Randy Carlyle Hired as Anaheim Ducks New Head Coach

Randy Carlyle Returns to Anaheim Ducks as Head Coach 4 1/2 Years After Being Let Go

Reports surfaced Monday night, and were later confirmed on Tuesday; Randy Carlyle – the franchise’s winningest coach – has been re-hired by the Anaheim Ducks.

After weeks of speculation, and a tedious coaching search that included names Paul MacLean and Travis Green (among others), GM Bob Murray has announced that Randy Carlyle will make his return after a four and a half-year absence. After winning the Stanley Cup with the club in 2007, Murray hopes Carlyle is the man to get this team back over the hump again.

At least Bob Murray is consistent. And it seems he covets a “proven winner” behind the bench in Anaheim – he made the statement upon Bruce Boudreau‘s hire, and again today. Lets travel way back to December 1st, 2011 to read Murray’s comments upon Randy Carlyle’s dismissal:

"via National Post,“Randy is a terrific head coach, and did a tremendous job for us for six-plus seasons,” Anaheim general manager Bob Murray said. “We thank him greatly for his hard work and dedication to our franchise, not the least of which was a Stanley Cup championship. At this time, we simply felt a new voice was needed. Bruce is a proven winner with a great track record, and we are optimistic we can turn this season around under his leadership.”"

Lets fast forward to April 29th, 2016 – day of Bruce Boudreau’s release. Murray made the following statement:

"via NHL.com,“Bruce was a good coach. Won a lot of hockey games, won four division titles, and he’s a very passionate hockey guy,” Anaheim general manager Bob Murray said at Honda Center. “But the bottom line for me was that I did not feel that going forward and making the playoffs again, it would not be a good situation.”"

Now, lets fast forward to present time (June 14th, 2016), these are Bob Murray’s comments regarding the re-hiring of Randy Carlyle:

"via Sportsnet,“A proven winner and motivator, Randy has expertly managed the bench throughout his coaching career,” said Ducks executive vice president and general manager Bob Murray. “Our expectations are extremely high, and I believe Randy is the coach who can lead us to playoff success and our ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup.”"

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Interpretations and opinions will vary across the board regarding the re-hire in Anaheim.

Personally, this feels like a reluctance to go out of Bob Murray’s comfort zone. It almost seems as though he’s scared to bring in an unfamiliar face, because the GM is the next one on the chopping block if things don’t turn around.

Both Randy Carlyle and Bob Murray joined the Anaheim Ducks organization in 2005-06, Carlyle as coach, Murray as Senior VP of Hockey Operations/GM of AHL Affiliate.

Bob eventually replaced Brian Burke in 2008-09. Burke later hired Randy Carlyle when he took over for the Toronto Maple Leafs, although that tenure went very differently than his previous stint in Anaheim. Tough to blame Carlyle for the Leafs debacle, that was more of Brian Burke mess.

Re-hiring a coach in the NHL has delivered mixed results in recent history – and no winners to date. Paul Maurice in Carolina; Michel Therrien in Montreal, although the latter can still re-write the script.