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Carlyle Relieved of Duties; Murray Becomes Interim Head Coach

Photo: Fox Sports West

By Michael Walters

The Ducks announced today that head coach Randy Carlyle has been relieved of his coaching duties. General Manager Bob Murray will take over as interim head coach for the rest of the regular season.

“We thank Randy for everything he has done for the organization,” said Murray. “Leading the team to a Stanley Cup and three conference final appearances, he has accomplished so much in Anaheim. Difficult decisions need to be made when times are tough, and our play has clearly been unacceptable. We have a tradition of success in Anaheim and we need to get back to that.”

Carlyle led Anaheim to their only Stanley Cup Championship in 2007 and three appearances in the Western Conference Final(2006, 2007, 2017). Carlyle led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven seasons with the team. He is the winnest coach in franchise history.

It appeared Bob Murray wanted to keep Randy Carlyle as the coach until the end of the season. Murray also wanted to keep Dallas Eakins in San Diego.

The solution?

Fire Randy Carlyle and have Murray coach the Ducks himself for the rest of the season while Eakins keeps developing the youth.

Analysis:

Finally, Murray pulled the pin on the grenade that he has been sitting on this season. Leaving Dallas Eakins in San Diego is a good move to keep the Gulls on track and for the development of the youth. If Eakins was to become the Ducks head coach now, then both the Ducks and Gulls would be placed in precarious positions.

It will be interesting to see how Murray does in the remainder of the season because he has never coached an NHL game before. He will also have to balance his GM duties along with his new coaching responsibilities. One would have thought maybe an assistant coach might have filled the Ducks head coaching role until the end of the season instead.

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