Top 5 Coaching Candidates for the Anaheim Ducks

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.

Rikard Grönborg

Current Team: Sweden Men’s National Team

W/L Record: N/A

Rikard Grönborg’s resume with the Swedish men’s national team is pretty impressive. As a head coach for Sweden, Grönborg has won two U18 WJC Silver Medals, U20 WJC Silver Medal, and two World Championship Gold Medals. He has worked his way up the ranks for the Swedish national team and is set to become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of this season.

Grönborg considers himself more of a hybrid between European and North-American style of coaching and believes the interest in European coaches will start to grow once decision makers start to look outside the box.

“I’ve coached against some great coaches in North America and I’ve coached against some great coaches in Europe. There are greats minds of hockey in both places. I think it’s just a matter of making a decision or going outside the box a bit for the decision makers and maybe having an interest in European coaches.” -Rikard Grönborg, Interview with Forever Mighty

He’s also had experience coaching some of the current Ducks roster in the past including Rickard Rakell, Hampus Lindholm, and Isac Lundestrom.

He has this to say about his coaching style in an interview with Sportsnet;

“There’s so many X’s and O’s out there—I think most coaches coaching at that level, they know their X’s and O’s—but how do you get the players to grow in your environment?” he said. “Because that’s the biggest key for me. How do you communicate with those players? How did you get them to excel and become better and buy into the system? That’s what I’m intrigued about, is how you develop the players.” -Rikard Grönborg, Interview with Sportsnet

Hampus Lindholm even had high praise for his former coach in an interview with Swedish newspaper Expressen;

“Compared to those in North America, he is much more positive. You can let go and play more. He really trusts that you can handle it. It is very fun to play for him. It would have been fun if he came over. I think that’s the new way to coach.” -Hampus Lindholm, interview with Expressen

Sheldon Keefe

Current Team: Toronto Marlies

Marlies W/L Record: 169-78-20 (.670)

Winning the Calder Cup generally bodes well for a future jump the NHL, just as with Dallas Eakins. Sheldon Keefe has been a major part of the Marlies success over the last three season including their Calder Cup victory last season. Even in the OHL, he was considered a hot commodity, winning OHL/CHL Coach of the Year in 2015.

At 37, he is significantly younger than anyone else on this list. However, he may have the brightest future of them all. Normally, you would want to keep someone like that in your organization, but when you have Mike Babcock behind the bench something has to give.

Keefe is part of the new generation of hockey coaches, one that possesses a brilliant hockey mind and is a believer in using analytics in assessing and developing his roster. He also does an excellent job of communicating with younger players and helping them develop and get to the level they want to be at.

Sean Shapiro put it best in his article for The Athletic;

“Keefe has also been referred to as a coach that is well-suited to coach skill players. He spends the extra hours on film reading and assessing the game, and has worked with his AHL players one-on-one to maximize their development within the system. He also has a reputation as a player that has not only embraced analytics, but uses them in both the AHL and OHL.” -Sean Shapiro, the Atheltic

With Keefe finishing the season with the Toronto Marlies, he’ll be available at the perfect time when Randy Carlyle’s contract expires. Once again, any team looking for a head coach will come knocking on his door and it’s unlikely he’ll go back for a fifth season in the AHL.