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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2946328" data-attributes="member: 2012">Quinn still hoping for another shotCanadian Press7/13/2006 5:32:59 PMIt appears the 2006-07 NHL season will open without the fourth-winningest coach in league history behind the bench, but that doesn't mean we've seen the last of Pat Quinn.The 63-year-old Hamilton native still pines for a return to NHL coaching."I'm open if the right opportunity comes along to stay in the business. It's been my life," Quinn said from his Vancouver home. "One thing you miss is getting up and going out the door every day."Quinn revealed he actually turned down a chance to get back in with the Boston Bruins."As a matter of fact, I assume they were serious, they made me an offer," Quinn said. "But it wasn't anything that at that time was acceptable. So they moved on (the Bruins hired Dave Lewis).""I also talked to two other teams about coaching but nothing ever fleshed out in those discussions," added Quinn. "I didn't get any real commitment there. Only Boston tendered an offer to coach."Now all the coaching jobs are filled, meaning the season will start with Quinn at home in Vancouver."As far as not being behind the bench, that's something that probably hasn't donned on me yet," he said. "Maybe something will open up, who knows. I mean, everything seems closed off now, and that's fine. I'll be ready. I still have a passion for coaching and would still like to live the dream of every coach and every player - win a Cup."Quinn has done everything but win a Cup, leading the 1980 Philadelphia Flyers and '94 Vancouver Canucks to the final and the Maple Leafs to the '99 and '02 Eastern Conference final. His Cup-winning dream remains unfulfilled."I was hopeful it would be in Toronto but unfortunately it wasn't to be," he said, before adding with a laugh, "Maybe it will be in Toronto but it'll be with some other organization."Don't misconstrue that as a shot to the Leafs. He had nothing but praise for his former team, who fired him in May after missing the playoffs for the first time in his seven seasons behind the Toronto bench. He had a winning record in all seven seasons."I had a great time there," said Quinn. "The fans were wonderful to me and continue to be. I had a wonderful reception at a (charity) dinner the other night (in Toronto). I have great respect for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the fans there. The seven coaching years I had there were just terrific, a great experience."We just came up short in what our final outcome or goal was hoped for. But we had so many other great things happen."He still picks up a paper and keeps an eye on what they're up to this summer."I'll always do that," he said. "When you work with a group of people, and some of them are still there, that you have great respect and appreciation for in an emotional way, you want them to do well."In the meantime Quinn has been busy with promotional appearances and speaking engagements. He and his wife Sandra will stay in Vancouver until another NHL job presents itself."Yes, I think so. That's what I have planned right now," he said.If an NHL job doesn't pop up before next spring, maybe Hockey Canada would be wise to call on him again. Canada's Olympic coach in 2002 (gold medal) and 2006 also was GM of the world championship teams in 1997 (gold medal) and 1998."I've said this all along, whether you're actually gainfully employed as I was when I coached a couple of the (Olympic) teams or if you're not like when I went to Switzerland ('98 worlds), my feeling is I would help Hockey Canada any way I could."He's also part-owner of the WHL's Vancouver Giants and plans to take in as many games as possible next season. But he'll keep his distance from hockey operations."They've got very good management people here and a good coaching staff," said Quinn. "They've done a terrific job. They'll host the Memorial Cup next year. If I can help them in any way, that's what I'll do. But I'm not going to be one of those people that's going to be around there every day. Owners should own and basically stay out of the way."</blockquote>

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