Ed Stein: Second Time Around The Ducks bring back Randy Carlyle to be their head coach.

I didn't like it at first, but the idea actually is growing on me. After listening to the press conference, Carlyle sounded like a coach who has learned and tried to keep up with current trends and play.

The Ducks desperately needed a better bench coach to make adjustments and match up against other good coaches especially when it came to playoff series. (Can't remember where, but a player said they basically don't prepare much for playoff games). Hopefully Carlyle can be the difference that helps the Ducks to the cup again.

The main concern is how he will manage the top players that have already had him as a coach. If they are on board, this could be good, but I agree, if this doesn't work, Murray just cost himself his job.

Is this what (was it Avery??), meant by 'sloppy seconds'??

This is the first time in a loooong time I've gone into a new season with this much trepidation. I posted in an earlier blog that this is either going to work perfectly or it's going to be a dumpster fire disaster, there will be no in between. I agree 100% with you Ed, if this goes as bad as I fear Bob Murray is done too. Give Dave McNab a shot at the GM position.

This is a WTF moment for the Ducks.

I'm stunned and very disappointed - some many viable exciting young coaches out there and Ducks go here - I hope to be proven wrong -
when he got canned this team was 29th or 30th and a tire fire -
this sucks on so many levels - Did BM even do a search ??? or was his and RC's family's closeness the deciding factor -
Not renewing season tickets which sucks but I can't support this at all and that's the only way I know how to show my disgust -

I'm stunned and very disappointed - some many viable exciting young coaches out there and Ducks go here - I hope to be proven wrong -
when he got canned this team was 29th or 30th and a tire fire -
this sucks on so many levels - Did BM even do a search ??? or was his and RC's family's closeness the deciding factor -
Not renewing season tickets which sucks but I can't support this at all and that's the only way I know how to show my disgust -
- dozerD10

I'm renewing for this season for sure. Dumpster fire happens next season. Ill watch from home the following. Ill give him another try..... i guess. I hope I am wrong as well. I wanted a new coach in there. Time will tell.

My initial reaction was negative, but as I've thought things over, and the more I've read, the more I'm on board with the decision.

The last two years Carlyle has been in the press box watching Ducks home games and "taking notes". He knows this team. Before he was hired a # of players were consulted. Getzlaf, Perry, Kesler, and Fowler (those players were named) were asked about bringing him back, and all were positive in their response. Now, before you say they had to say good things, no they didn't. If they felt it wouldn't work out, I think they'd be honest. It's being reported they were on board. I trust that's true. Heck, even Selanne sent a tweet he thought it was a great hire.

Assumptions are being made that he hasn't changed. How do we know? He's a demanding coach who usually has defined roles for his players and expects they give 100% to that role. Nothing wrong with that. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt right now.

Finally, this team is in a win now mode. We have maybe 3 years of a Cup window left. While I wanted Travis Green named coach, after thinking about it, it's not fair to bring in a coach with no NHL experience and tell him I expect a long playoff run. Can't do it. But you can tell Carlyle that. Absolutely can. And I'm sure Murray did.

Recycling........

Ed Stein: Second Time Around
The Ducks bring back Randy Carlyle to be their head coach.
- Ed Stein

@AnaheimDucks 6m6 minutes ago
NEWS: #NHLDucks Nate Thompson out until trade deadline with ruptured Achilles tendon:

@AnaheimDucks 6m6 minutes ago
NEWS: #NHLDucks Nate Thompson out until trade deadline with ruptured Achilles tendon:
- tomburton99

Duck lover.....

Stupid hire by Murray. There is no one who can say with a straight face that Carlyle is an improvement over Boudreau. This will not end well - for Bob Murray. Only positive side for me is I won't have to waste money on playoff tickets.

Stupid hire by Murray. There is no one who can say with a straight face that Carlyle is an improvement over Boudreau. This will not end well - for Bob Murray. Only positive side for me is I won't have to waste money on playoff tickets.
- DiggerCal

Thats not fair . Carlyle may be better in the playoffs . I'm not expecting anything new from randy either . Buts its just that bruce broudruce was just that bad of a playoff coach . And winning in the postseason is the most important thing .

Thats not fair . Carlyle may be better in the playoffs . I'm not expecting anything new from randy either . Buts its just that bruce broudruce was just that bad of a playoff coach . And winning in the postseason is the most important thing .
- Eman87654

I think it's quite fair. After winning the cup in 2007 (with Neidemayer and Pronger as your top two defensemen) how many playoff series did he win? 1 or 2? Our window to win the cup is closing. I just don't see Carlyle being an improvement over Boudreau. I actually don't blame Boudreau for the playoff losses. A coach shouldn't have to motivate the two $8m dollar wonder kids to play spirited hockey. When your top scorer doesn't show up in a series, you won't win.

Randy Carlyle is back! I like this hire. Besides his championship season, the best memory I have about Carlyle was his coaching of Corey Perry during his Hart Trophy season. 50 goals. 5 of which came on the PK.

I feel Perry's game was sheltered under Boudreau, as he went from playing a 200 ft game to a 175 ft game. Maybe with some conditioning and an attitude realignment #10 will make it back out on the PK. Perry needs to have his head in the game all 60 minutes. When that's the case; he's proven he can be the greatest.

I hope the above example serves as a microcosm for the change I am looking for. This team needs to be a team. Carlyle isn't some dweeb talker. He's tough, and I think he has the highest expectations.

Lots of news for being the middle on June. Nate Thompson is out for an extended period of time again. I think last year was very difficult for Thompson coming back from the shoulder injury. Then he strugged getting traction and confidence once back in the lineup. Goals were tough to come by last year. Nevertheless, Anaheim needs a reliable #4 center heading into training camp. This could spell the end of his tenure in Anaheim. Tough situation for all parties.

Randy Carlyle is back! I like this hire. Besides his championship season, the best memory I have about Carlyle was his coaching of Corey Perry during his Hart Trophy season. 50 goals. 5 of which came on the PK.

I feel Perry's game was sheltered under Boudreau, as he went from playing a 200 ft game to a 175 ft game. Maybe with some conditioning and an attitude realignment #10 will make it back out on the PK. Perry needs to have his head in the game all 60 minutes. When that's the case; he's proven he can be the greatest.

I hope the above example serves as a microcosm for the change I am looking for. This team needs to be a team. Carlyle isn't some dweeb talker. He's tough, and I think he has the highest expectations.

Lots of news for being the middle on June. Nate Thompson is out for an extended period of time again. I think last year was very difficult for Thompson coming back from the shoulder injury. Then he strugged getting traction and confidence once back in the lineup. Goals were tough to come by last year. Nevertheless, Anaheim needs a reliable #4 center heading into training camp. This could spell the end of his tenure in Anaheim. Tough situation for all parties.
- IGotTheMemo

Slide Wagner in as the 4th C. Thompson will go on LTIR which frees up his salary. Net gain is about 1M in cap space.

I keep going back and forth about this. I was stunned last night when it came out, but like 5 minutes later I wasn't surprised at all. I don't think Randy should be compared to Bruce, nor should Bob be judged by that comparison. Bruce simply had to go, his playoff track record could no longer be ignored. He was gone regardless of the quality of other coaches available this offseason.

Now I don't know if Randy is the answer, I personally think #10 and just the team in general need a kick in the ass and I don't know if a former coach is the way to do that. I don't know if there were better candidates, but I think Yawney would have been interesting.

You gotta admit it's a ballsy move by Bob.

There's no reason to replace Yawney or the Walrus now, I thought they were both great in the last 2/3 of the year and I hope they both stay on.

I keep going back and forth about this. I was stunned last night when it came out, but like 5 minutes later I wasn't surprised at all. I don't think Randy should be compared to Bruce, nor should Bob be judged by that comparison. Bruce simply had to go, his playoff track record could no longer be ignored. He was gone regardless of the quality of other coaches available this offseason.

Now I don't know if Randy is the answer, I personally think #10 and just the team in general need a kick in the ass and I don't know if a former coach is the way to do that. I don't know if there were better candidates, but I think Yawney would have been interesting.

You gotta admit it's a ballsy move by Bob.

There's no reason to replace Yawney or the Walrus now, I thought they were both great in the last 2/3 of the year and I hope they both stay on.
- gtrman09

I hope yawney and McLean stay too . I think randys really going to work on conditioning . the younger players should benifit from having randy push them. The thing that bothers me though is that Carlyle was never known for great strategy, or adjustments . And thats where we need the most help coaching wise .

I doubt itll be as bad as everyone thinks itll go. Carlyle either learned a lot since his time with the Ducks or he is a bigger idiot than most are assuming.

I doubt itll be as bad as everyone thinks itll go. Carlyle either learned a lot since his time with the Ducks or he is a bigger idiot than most are assuming.
- YuenglingJagr

He's admitted that hockey has changed from the bad 'ol days and its an uptempo, fast and possession-dominated game...But he also said, he wouldn't abandon physical play and rough n' tumble hockey

He's admitted that hockey has changed from the bad 'ol days and its an uptempo, fast and possession-dominated game...But he also said, he wouldn't abandon physical play and rough n' tumble hockey
- DeflatedPucks

Yeah but admitting it and doing something about it are two different things

If there can be some sort of balance between the way Carlyle used to coach and the way Boudreau coaches, I think that'll work for this team. At first I didn't like the hire, but lets see how it goes

its kind of funny how people say Boudreau is a player's coach and yet every third word that comes out of his mouth is: "(frank) that, (frank) you..."

Reading that Carlyle is one of the worst possession coaches driven by a league that all the champs are high in possession. Advanced analytics are the new norm and to have a guy living in the 80's! I hate this hire again. You need possession to win in the postseason. I wanted to give it a night and woke up this morning thinking it was still a nightmare. Like everyone else I hope I am wrong, but what I've been reading and git feeling is I won't be.