The embattled coach has also been barred from the BEARD Hockey available coaches list for his role in the matters surrounding Kyle Beach.
TAMPA BAY'S ARTICLE IS BELOW THIS STATEMENT FROM THE LEAGUE:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have fired head coach Joel Quenneville after an abysmal 2-6-1 start during which the 63-year old has been embroiled in real-life scandal due to his involvement in the issues surrounding Kyle Beach.
"The distraction was too much," said a Lightning player who wished not to be identified. "We tried to forget about it and just stick to playing the game, but this is bigger than the game. He needed to go."
BEARD Hockey officials had temporarily left the decision on Quenneville's future to Tampa GM Wes Muyck while they determined the best way forward due to his real-life issues. Ultimately, Muyck determined that firing him now was the best course.
The league subsequently barred Quenneville from being re-hired for the immediate future.
"Quenneville is unavailable to be a coach in BEARD Hockey," stated BEARD Commissioner Thomas Gidlow. "For how long a time is to be determined, but for the foreseeable future, he's not available."
The Lightning struggled to a 2-6-1 record after 9 games in the 2021-22 season to date. After making wholesale changes to the roster in the offseason, Muyck clearly expected more from his club despite it being early in the season.
Muyck was not immediately available for comment on this article.
TAMPA'S ARTICLE:
The Tampa Bay Lightning have decided to part ways with their now former head coach Joel Quenneville.
This comes as no surprise to anyone considering as soon as GM and Team President Wes Mucyk was signed, rumors started to fly around in hockey circles that coach Q was not someone that fit into the new GM's plans, and therefore would find himself on the hotseat right off the hop.
This past offseason the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch went through a coaching change as Marc Crawford was let go. Mitch Love is now behind the bench for the Crunch.
So Mucyk continues to "put his stamp" on the organization.
It is being reported that Joel Quenneville's replacement as the Lightning bench boss will be Jim Montgomery. TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger believes it to be a 4 year deal, but financial terms are still unknown.
With Tampa Bay not owning their 1st round pick in next year's draft, there must be added pressure weighing on this group's shoulders to have a solid season. How will this team do that after having an unsuccessful offseason where the roster appears to have taken a step back following what was a poor season last year?