Fri May 9 14:52:23 2008

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Quenneville will not return as Avs coach

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Denver, CO (Sports Network) - The Colorado Avalanche announced Friday that Joel Quenneville will not return as head coach for the 2008-09 season.

"After meeting with Joel, we mutually agreed that the best decision for both parties involved is to go separate ways," said Avalanche executive vice president and general manager Francois Giguere. "On behalf of the organization, I want to thank Joel for his years of service and wish him the best in his coaching career."

Colorado finished 44-31-7 this season, the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Avs won their first round series over the Minnesota Wild in six games, but were swept out of the playoffs in a second-round drubbing by the Detroit Red Wings.

Quenneville, who was in the last year of his contract, led the Avs to a 131-92-23 mark in three seasons behind the bench for the club. The club was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in two of his three seasons, however, and the Avs missed the playoffs in the 2006-07 season despite another 44-31-7 campaign.

The former Avalanche assistant left to coach the St. Louis Blues from 1996-2004. The winningest coach in Blues history, Quenneville went 307-191-77-18 in St. Louis before taking over in Colorado in 2006.