Gary Bettman Should Reinstate Former Blackhawks Coach Joel Quenneville: THN Chicago Fan Poll

Quenneville cut more slack by fans than former Chicago general manager Stan Bowman in aftermath of Brad Aldrich sexual assault scandal.

Hockey fans strongly believe NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman should allow former Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville to work in the league again, but are split on whether former Chicago general manager Stan Bowman should be given permission to come back.

The opinions were gathered via a poll on The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks site fan roundtable forum:  https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/chicago-blackhawks/posts. Register there to participate and engage on Blackhawks stories, discussions and topics.

Quenneville and Bowman have not worked — or been allowed to work — in the NHL since late October 2021 after a detailed report on the Brad Aldrich sexual assault scandal was released. Quenneville was coaching the Blackhawks and Bowman was their GM in May 2010 when Aldrich, then the team's video coach, was accused of assaulting prospect Kyle Beach and possibly other "Black Ace" minor league players during Chicago's run to the Stanley Cup. A second player came forward with a lawsuit last fall.

Both Quenneville and Bowman require Bettman's approval to return to the NHL. Before the current Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers Bettman said, “They both reached out seeking an opportunity to come back. It’s something I have to consider.”

Per the THN Chicago Blackhawks Site Poll:

• Nearly two-thirds (65.5%) of respondents say Bettman should reinstate Quenneville immediately. An additional 10.3% say Bettman should reinstate Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in NHL history, with conditions.

• About a quarter of respondents say Bettman should not allow Quenneville back into the league, with 20.7% believing he never should coach in the NHL again.

Fans were not so forgiving with Bowman.

• Only about one-third (32.3%) said the former GM should be allowed back immediately and an additional 14.7% said Bowman should be reinstated with conditions.

• More than half of respondents said Bettman should not allow Bowman to work in the league with 41.2 percent saying "never."

The poll remains open for fans to vote and post comments.

Detailed Report on Case

The report on the Aldrich case, eventually commissioned by the Blackhawks and conducted by Chicago law firm Jenner & Block, revealed that Quenneville, Bowman and others in Blackhawks hockey operations were made aware of Beach's complaint against Aldrich in May 2010 in a meeting. They followed directions from then-team president John McDonough to remain silent on Beach's complaint while McDonough "took care of it."

The dictatorial McDonough chose not to report or address Beach's allegations promptly. He waited instead until after the Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final for their first championship in 49 years.

Aldrich was allowed to join the team's celebration and had his name engraved on the Cup. (It was removed later). He even brought the trophy home to Houghton, Michigan before the Blackhawks quietly released him.

In December 2013, Aldrich pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a high school player he coached in the Upper Peninsula town. He was sentenced to nine months in jail.

The NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million for not handling Beach's complaint expediently once the Jenner & Block report was published on Oct. 26, 2021. 

Bowman resigned immediately when the report was issued. Quenneville, then coaching the Panthers, met with Bettman two days later and stepped down. 

Quenneville had the Panthers off to a 7-0-0 start to the 2021-22 season, his third with Florida. He had been fired by the Blackhawks in November 2018 after the team looked shaky at 6-6-3, but the reason supposedly was front-office friction.

Quenneville's 969 coaching wins with four teams in the NHL are second only to Scotty Bowman, Stan Bowman's father. "Q" was 452-249-96 over 11 seasons with Chicago that included Cup wins in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

McDonough had been "released" by the Blackhawks' owners, the Wirtz Family, in April 2020, ostensibly over other matters. He has never spoken publicly since, or faced criminal or civil charges related to the Aldrich affair.