Anaheim Ducks: Randy Carlyle Has Been Canned, What Now?
The Anaheim Ducks have fired their head coach, Randy Carlyle. What direction does the franchise go in now that he’s gone?
Anaheim Ducks fans have been clamoring for months for this day, the day that Randy Carlyle was “relieved of his duties” as head coach. It is incredibly clear that this was the absolute last resort for Bob Murray, so why now? What’s next and what can we expect? Let’s take a look at the surrounding circumstances, and some comments made by Bob Murray and the Samueli’s and break them down.
Why Now? Why Not Earlier?
Why Now? That is a good question. Why exactly did Bob Murray fire Randy Carlyle now as opposed to the 12 game losing streak or the end of the 7 game losing streak earlier this season? I think the biggest reason for that is the recent dispersal of season ticket renewal fliers.
Judging by Ducks Twitter, quite a few folks were voicing their displeasure over the poor play of the Anaheim Ducks this season. With the lack of communication from Bob Murray paired with the lack of action to actually improve the team, it’s not a long shot to say that a good portion of those fans would call in and let their intentions be known.
That is a huge problem for ownership. When that happens you’re looking at a potential for loss of profits, and that’s not something this team can afford. It’s quite possible that after the reaction to these fliers the Samueli’s stepped in and said enough was enough.
Another theory is that the Anaheim Ducks are coming home after a long road trip. That road trip could have been seen as Carlyle’s last chance to right this ship. With three days before the next game, it’s a good time to get a new voice on the ice and try to rejuvenate the team.
Here’s where I put a bit of personal opinion into it. I don’t think he’s trying to rejuvenate the team to win and push towards the playoffs. I think he’s trying to rejuvenate the team in order to raise the play of some of his players. Thus making them more valuable to be traded. The fact that he hasn’t made the move prior to now, paired with his comments from last season’s exit interviews, tells me that he’s probably not looking to recreate the same mistakes he made last year.
"“I think it’s remarkable that we made the playoffs. But in making the playoffs, did we screw up some other things? That’s where I’m trying to get my head around. Sometimes it’s better to miss (the playoffs).” -Bob Murray, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks"
As it stands, the Anaheim Ducks may only be 8 points out of the playoffs, but they are much closer to the bottom of the league (4 points.) While there are 8 teams that are ahead of them in the playoff chase, only 3 currently sit lower than them in the standings. This season is lost, and Bob Murray will likely use the remainder of the season to evaluate the roster and find which pieces are worth keeping, and which pieces need to be moved.