Gary Bettman reveals Joel Quenneville was never an option for the Maple Leafs

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Graham Montgomery
June 9, 2024 (6:34 PM)

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NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the status of Joel Quenneville and Stan Bowman during his state of the league address before game one of the Stanley Cup finals yesterday.

Both individuals have been banned from the NHL since the details emerged of the Blackhawks 2010 cover up of a sexual assault. However, the league left the door open to them potentially returning, but they would have to clear it with Gary Bettman himself in order for that to happen. During his speech yesterday, Bettman confirmed that both Quenneville and Bowman remain ineligible to be signed by NHL teams.

Gary Bettman says that former Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and coach Joel Quenneville are "currently not eligible" to work in the NHL.

Bettman also revealed that both men have already reached out to Bettman seeking reinstatement. It is not clear whether he has already had discussions with them about it though. Based on his phrasing, it seems like he is actively considering or plans to consider reenlistment for both men in the near future.

Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville are currently "not eligible" to work in the NHL but both have "reached out seeking an opportunity to come back", which Gary Bettman will consider.

For now, the Leafs will have to happy with Craig Berube. It sounds like Quenneville might get another chance at some point, but it is hard to say when that might come, and the Leafs can't just wait around hoping for that to happen. Hopefully Berube will be the right voice the Leafs need as they look to go on a deep playoff run for the first time in the core-four era.

Source: MapleLeafsDaily
Gary Bettman reveals why he didn't give Leafs permission to hire Quenneville