(Anaheim) The Anaheim Ducks have decided to retain head coach Dallas Eakins for next season, his fourth with the team.
Posted at 7:12 p.m.
The Ducks have activated the option on his contract for the 2022-23 season, new general manager Pat Verbeek said Tuesday.
The Ducks are finishing their third straight season with a losing record under Eakins, who got the job in June 2019. The Ducks are 29-33-12 heading into the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
The head coach of the Ducks school club, the San Diego Gulls, Joël Bouchard, was one of the candidates approached if Eakins did not resign.
The Ducks were in the playoff picture until the All-Star Game break. They have since posted a 6-17-3 record which, for all intents and purposes, has confirmed the organization will miss the playoffs for a fourth straight year.
“Dallas did their job under complex circumstances and deserves another opportunity to lead this team,” Verbeek said in a statement. We are happy to see him back and for a promising season in 2022-2023. »
Verbeek has decided not to change coaches, despite taking the reins two months ago. He replaced longtime general manager Bob Murray, who resigned due to inappropriate behavior.
Verbeek made Eakin’s job tougher when he let go of several key players at the trade deadline. Defenders Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson and forwards Rickard Rakell and Nicolas Deslauriers jumped ship.