NHL Rumors: Buzz on Joel Quenneville, College Prospects Choosing Teams and More

After winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks have endured harsh realities the last three seasons.

They were beaten in the first round of the playoffs by the St. Louis Blues in 2016 as they fell in the seventh game of that series. Last year, the Blackhawks were the top Western Conference team in the regular season, but they were humiliated by the eighth-seeded Nashville Predators in four straight games.

The 2017-18 season has been a disaster for the Blackhawks, and they have already been eliminated from playoff contention and are in last place in the Central Division.

Two first-round defeats and a non-competitive season has put Joel Quenneville's position in jeopardy. Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos reported the head coach's relationship with general manager Stan Bowman "bottomed out" during last year's four-game loss to the Predators.

One of the strong possibilities is that this could be Quenneville's last season coaching the Blackhawks.

He has two years and $12 million remaining on his contract, and team president John McDonough may have to figure out a decision at the end of the season.

The Boston Bruins picked up Ryan Donato last week when Harvard's season came to an end. The Bruins quickly got his name on a contract, and the United States' Olympic hero scored goals in each of his first two games.

Adam Gaudette of Northeastern signed with the Vancouver Canucks Monday.

It is quite likely several other college stars will sign contracts in the coming days, according to Hockey Night in Canada insider Elliotte Friedman.

Friedman also noted Henrik Borgstrom of the Denver University was going to put his signature on a Florida Panthers contract and he did that Monday.

Per the same report, Daniel Brickley of Minnesota State is mulling over the Detroit Red Wings and the Los Angeles Kings, and St. Cloud State star Jimmy Schuldt is considering leaving school, and if he does, he will have a wide array of teams to consider.

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

The Bruins acquired veteran Rick Nash from the New York Rangers at the trade deadline, and he was considered one of the big prizes at the time of the acquisition. 

The 33-year-old scored three goals and three assists with Boston in his first 11 games, but he has missed the last four with an undisclosed injury. He is not expected to play Tuesday night when the Bruins face the Winnipeg Jets.

Veteran NHL writer Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe raised the question of whether Nash would play another game in a Bruins uniform. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Since the nature of the injury has not been disclosed, nobody knows when Nash will play or skate again. Head coach Bruce Cassidy revealed injured players Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy and Jake DeBrusk have all started skating again, but he did not present an update on the winger.

That's not encouraging for a team that is making a late charge at the top position in the Eastern Conference.