The Ghost of Christmas Past — Randy Carlyle
A Christmas Carol was a novella written by English author and social critic, Charles Dickens. Throughout the years, we’ve seen several on-screen adaptations of his inspiring tale, making it one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time.
The story follows a man by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge; a cold-hearted man who despises Christmas. He finds redemption with the help of three ghosts: Past, Present, and Yet-to-come. His journey melts the cold heart in his chest and fills him with the Christmas Spirit.
"“Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on the globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyways, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.” -Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol"
Randy Carlyle reminds me much of the Ghost of Christmas Past. Over the 2018-19 season, the Anaheim Ducks coach has transported us to the past.
When the Anaheim Ducks are on the ice, although their jerseys may be different, we see the familiar style of dump and chase that is reminiscent of Randy Carlyle’s first tenure with the team. The slow, yet slightly physical, style of hockey that his coaching style brings to the table doesn’t exactly inspire Christmas cheer.
The Anaheim Ducks have been winning games, yes. However, they have also been losing games they should be winning, such as the most recent games against the New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres.
His choice to keep players like Brian Gibbons in the lineup, although maybe not purely his decision alone, is very reminiscent of his refusal to utilize younger players in the past. He has done a better job of it this season, but that was a big reason he fell out of favor with the fans last year.
Randy Carlyle is a reminder that despite our efforts to forget, sometimes the past comes back to haunt you. I have tremendous respect for Randy Carlyle. I mean, how can you not have respect for the coach that led the Anaheim Ducks to California’s first Stanley Cup?
Nevertheless, his coaching style is, as many describe the ghost of Christmas past, of indeterminate age. In fewer words, it is old. I think all of us can agree that there are some games the Anaheim Ducks play were we are, like Scrooge, angered by the things that the Ghost of Christmas Past has shown us.
Although I do believe that Randy Carlyle’s system has worked far better for the Ducks than whatever Bob Murray was trying to cook up, after this season, it may be time to move on from “the past.” I think Carlyle’s services would be better utilized in the front office than behind the bench.