The Chicago Blackhawks are set to make a "major announcement" on Friday, and sources say it will be to announce a contract extension for head coach Joel Quenneville.
Reports say it'll be a three-year extension, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Quenneville has led the Blackhawks to two Stanley Cup Championships in his five seasons behind the bench. Chicago defeated the Boston Bruins in six games this past season to win the Cup and also defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in six games to earn the trophy in 2010 under Quenneville. The coach's current deal runs through the 2013-14 season, but general manger Stan Bowman said earlier this month that he was hoping to extend the coach this summer.
"It's always good to get those things done in the summertime and sort of clear the deck to focus on hockey starting in the fall," Bowman said on July 12 according to the Chicago Tribune.
Quenneville was a nominee for the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL's best coach after last season, but the honors went to Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean.
"There are a lot of positives in all aspects of being here," said Quenneville on July 12 according to the Chicago Tribune. Quenneville entered the offseason hoping for an extension, and on Friday he'll get one.
Quenneville's coaching career began with the St. Louis Blues in 1996-97. HIs first season behind the bench for the Blackhawks was in the 2008-09 campaign. The Blackhawks have made the playoffs in every season that Quenneville has been at the helm. After losing in the Western Conference finals to Detroit in Quenneville's first season with the team, Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2009-10. After two disappointing first round exits the following two seasons, the Hawks took home the Stanley Cup this past year.
Quenneville has coached 1,211 career NHL games and boasts a 660-389-77-74 record.
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