1. Randy Carlyle (2006-2011, 2016- Present)
First Tenure: After the lockout in the 2004-05 season, Anaheim hired former player and Norris Trophy winner, Randy Carlyle. Ducks GM Bryan Burke, familiar with Carlyle’s coaching style, from his days running the Canucks, made the hire.
His first season as head coach, the Anaheim Ducks made the playoffs as the sixth seed. They would lose in the Conference Final to the Edmonton Oilers in five games. The Ducks proved they had a short memory; they went into the next postseason with a bolstered lineup. 2007 marked the first year Anaheim had ever taken home a Pacific division title in franchise history.
Anaheim took the Western Conference’s second seed going into the playoffs. After defeating Minnesota, Vancouver, and Detroit, the Anaheim Ducks would go on to make history, becoming California’s first team to win the Stanley Cup.
Following their Championship season, the Ducks situation became increasingly complicated. Many key players left, retired or were traded. The Ducks would make the playoffs just three more times but never go farther than the second round. Carlyle was relieved of his duties after 24 games into 2011 with a record of 7-13-4. Carlyle went on to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs the next four years.
Second Tenure: After Bruce Boudreau’s firing in the aftermath of the Anaheim Ducks 2016 playoff elimination, GM Bob Murray would bring back Carlyle. In his first seasons back behind the bench, Carlyle would lead his team to the Western Conference Finals before falling to Nashville.
Legacy
All totaled, Carlyle has coached the most games in franchise history (598). His record as head coach in eight seasons stands at 320-203-75.
Carlyle making this list at number one is going to rustle some feathers, but hear me out. Yes, Carlyle may not be the best-suited coach in today’s game with how the focus has switched from heavy hitting to pure speed.
Next: Grading the 2017-18 Anaheim Ducks Centers
His contributions to this franchise in his eight years as Anaheim’s bench boss are far greater than that of any before him. Winning the Stanley Cup is his major accomplishment. Also, he isn’t given much credit for his ability to lead the team to the playoffs the last two years, especially considering how different his style is to Boudreau’s.