Blues under Quenneville was winning a Stanley Cup, and by 2004 Blues management became impatient and fired him. Tonight at the Pepsi Center, Quenneville’s Avs take on a Blues team that is the worst team in the league.
“I wish I’d gotten a chance to finish the job (in St. Louis),” Quenneville said. “But there is no bitterness. They were all good years there, all good memories.”
Quenneville remains the wins leader in Blues coaching history after posting a 307-191-77-18 record. He won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 1999-2000, and took St. Louis to the 2001 Western Conference finals before losing to the Avalanche.
Quenneville still seems somewhat mystified about why the Blues let him go. At the time of his dismissal, Feb. 24, 2004, the Blues were starting to play better and had a respectable 29-23-7-2 record.
“The initial shock was very unsettling,” Quenneville recalled.
“But after that, you realize it’s part of the business. I’m not complaining about anything. Most of us go into this business knowing that will probably happen.”
The Blues have been a train wreck this season under Quenneville’s successor, former Colorado Rockies player Mike Kitchen. Former Avalanche owners Bill and Nancy Laurie have been trying to sell the Blues for many months, with at least one deal falling through recently.
General manager Larry Pleau, who fired Quenneville, traded away popular defenseman Chris Pronger to Edmonton and saw the departure of high-scoring winger Pavol Demitra to the Los Angeles Kings. Some Blues fans have taken to wearing bags over their heads at games.
“It’s been challenging for them,” Quenneville said. “But they still find a way to stay competitive.”
Kitchen has called Quenneville on a regular basis this season, leaning on him as a friend and former co-worker.
“One of the things about Joel, he sees the game very well. He sees all 10 players on the ice. He doesn’t need video,” Kitchen said.
“He just picks things up so quickly. And we can make changes right in the flow of the game. He’s going to have a long coaching career, and he’s proven that when he’s been here in St. Louis, and he’ll do it again in Colorado.”
Said Blues defenseman Barrett Jackman: “He got the ax here, but he’s a great coach. I owe him a lot, for giving me a lot of confidence my rookie year. It helped me win the Calder Trophy.”
Adrian Dater can be reached at 303-820-5454 or adater@denverpost.com.
