ICYMI: Two NHL coaches fired, Quenneville hired, McLellan hiring imminent

Ah, locker room cleanup day. A chance for local media to lob softball questions to players who already have their first offseason tee time scheduled… oh… wait… scratch that. Looker room cleanup day is now apparently FIRING day in the NHL.

Both the Florida Panthers and and Buffalo Sabres shook things up yesterday by firing their head coach. Bob Boughner is out in Florida, while Phil Housley is out in Buffalo. In their place… well, how does three time Stanley Cup champion Joel Quenneville sound, Panthers fans?

Quenneville was officially hired by the Panthers earlier today in, frankly, a move that NO ONE saw coming.

As for the Sabres… Alberta based NHL insider Eric Duhatschek reported earlier today that former Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan is close to signing a contract with the team.

But, while not entirely refuting Duhatschek’s reports, TSN insider Bob McKenzie has added that the Los Angeles Kings are also in the mix to hire McLellan:

Interesting… who would have thought that Quenneville would be snapped up by the Panthers of all teams, while meanwhile teams fight over the chance to hire McLellan. Nothing like a little early offseason wackiness to kick off the playoffs!