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Ducks expand coaching search; Is Bob Murray feeling the heat?

May 31, 2019, 11:38 PM ET [6 Comments]
Steve Palumbo
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Anaheim Ducks have a top 10 pick in the upcoming NHL draft and with prospect interviews underway, it is a bit odd to me that they remain without a head coach.

I had a few quick thoughts on the subject.

As I pointed out in my last post, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Dallas Eakins would be promoted from San Diego to Anaheim. That hasn't happened. Instead, the Ducks have expanded their coaching search to a number of candidates.

Along with Eakins, New York Islanders assistant coach Lane Lambert, Manitoba Moose head coach Pascal Vincent and Dallas Stars assistant Todd Nelson are among the names floating around.

I'm not sure what to make of the ever-expanding pool of potential hires. It's no secret that Eakins still carries some baggage from his failed time in Edmonton. That can't still be an issue, or can it? Perhaps Ducks' GM Bob Murray is feeling the pressure of an aging roster and a failed attempt to recapture glory by recycling the only coach to ever lead Anaheim to a Stanley Cup win.

The Ducks are coming off a disastrous season in which they finished near the bottom of the Pacific Division with a 35-37-10 record. We've been watching this club age over the last couple of seasons, but '18-19 was especially brutal. We found out pretty quickly that the Ducks weren't the type of team that could will themselves to victories anymore.

All is not lost on its aging core though.

Thankfully, Anaheim has plenty of fresh faces filtering through the system and I think that's why BM is under immense pressure to pick the right guy to run this team. Murray would never admit the Ducks are ion the verge of a rebuild. Instead, he'll say they are a team that's just retooling and ready for another run in the playoffs.

The rehiring of Randy Carlyle was met with a collective "WTF" from fans and I do not believe Murray can survive another misstep with his coaching choice. I'm starting to think Murray himself is in self-preservation mode. How can he not be? Pick the wrong coach again and he too may find himself cashing unemployment checks with Carlyle.

Thanks for reading,
Steve
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