Legendary coach Mike Keenan makes major announcement regarding his career

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TJ Tucker
July 7, 2024 (9:06)

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Mike Keenan, a Stanley Cup champion and often controversial figure, has made a major announcement about his future as a hockey coach at the age of 74

Despite not working in the NHL since the 2008-09 season, Mike Keenan remains a well-known name in the hockey world. Keenan has a long list of accolades as an NHL coach including a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994, and remains fifth on the list of most playoff coaching wins in NHL history. Now comes a massive change for the 74-year-old.

Keenan himself took to his X account to note that he is no longer the head coach of the Italian men's hockey team, a position he's held since October of 2022, after undergoing major surgery.

"No longer Italy's National Head Coach, but will be their hockey consultant. Recovering well from open heart surgery."

Keenan's legacy as an NHL coach is filled with controversy. His inability to maintain relationships with players and team organizations led to several abrupt firings and resignations from NHL teams. Besides the Rangers, he also held the head coach's positions with the Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers. After leaving the NHL, he won a Gagarin Cup with the KHL's Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2014.

"One time we're in the locker room and (Mike) Keenan is all over him. We were like holy shit, normally he's not on [Alexander] Mogilny like that.

Mogilny looks up, he's like, 'Mike, have you ever heard of how I defected, how they
f-----g threatened my family, how they wanted to kill everybody? You think you're f-----g scaring me?'

We were like, 'Holy shit.' It was pretty crazy. Mike didn't know what to say - he normally gets the last word."

- Adrian Aucoin.

Source: Spittin Chiclets ."

In 2018, Keenan underwent treatment for prostate cancer, from which he a made a full recovery.