Anaheim Ducks promote Dallas Eakins to head coach
Former Oilers bench boss spent past 4 seasons with AHL's San Diego Gulls
Dallas Eakins spent the past four years developing the Anaheim Ducks' top prospects in San Diego and preparing himself for another NHL coaching opportunity.
Eakins was hired as the Ducks' head coach on Monday, moving up from their AHL affiliate to take over a longtime NHL power that stumbled last season.
"This is just such an incredible opportunity," Eakins said in his introductory news conference at the Ducks' sparkling new training complex in Irvine. "The Anaheim Ducks have had such an incredible success rate here in Orange County. It starts with the division championships, the Stanley Cup, and also what's going on off the ice. I'm fortunate to be a part of it."
Eakins was the obvious choice to take over the Ducks, who are rebooting their franchise after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012. General manager Bob Murray, who finished the season as Anaheim's interim head coach, still waited 2 1/2 months after the regular season ended to promote Eakins.
"This is just a natural progression for a guy who's coached most of the guys on this team," Murray said. "I said in the beginning I was going to take my time and make sure San Diego was finished playing [in the AHL post-season] before I started looking for a head coach. ... There were a lot of good people I talked to. It was a good process for this organization to go through, but it just always came back to Dallas."
"We're not starting from scratch, we're starting from experience. I feel like I've already hit the ground running."<a href="https://twitter.com/dallaseakins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallaseakins</a> is ready to meet with his team and begin to instill a culture of hard work and open communication. <a href="https://t.co/xdy6HcAUlj">pic.twitter.com/xdy6HcAUlj</a>
—@AnaheimDucksThe Ducks filled the NHL's last head coaching vacancy with the first coach of the current version of the Gulls, who hired Eakins right after becoming the Ducks' AHL affiliate in 2015. Eakins led a consistent winner while preparing the Ducks' youngsters for the big leagues, and he took San Diego to the AHL's Western Conference Finals this season.
Eakins wasn't bothered by the delay in the Ducks' move, or by Murray's decision to talk to other candidates. After all, Eakins was busy trying to win a Calder Cup until May 27.
"I think my [interview] process was a little different," Eakins said. "My interview has been going on for four years."
"We have some vets here who need to change some things, and that's part of this new identity. They're either going to change some things or not be part of this going forward."<br><br>Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray on hiring Dallas Eakins and the changes ahead. <a href="https://t.co/zD11tPGN1W">pic.twitter.com/zD11tPGN1W</a>
—@AnaheimDucksThe 52-year-old former NHL defenceman has worked extensively with the homegrown talent that currently fills much of the Ducks' roster, and most of the remaining veterans know him slightly from training camps. Eakins expressed particular admiration for captain Ryan Getzlaf, who is heading into his 15th season with the club.
Defenceman Hampus Lindholm attended Eakins' introduction.
"We've heard a lot of good things about him from the young guys coming up," Lindholm said. "I'm excited to have the new style of coaching. He's [interested in] interacting with the players a little bit more, and the teams I've been on that have been successful had that. We have to do this together. We can't be fighting against each other. ... We've had the old-school coaches in here, and he brings in a new way."