EDMONTON, Alberta — Tom Renney figured he would become head coach of the Oilers. He just didn’t think it would happen so soon.
Pat Quinn was removed as coach of the Oilers on Tuesday after his team finished with the worst record in the league in his first season.
“It’s not my decision,” Quinn said. “I had been looking forward to coaching the team next year. A decision was made.”
Quinn was assigned to the front office as a senior adviser.
Edmonton was 27-48-8 with Quinn behind the bench, 33 points below the playoff cutoff in the Western Conference. He was replaced by his assistant, Renney, who will be running his third NHL team.
“This is a move I would not have made without Pat’s blessing,” Renney said. “The move is certainly in keeping with the process (general manager) Steve Tambellini and I spoke about a year ago when I was offered the associate coach position, although a little earlier then expected.”
Niedermayer retires after 18 seasons
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer ended his 18-year NHL career, retiring after winning four Stanley Cup titles and a wealth of medals and trophies earned everywhere from junior hockey to the Vancouver Games.
And after several flirtations with retirement in recent years, Niedermayer says he’s “100 percent committed” to his decision.
“We were joking on the way in that maybe I changed my mind on the way here,” he said.
Niedermayer will stay with the organization as a consultant to general manager Bob Murray. Niedermayer, 36, had 172 goals and 568 assists in the NHL, winning one Norris Trophy as the top defenseman.
Footnotes.
The Sharks will not offer goalie Evgeni Nabokov a contract when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next week.
• The Canadiens signed leading scorer Tomas Plekanec (25 goals, 70 points) to a six-year, $30 million contract.
• The Panthers traded forwards Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell to the Bruins for defenseman Dennis Wideman, the No. 15 pick in this weekend’s NHL draft and a third-round selection next year.
• The NHL Players’ Association is extending its current collective bargaining agreement with the league through the 2011-12 season.
The Associated Press
