For better or for worse, the Anaheim Ducks and Randy Carlyle are quickly running out of time to right the ship.
Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray showed a lot of faith in his team last season by not making any significant changes after a disappointing first-round loss to the San Jose Sharks. Unless things get better soon, the Ducks could look very different next season. The first of those changes could be happening very soon and it might come in the form of firing head coach Randy Carlyle.
To be fair, it’s easy to blame him. Carlyle, who led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup in 2007, returned to try to lead his team back to the Promised Land. After a Western Conference Final appearance in his first season back, the Ducks have been heading in reverse. If this trend continues, it’s hard to see Carlyle, who doesn’t have a contract past this season, returning.
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The Ducks have only won one game in their past 10 games. Only a mediocre Western Conference has allowed them to barely hang onto a playoff spot. Entering Jan. 10, they have 46 points in 44 games. At 19-7-8, the Ducks haven’t even won half of their games. Their -24 goal differential is the third-worst in the Western Conference.
Carlyle deserves some credit for getting the Ducks this far. After all, they’ve been hit very hard by injuries. Corey Perry has yet to play this season. Cam Fowler, arguably their best defenseman, has only played in 21 of their 44 games. Ondrej Kase, who has 19 points in 26 games, has missed time due to various injuries as well. Backup goaltender Ryan Miller has too.
However, now Murray has something he didn’t have before – an extension. It would have been asking a lot for him to fire the coach he went to bat for when he didn’t have an extension to fall back on. Now that Murray has one, he might be more willing to cut ties with Carlyle.
Under Carlyle, the Ducks have been trending downwards on offense. In 2016-17, they ranked 17th in goals scored. The Ducks fell to 18th in 2017-18. This season, only the Los Angeles Kings have scored fewer goals than them.
Star goaltender John Gibson is hiding a lot of their flaws. That’s no way to contend in the modern NHL. You need to be able to put the puck in the net to win in today’s league. Carlyle has proven he can’t adapt to that. If anything, he stifles offense instead of encouraging it.
Murray put himself out on a limb for his team last year when he didn’t make huge changes. He might have to make those changes after this season, especially if they don’t make the playoffs. Even if the Ducks do make the postseason, it’s clear Carlyle isn’t the guy to lead them in the future.