NHL Rumors: Latest Buzz Surrounding Joel Quenneville, NHL Draft

March is typically a dead period for NHL rumors, with most teams focusing on solidifying themselves for playoff runs rather than personnel movement, but there is some palpable buzz around the league for clubs that appear out of the postseason hunt.

After a decade-long reign as one of the premier dynasties in the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks are reeling thanks to a lost season. Could major change be on the way behind the bench with Joel Quenneville?

Where do the Calgary Flames go as their season slowly slips away? Could they be in line for an aggressive move at the NHL draft?

The regular season is coming to a close, but the rumor mill suggests there is plenty to look forward to in the offseason.

Tension in Chicago?

Quenneville's run in Chicago has been historic by coaching standards. 

Since taking over behind the bench in 2008, Quenneville is 440-240, including three Stanley Cups, with the Blackhawks. His 882 career coaching wins ranks him second in NHL history, and before losing Monday's game against the San Jose Sharks, Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times offered several more staggering statistics about the 59-year-old:

With the Blackhawks missing the playoffs for the first time under Quenneville, it appears some tensions are close to boiling over within the organization. On Saturday night, Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos shed light on some dirt regarding Quenneville's status with management.

"It's no secret in our industry that [general manager] Stan Bowman and Joel Quenneville don't have the healthiest of relationships," said Kypreos.

He suggested the relationship may have hit rock bottom after Quenneville was late to find out Chicago traded Artemi Panarin for a package centering around Brandon Saad during last year's NHL draft. Panarin is in the midst of his third straight 70-point season, while Saad is on pace for arguably the worst season of his career, with 34 points through 77 games.

Could this sour relationship mean the end of Quenneville in Chicago?

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman added that Quenneville has two years and $12 million left on his contract, so it would be expensive for Chicago to fire him. Yet it would not be out of the question for Quenneville to perhaps leave of his own accord.

The Blackhawks have the second-highest cap hit in the league and practically no space. The team has $21 million locked up over the next five years between franchise stars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, although each is approaching 30 years of age.

On defense, Brent Seabrook has an absurd $6.75 million cap hit through the 2023-24 season and is easily past his prime, as he looked slower this season and was a healthy scratch during a mediocre 24-points-and-counting campaign.

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Duncan Keith is 34, accounting for a $5.54 million cap hit through 2022-23 season and has scored just one goal this year on 180 shots. Whether he just experienced bad puck luck or is on the decline is debatable, but his contract is not desirable.

On top of that, Marian Hossa is still due $5.275 million for the next three seasons despite his career likely being over because of medical reasons.

Chicago is an old team full of bad contracts. It does not look like it will be back to its contending ways in a year or two. Do not be surprised if Quenneville decides to jump ship and look for a more promising opportunity elsewhere.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres are teams with emerging young talent that could be looking for new head coaches, and Quenneville would be at the top of their lists if he's available.

Calgary Looking Ahead to Draft

As recently as February's trade deadline, the Flames seemed poised to return to the postseason with a fast, skilled team capable of making a run in the Western Conference. Those days are long gone.

Calgary has lost 11 of its 14 games since Feb. 27, including six straight defeats. Instead of preparing for the postseason, the team is eliminated from the playoffs thanks to being 11 points out of a wild-card spot and is looking ahead to the offseason.

What could the summer hold for the Flames? Friedman offered some insight into an offseason priority for the club.

"They don't have a first-round pick this year from the [Travis] Hamonic deal," Friedman said Friday on Toronto's Sportsnet 590. "I heard at the GM meetings that Calgary is looking to get it back. And if they're trading for a first-round pick, it's going to be a big piece."

One player Friedman speculated about being on the block is Dougie Hamilton, who could fetch the first-round pick Calgary covets.

Hamilton is only 24, but he has already logged 418 career NHL games and is in the midst of his fourth straight 40-point season. He would be a top-four defenseman on any team and a stalwart on the back end, so it is no surprise a guy as connected as Friedman believes Hamilton could get a first-rounder in return.

Hamilton does carry a $5.75 million cap hit for the next three seasons.

Sam Bennett is another player who might fit the mold of having enough value to get a first-round pick. He is only 21 and is a skilled top-six forward who needs a new deal soon. He has one more year left at $1.95 million, which helps his value, but he would likely need to be packaged with a prospect and a mid-round pick for Calgary to get its desired return.

He has just 89 points in 236 career games, which is underwhelming considering his immense talent.

Who could be suitors for Hamilton? Calgary could reconnect with the New York Islanders for the second straight offseason, as the Islanders are last in the league in goals against per game this season and are in desperate need of No. 1 defenseman. New York is set to pick in the top 10 in the upcoming draft while also holding Calgary's first-round pick.

The New Jersey Devils also hold a mid-first-rounder and could use a top-four defenseman for their emerging young core in the Eastern Conference. The Edmonton Oilers are also in need of defensive help and could be a great fit if they could find the cap room to accommodate Hamilton.

The possibilities are plenty for Calgary if it gets serious about getting back into the first round. However, the Flames would need to part with an important asset, which would add to the already high level of intrigue associated with the NHL draft every year.

Contract information is courtesy of CapFriendly.