Former Blues coach Joel Quenneville was fired Friday by the Colorado Avalanche, but he might not be in the unemployment line long.

A source said Friday that Quenneville, who coached the Blues from 1996-2004, could be hired to replace Paul Maurice in Toronto. Maurice was let go by the Maple Leafs earlier in the week.

Quennville was dispensed after three years in Colorado. Despite a multitude of injuries, the Avs finished in sixth place in the Western Conference this year and beat the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the playoffs. The Avs were then swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round.

Quenneville, who had one year left on his contract, was 131-92-23 in three seasons in Denver.

“After meeting with Joel, we mutually agreed that the best decision for both parties involved is to go separate ways,” Colorado VP & GM Francois Giguere said. “On behalf of the organization, I want to thank Joel for his years of service and wish him the best in his coaching career.”

The situation in Toronto is fairly sticky. Cliff Fletcher is running the show for the time being in Toronto and he’s in charge of hiring the management staff that will replace him. Rumors have been running wild that Anaheim’s Brian Burke will eventually become Toronto’s team president in 2009, when his contract expires with the Ducks.

This week, reports surfaced that the Maple Leafs have contacted Dave Nonis, who was  fired as the GM in Vancouver recently, asking him to come to Toronto as GM and be united with Burke in ‘09 when he arrives.

“If they do decide to bring me in, and tell me what they’re thinking, at that point there’s a decision to make,” Nonis told reporters on Thursday.

The Maple Leafs probably won’t hire a coach until they have something in place with Nonis, or another GM. But at this point, Quenneville is a possibility in Toronto, according to a source.

“There will be discussions, but you can be sure of one thing,” Fletcher told the Canadian Press. “The person coming in is going to be a strong hockey person and he’s going to have very definite opinions of his own.

“This is a start of a new era for the Maple Leafs. This is all part and parcel of that. The team missed the playoffs the last two years. A new regime is coming in place and I think when you bring in a new regime they bring their own people. It’s just common sense.”

JR