Anaheim Ducks coach Joel Quenneville earns historic 1,000th NHL win

Joel Quenneville has become only the second head coach in NHL history to record 1,000 career wins after the Anaheim Ducks rallied to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 6-5.

Joining the elite

The 67-year-old joins the legendary Scotty Bowman in an exclusive club following a dramatic victory in Anaheim’s first game back from the Olympic break.

Quenneville reached the milestone in his 1,825th game behind the bench, while Bowman remains the all-time leader with 1,244 victories from 2,141 regular-season matches.

Bowman had established the original benchmark with the Detroit Red Wings in February 1997, just one month after Quenneville began his own management career with the St Louis Blues.

Dramatic comeback secures record

The historic result was far from straightforward, as the Ducks were forced to erase two separate two-goal deficits against the Oilers.

Anaheim trailed again in the third period before mounting a final surge.

Rookie forward Cutter Gauthier scored the tiebreaking goal with just 74 seconds remaining on the clock to seal the win.

Upon the final buzzer, the veteran tactician shared high-fives with his squad at the bench before the team gathered on the ice for a commemorative photograph.

Resurgence in Anaheim

This achievement highlights a successful return to the sport for the three-time Stanley Cup winner following a four-year absence from the league.

Quenneville resigned from the Florida Panthers in 2021 following the findings of an investigation into the Chicago Blackhawks’ handling of sexual abuse allegations during his tenure there in 2010.

Since his ban was lifted and he was subsequently hired by the Ducks, he has transformed the struggling franchise.

Anaheim, having missed the playoffs for seven consecutive campaigns, has vaulted into the Western Conference post-season race with a 31-23-3 record.

A storied career

Before his transition to coaching, the Ontario native played 13 NHL seasons as a defenceman.

His management career has now spanned parts of 26 seasons, including a dynasty era with Chicago where he ended the franchise’s 49-year title drought.

Quenneville led the Blackhawks to eight straight playoff appearances and lifted the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013, and 2015.