Quenneville relishing alternative to teach once more in NHL with Ducks

The Ducks, who gained the Stanley Cup in 2007 and have been Pacific Division champions for 5 straight seasons from 2012-17, haven’t certified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for seven straight seasons.

But much like the Blackhawks, who had gamers like Toews, Kane and defensemen Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith that led them again to prominence, the Ducks have a younger core that is able to take the following step. That core contains forwards Beckett Sennecke, 19; Leo Carlsson, 20; and Cutter Gauthier, 21; and defensemen Olen Zellweger, 22; and Pavel Mintyukov, 21.

“I believe the entire group right here coming into the season had that kind of a sense round themselves, the older guys figuring out their existence right here is like, it’s time for them,” Quenneville said. “The youthful guys, we need to give these guys extra accountability so far as taking some possession within the management division. We’ve given them some captaincies in that regard, included them somewhat bit extra.

“The opportunity for these guys to take that next step has definitely been witnessed by us already. So, that’s been a good sign.”

Carlsson and defenseman Jackson LaCombe, 24, are amongst those that have been an alternate captain in video games this season.

“It’s been all positive,” LaCombe stated after Sunday’s recreation. “[Quenneville] brings a number of power. He has a lot expertise that we are able to be taught from and develop from. He’s been nice for all of us. We have to offer the identical effort again.

“I think our whole team is (taking steps). We’re determined to win. Some of these games we just have to come out a little faster, a little sharper and we’ll get better results.”

Kane, who now performs for the Detroit Red Wings, stated Quenneville can flip issues round in Anaheim.

“The thing about him is, he makes the game simple, right? So, you’re not thinking too much, and I think sometimes that’s maybe the problem in our League a little bit,” he stated. “Those guys will be able to play with freedom, they’ll be able to play with, you know, a lot of excitement and flair if they want, as long as they’re doing the right things, right? I think he’ll do a good job there.”

Quenneville in all probability gained’t be shy in shifting gamers across the lineup, utilizing them in conditions that could be totally different for them. In Chicago, he put ahead Andrew Shaw, a fifth-round choose (No. 139) by the Blackhawks within the 2011 NHL Draft, on the primary power-play unit. Marcus Kruger and Michael Frolik have been thrown onto the penalty kill and have become two of the Blackhawks’ finest in that division.

Patrick Sharp, who was predominantly a left winger, performed a giant position through the Blackhawks’ 2010 Cup run as a middle.

“He seemed to really put players in spots where their attributes could shine through,” Sharp stated. “There was no perfect player on our team — well, there were a couple who were pretty close — but the players who had flaws in their game, Joel was there to kind of protect those players, help them get better, put them in positions to help the team in what they could do best.”

As the Ducks adapt to Quenneville, he’ll need to adapt to an NHL recreation that’s modified throughout his four-year absence. To that finish, Quenneville has leaned on his assistants Jay Woodcroft, Ryan McGill, Andrew Brewer and Tim Army. Woodcroft was most not too long ago the coach of the Edmonton Oilers for components of three seasons from 2022-23, and McGill was an assistant for the New Jersey Devils from 2022-25. Army is coming into his second season as a Ducks assistant, and Brewer most not too long ago was an assistant with Utica of the American Hockey League in 2022-23.

“All new guys for me, giving me all kinds of different ideas, whether it’s our special team coaches, face-off guys. I mean, running practices, it’s a whole different bag of tricks,” Quenneville stated. “For a guy that’s been away, it’s really been beneficial looking at it through a different lens, doing some things differently.”

For the Ducks, the time is now. They’ve been working by way of their rebuild for just a few years, and they should get again to their previous success. Quenneville has carried out it earlier than, and he’s actually trying to do it once more.

“Getting again behind the bench is the enjoyable half in regards to the recreation,” Quenneville said. “I believe we are able to get higher in how we need to play and extra constant systematically in how we need to transfer across the ice, however we’re a younger crew, and it’s in all probability a change to how they’re accustomed to taking part in.

“I’m excited because I think it’s a competitive group that wants to get better and won’t be satisfied and take things for granted.”

NHL.com columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika contributed to this report