Pucks of a Feather
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Top 5 Coaching Candidates for the Anaheim Ducks

By Eddy Jones

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 18: Head coach Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks gives direction to his players during the second period of the game against the New Jersey Devils at Honda Center on March 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Foster Snell/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 18: Head coach Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks gives direction to his players during the second period of the game against the New Jersey Devils at Honda Center on March 18, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Foster Snell/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 29: San Diego Gulls head coach Dallas Eakins talks with players during the Anaheim Ducks’ annual development camp at Anaheim ICE in Anaheim on Friday, June 29, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 29: San Diego Gulls head coach Dallas Eakins talks with players during the Anaheim Ducks’ annual development camp at Anaheim ICE in Anaheim on Friday, June 29, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register via Getty Images) /

Despite Bob Murray’s recent comments that he will not be replacing Randy Carlyle any time soon, right now is still the perfect time to look at coaching candidates for the Anaheim Ducks.

We are twelve games into a franchise-record losing streak and Randy Carlyle still sits comfortably behind the Anaheim Ducks bench. With no end in sight and the prospect of tying the NHL record set by the 1974-75 Washington Capitals and the 1992-93 San Jose Sharks inching ever so closely, we have to start looking at change among the coaching staff.

Bob Murray released a statement backing Randy Carlyle after the Ducks recent loss to Winnipeg. He said; “At this time, I am not considering a coaching change, I am more focused on our players, specifically with who is going to step up in this situation”.

Knowing that he is not considering a coaching change in season, we look at the Top 5 coaching candidates for the Anaheim Ducks once Randy Carlyle’s contract expires this offseason.

Dallas Eakins

Current Team: San Diego Gulls (AHL)

Gulls W/L Record: 138-79-19 (0.625)

The San Diego Gulls bench boss is the likely man to take over once Randy Carlyle’s time in Anaheim comes to an end. Dallas Eakins has coached the Gulls to three winning seasons and two playoff appearances since joining the team in 2015.

He’s been able to work with a lot of the younger players currently on the Ducks roster including Brandon Montour, Nick Ritchie, Ondrej Kase, Kiefer Sherwood, and Jacob Larsson. That experience can be invaluable for a new coach stepping behind the bench.

Eakins has previously had one foray behind the bench of an NHL team. He lasted one and a half seasons as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers from 2013-14 to 2014-15.

Eakins was handed the reigns to a team that had missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons and was run by three first overall picks in Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Nail Yakupov. He ultimately finished with a 36-63-14 record (.381).

The San Diego Gulls are currently on a 15 game point streak and Dallas Eakins will be looking to cap off the season with a Calder Cup win before possibly getting a second shot at the NHL.

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