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Anaheim Ducks: 4 Hard Truths The Ducks Face (And Why It’s Okay)

By Jonathan Maxfield

ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 23: Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks reacts after a play during the game against the St. Louis Blues on January 23, 2019 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 23: Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks reacts after a play during the game against the St. Louis Blues on January 23, 2019 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
DETROIT, MI – JANUARY 15: Head coach Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks watches the action from the bench against the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on January 15, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit defeated Anaheim 3-1. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Number 3: Randy Carlyle is here to stay

Fans have been asking for Carlyle’s head basically since the day he was re-hired, but never more than during the past two months. During that time the Ducks have been not only terrible, but almost irredeemably so. There have been very few feel good stories for the Ducks, the stars (excluding Gibson) haven’t shown up most nights, and the Ducks have an uncanny ability to show some promise, before doing something that sets them back even further than before they showed any positives.

A lot of the blame for the team’s failures over the past couple seasons lies at the feet of Randy Carlyle in the fans eyes, the team plays a slow, boring brand of hockey, they bleed shots every game, and their reliance on physicality as opposed to skill has led to them being on the wrong side of the ref’s whistles more times than not. Chants of Fire Carlyle have serenaded the team during home games prior to their most recent road trip, and upon returning home the Ducks were met with an even worse sound, the sound of silence. It seems like the Ducks fans just don’t care at this point, and it’s not hard to see why given the state of the team.

Despite that, Bob Murray has given his vote of confidence to Randy, saying they weren’t considering a coaching change after the Ducks 12th straight loss about 2 weeks ago. The Ducks since then have won 2 games, both unimpressive wins, against bad teams before returning to their losing ways against the Islanders, and having arguably their worst game of the entire season against the Blues. Since the new year the Ducks are 2-6-2, and in their last 16 games are 2-10-4, If after that run, your coach is still getting a vote of confidence, it’s hard to imagine what it would take for the Ducks to move on from Carlyle during the season. Short of another Boudreau situation where a coach that is viewed as “Cannot miss” becomes available, Murray seems content to let this season play out.

Why It’s Okay

There’s three reasons why this is okay to me. Firstly, Randy’s contract is up after this season, yes there is a team option for the 2019-20 season, but short of a miraculous run that culminates in a long, successful playoff run, I cannot see Murray exercising that option, rumor has it that Carlyle has been offered a head office position once he hangs up his coaching skates, and I think one reason he hasn’t fired him yet, is he wants to keep that relationship good, so he can transition to a Front Office role, once he’s retired.

Secondly, Carlyle’s team is playing terribly, and if the Ducks are serious about retooling, and want to get a high draft pick, the best way to do that is by playing poorly and ending up higher in the lottery. Rather than potentially ending up just outside, or even worse, in the playoff picture but only to end up embarrassed in the first round (again) because the team gets a small jolt once new energy is brought into the locker room.

Thirdly, there have been 5 coaching changes in the league this season, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Edmonton, Los Angeles and Chicago have all bid farewell to coaches who didn’t appear to be getting the job done. None of those coaching changes have made a huge positive difference for the teams. Honestly, the changes overall have been barely there record wise.  Below is a list of those 5 teams, the first record listed is their record when they fired their coach, the second record listed is their record since firing their coach.

Los Angeles

4-8-1—16-18-3

Chicago

6-6-3—12-16-6

St. Louis

7-9-3— 15-13-2

Edmonton

9-10-1— 14-14-2

Philadelphia

12-15-4— 8-8-2

What you’ll notice is that bad teams, continue to play bad, regardless of who is behind the bench. The biggest improvement out of all of the teams is Los Angeles, and they’re still one point out of last place in the entire league. Despite being the first coaching change this season. Yes, the Ducks do need a new coach, but it might make more sense to make that change during the off-season and give the new coach, be it Dallas Eakins, or someone else, a full off-season, and training camp to get his team acclimated to him. Build the gameplan the way they want, rather than shoe-horning it in on the fly and potentially run the risk of losing the locker rooms ear, before you even have it in the first place.

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