Harris: Quenneville Grateful For Contract Extension, Credits Players
By Adam Harris-
(CBS) -- Joel Quenneville will be in Chicago for at least four more years, and his players are all smiles.
"It's great to see and we have a lot of consistency with him (Quenneville) as our coach and our leader," said Captain Jonathan Toews, smiling throughout the press conference. "We are looking forward to continuing on down the road."
Quenneville is already under contract for next season, so the extension is technically for three years. Quenneville won his second Stanley Cup Championship in four seasons, earning this extension; however he says his players deserve tons of credit.
"Looking over here and seeing the guys, they're a big part of it," Quenneville said, with eight of his players looking on. "I'm privileged to coach the best group, probably, in the league. I haven't seen them for three weeks, and I look forward to hearing their stories about their summers."
Summer Nights
Many players have had relaxing summers, with winger Bryan Bickell getting married and Captain Jonathan Toews going on a long two-week vacation.
Patrick Kane has stayed out of trouble as well, enjoying some time in his home town of Buffalo.
"I've tried to keep out of trouble I guess, and keep maturing as a person, but it seems easier these days as you get older," Kane said. "I'm obviously going to have some fun, but I can still prove a lot more as a player and accomplish some more things with this team."
Injured Wings
Bryan Bickell tore a ligament in his thumb and has had surgery to repair it. Doctors took a ligament from his finger and put it in his thumb. He says he will be ready for the regular season.
Hangover Cure
When asked how to avoid another Stanley Cup hangover, players said they need to "turn the page" after this weekend.
"It's important to recognize it's a new season," defenseman Duncan Keith said. "Teams are going to be playing their hardest against us and we knew that last time, but individually and as a team you have to make sure that you don't just come to camp ready to turn the page. You turn the page in the offseason. This is the time now, where after this convention, it turns into August and you start to get your minds focused."
Follow Adam on Twitter at @AHarris670 and listen for him on Score Overnights, with Les Grobstein.
