Sport Bettman plans to meet with Cheveldayoff, Quenneville following Blackhawks allegations

We already know that Stan Bowman resigned as Blackhawks GM after an independent investigation indicated that the franchise mishandled sexual assault allegations regarding former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. There are still questions about additional fallout. Specifically, what might happen to former members of the Blackhawks organization who are in prominent positions around the NHL? Will there be consequences for Joel Quenneville, Kevin Cheveldayoff, Marc Bergevin, and possibly others?

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As of Tuesday, those situations remain unclear.

That said, there are a few things we do know. Beyond Bowman’s resignation, we also know that the NHL fined the Blackhawks $2M following the investigation by Jenner & Block LLP.

Joel Quenneville to coach Wednesday before meeting with Gary Bettman Thursday?

Some are questioning the NHL for allowing Quenneville to coach before meeting with the commissioner.Joel Quenneville said he will be meeting with Gary Bettman tomorrow — he thinks it’s up in New York. Said he spoke with the #FlaPanthers about his situation.

Jenner & Block report can be read in full here: https://jenner.com/Chicago_Blackhawks_Investigation_Report.

Bettman also indicated that he’ll meet with Quenneville and Cheveldayoff regarding their involvement in the way the Blackhawks handled the Aldrich allegations.

Both #nhljets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and #FlaPanthers coach Joel Quenneville said in July they first learned of allegations in June. Those statements were contradicted by their testimony in the report.#NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says he will "reserve judgment" on next steps⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QDSmZQrMJk

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 26, 2021

Is Joel Quenneville still Panthers coach? Full timeline of former Blackhawks coach's involvement in 2010 scandal

Quenneville is currently the head coach of the Florida Panthers. He coached the Blackhawks in the 2009-10 season when the team won the Stanley Cup.The meeting came 48 hours after the Blackhawks organization publicly released a 107-page document that involved interviewing 139 witnesses over the course of a four-month independent investigation following a lawsuit filed by a former player in May 2021. The report went into detail regarding a sexual assault that occurred in May 2010 and the lack of an investigation by the Blackhawks organization at that time.

Jets’ Cheveldayoff releases statement regarding Blackhawks report

On Tuesday, Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff released the following statement regarding the findings, and meeting with Bettman.

The following is a statement from Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff regarding the results of the investigation released today: pic.twitter.com/sAp9pWWD2t

— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) October 26, 2021

Joel Quenneville resigns as head coach of Florida Panthers following meeting with NHL

Joel Quenneville was the coach of the 2010 Blackhawks when assistant video coach Brad Aldrich allegedly sexually assaulted Kyle Beach.The meeting also included NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, Panthers general manager Bill Zito and Panthers president and CEO Matthew Caldwell. According to a statement by the team, Quenneville "tendered his resignation" following the meeting.

Cheveldayoff served as Blackhawks assistant GM from 2009 to 2011 before becoming the Jets’ GM.

On one hand, the Jenner & Block report states that accounts of a May 23 meeting “vary significantly.” That said, the report indicates consistently that Cheveldayoff and Quenneville were at a meeting regarding the allegations also attended by Bowman, mental skills coach Jim Gary, and former executives John McDonough,  Al MacIsaac, and Jay Blunk. (MacIsaac also resigned on Tuesday.)

PHT Morning Skate: Quenneville reaction; Cheveldayoff meeting moved to Friday

Friday's collection of links.• “This was the allegation of a single person, but it had echoes of the recent gymnastics scandal that led to the life sentence imposed against Dr. Larry Nassar, the U.S. Gymnastics doctor. This proves that one instance can be enough. That one is too many.

No comment so far from Panthers, Quenneville

While Cheveldayoff commented on the situation, the Panthers and Joel Quenneville did not yet elaborate.

Statement from Panthers, who host the Bruins tomorrow:

“At this time, Commissioner Gary Bettman has indicated that he will be meeting with Joel Quenneville to discuss the events highlighted in the Jenner & Block October 2021 report.

Accordingly, we have no comment.”

— Matt Porter (@mattyports) October 26, 2021

Blackhawks react to scandal, departure of GM: 'Probably change that needed to happen'

Blackhawks players reacted Wednesday to the results of the investigation into the allegations an assistant sexually assaulted a player.The team-commissioned investigation, conducted by the law firm Jenner & Block, discovered team leaders including Bowman, former coach Joel Quenneville (now coaching the Florida Panthers) and ex-assistant general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff (now general manager of the Winnipeg Jets), did nothing when a player alleged then-video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him.

However, the Panthers noted that Quenneville is expected to address the media on Wednesday morning. This post will be updated accordingly.

No mention of Bergevin

Current Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin’s name does not come up in the Jenner & Block report.

Back in late June, Bergevin said he was “not aware” of the sexual assault allegations regarding Aldrich during his time with the Blackhawks.

Asked by @KatieJStrang about sexual assault allegations against Brad Aldrich from his time with Blackhawks, Marc Bergevin said

"I was not part of any meeting & I was not part of any decision & I was not aware of what was going on at the time. You can go on the record with that."

Commissioner Gary Bettman on Joel Quenneville, Kevin Cheveldayoff and what's next for the NHL

Bettman spoke to the media on Monday to address questions surrounding the Blackhawks sexual assault scandal.The report came following a lawsuit filed against the Blackhawks in May 2021 by "John Doe." The filing alleges the Blackhawks ignored and covered up his disclosure against Aldrich from 2010. Seven members of the Blackhawks management group were part of a May 23, 2010 meeting that discussed the allegations. The allegations were not reported to human resources until June 14, 2010, a few days after the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. Aldrich was allowed to resign.

— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) June 27, 2021

At the time, Marc Bergevin was the Blackhawks’ director of pro personnel. Bergevin became Blackhawks assistant GM in 2011-12 before becoming Canadiens GM.

Again, Bergevin wasn’t mentioned as possibly meeting with Bettman, but the plan appears to be to do so with Quenneville and Cheveldayoff. In addition to any league measures, it’s unclear if the Panthers or Jets might take any actions with Quenneville and Cheveldayoff respectively.

(Bergevin’s own future is currently unclear, as he’s in the final year of his Canadiens contract.)

PHT will provide additional updates if Cheveldayoff, Quenneville, and others make more statements.

Bettman plans to meet with Cheveldayoff, Quenneville following Blackhawks allegations originally appeared on NBCSports.com