ANAHEIM (Calif.) — The Anaheim DucksDallas Eakins will continue to be the coach of the struggling club next season.
Pat Verbeek, the Ducks’ new general manager, announced Tuesday that Eakins has been granted a contract option by the Ducks for the 2022/23 season.
The Ducks are coming to an end of their third consecutive losing season in 2019 under Eakins. He was hired in June 2019. Anaheim was currently at 29-33-12 before Tuesday’s match against Florida.
The Ducks finished in the Western Conference playoff picture until the All-Star break. They then began a 6-17-3 skid which almost guaranteed that they would miss the postseason for the fourth consecutive season.
Verbeek stated in a statement that “Dallas” has done the job in difficult circumstances and should be given the chance to coach this team again. We are happy that he will be back and look forward to a successful 2022-23 season.
Verbeek has decided to not make an immediate coaching move after taking control of the franchise less than two months ago. Verbeek took over for Bob Murray who had been GM for many years, but was fired amid allegations of misconduct.
Verbeek made Eakins’ job more difficult at the trade deadline by sending out four veterans contributors: defensemen Hampus Lindholm Josh MansonAnd forwards Rickard Rakell Nicolas Deslauriers.
Eakins is only the third permanent head coach since Henry Samueli bought the Ducks in 2005. Anaheim’s Stanley Cup champion was won by Randy Carlyle. Bruce Boudreau, however, won four consecutive Pacific Division titles in a period of 4 1/2 years of sustained success.