NHL: Q Is Out! Who Will Be The Next Head Coach For The Colorado Avalanche?

After most of the media was focusing on the Toronto Maple Leafs firing Head Coach Paul Maurice, Friday the news of another team is now in search of a new Head Coach.

In a Press Conference, Colorado Avalanche General Manager Francois Giguere announced that Head Coach Joel Quenneville would not be returning with the team. This was a “mutual agreement” between the two parties.

Quenneville came to Colorado in 2004 after Head Coach Tony Granato was demoted to Assistant Coach.  This was his last year of his contract with the team.

In his three season tenure in Colorado, Quenneville coached the team to a 131-92-23 record. The Avalanche missed the playoffs one year, and have not made it pass the second round of the playoffs since their Stanley Cup win in 2001.

As a fan, the last straw was when Joel Quenneville decided to start Jose Theodore against the Detroit Red-Wings in the second round of the playoffs this year, despite being pulled game after game after game in the series.

No doubt a great coach, but it was clear that something had to give in Colorado. So with Quenneville gone, who will be the next Head Coach?

We’ve all heard the rumors of Hall of Fame Goaltender, and former Avs Patrick Roy would come to Colorado and make his coaching debut in the NHL.

Since retiring from the NHL, Roy has been the owner, General Manager and now Coach of the Quebec Ramparts of the QMJHL. During his coaching stint, he coached his team to a Memorial Cup victory in his first year of coaching.

Not a stranger of winning, but also not a stranger to controversy. The latest was in March of 2008 during a playoff game when a brawl ensued. Patrick Roy’s son Jonathan Roy skated to the other side of the rink and charged the opposing goalie that had no intention of fighting. Allegations were made that Patrick Roy himself signaled to his son to go after the goaltender. Jonathan was suspended for seven games and fined $500 while Patrick was suspended for five games and fined $4000 for the incident.

So is Patrick Roy ready for the NHL as a Head Coach? He told RDS that he was happy with his duties with the Quebec Ramparts and hadn’t really thought of moving up just yet. Roy also likes the fact that he is close to his sons, which makes the move to the NHL less likely right now.

But it is not out of the question. General Manager Francois Giguere will explore all the options. If not Patrick Roy, there are plenty of other worthy candidates.  What about former Avalanche Coach Bob Hartley? Hartley lead the team to their Stanley Cup victory in 2001. Or is former Head Coach Tony Granato another option?

When you look outside of town, there are plenty of other options. Former Leafs coach Pat Quinn maybe? Or what about Pat Burns?

It will be very interesting to see who ends up in the Rocky Mountains. But let me throw at you a CRAZY idea. Who ironic would it be if the Avalanche brought back Marc Crawford. I know there’s no chance of it happening, but can you image the shock, and the media attention that would have?

What do you guys and gals think? Who will be behind the bench next season for the Colorado Avalanche?