Anaheim Ducks Name New Head Coach

ANAHEIM, CA — After four seasons coaching the Ducks minor league team San Diego Gulls, Dallas Eakins will join the Anaheim Ducks franchise as head coach, the Ducks confirmed Monday. He will be the 10th coach to lead that organization, they said.

The Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray finished out last year's season as interim coach after the firing of Randy Carlyle in February of 2019.

"Dallas is an outstanding head coach who has worked well with our players since joining the organization four years ago," said Murray. "He is a tremendous leader and strategist and deserves this opportunity."

Eakins, 52, led the Gulls to a 154-95-23 record and took that team to the Calder Cup Playoffs three times. He joined the Ducks after leaving the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. His resume includes a storied career, beginning with a stint skating for Washington in 1985, as a defenseman. Eakins played 16 seasons of professional hockey as a defenseman, mainly in the AHL. He had nine assists and 208 penalty minutes in 120 NHL games with eight teams. Eakins raised the Calder Cup and the Turner Cup while playing in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League.

"(Joining the Ducks) is a tremendous honor for my family," said Eakins. "I am truly humbled. It was a privilege to serve as head coach of the San Diego Gulls during our first four seasons, and I look forward to building off that success here in Anaheim."

With the 2019 NHL Draft beginning June 21, this will be a significant draft year for the Ducks. Anaheim holds two picks in the first round (9 and 29) as well as three in the top 39, according to the league.