Make-or-break season for Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville?
When anybody mentions coaches such as Scotty Bowman, Bill Belichick, Phil Jackson and Joe Torre, most sports fans can rattle off all kinds of facts about these legends.
Most of us think of the championships first, but not far behind is how long each man ruled over a franchise.
They did so because they almost always devised the perfect game plans. Or knew when to take a chance. Or knew when to take the pitcher out, when to go for it on fourth down, or who should take the last shot.
They connected with their players and got the most out of them at all times.
These brilliant leaders are often allowed to write their own ticket out of town, and one wonders if Joel Quenneville has reached that lofty status with the Blackhawks.
There are many out there who don't believe that — telling me if the Hawks don't make it past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs this season, Quenneville is done.
But really?
Should the Hawks jettison the second-winningest coach of all time? The man who helped guide their franchise to three Cups in six years? How, exactly, would that be received by Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook?
“We've been very fortunate to have him as a coach,” Kane said. “I think he's the best in the league at managing his players and understanding where the team's at, as far as rest or whether we need a hard practice, or whatever it is.
“Even (when it comes to) how to manage certain guys, he doesn't coach everyone the same way. I know personally I don't want to play for anyone else.”
Quenneville has two years remaining on his contract and says he's taking things “one year at a time.”
When last season ended, the 59-year-old coach admitted he was as much to blame as anyone for the Hawks' first-round playoff collapse against the Predators.
“Our job is to get the most out of every single guy, and we've always had a certain standard of how we compete,” Quenneville said. “Sometimes we assume that that's been a given, being fortunate to work with this group. It's always been there.
“So I always take it personally when we're not competitive. That's just the way I am.”
John McDonough, the Hawks' president and CEO, is a huge fan of Quenneville.
Huge.
McDonough said Quenneville has done a “brilliant job” since taking over the head duties five games into the 2008-09 season. He believes Quenneville is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NHL, that his desire to win has never been higher and players come to — and come back to — Chicago because they know what kind of coach he is.
But is he untouchable? Unfireable?
McDonough wouldn't go that far.
“Well, I think all of us are accountable,” McDonough said. “All of us. Certainly me. I'm accountable and I'm responsible. And I would never put myself in a position that I would say, ‘Well, I'm going to be able to call my own shots.' I report to a great owner — Rocky Wirtz — the best in our industry.
“But this is a game that's based on achievement. We're in the results business.
“We've never had any conversation even remotely close to that. That's the best answer I can give you.”
Fair enough.
Obviously if the Hawks can find a way to win again in the playoffs, this subject will be moot.
And, after the way last season ended, Quenneville is as motivated as ever to get the most out of his team.
If he does, Hawks fans have nothing to worry about — he likely will be here for as long as he wants.
If not, McDonough may have to address this topic sooner rather than later.
• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh