Anaheim Ducks hire Geoff Ward as an assistant coach

[viper0220]

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Coaching carousel stops in Anaheim. Former Flames head coach Geoff Ward to join Dallas Eakins staff. Kirk Muller was also a candidate before accepting the job in Calgary.

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[I Hate Blake Coleman]

My condolences.

 

[Pointteen]

I still can't believe Eakins is in the NHL again.

Good luck Geoff

 

[The Pale King]

They just need Willie Desjardins to complete the Sad Western Canada Voltron. Good luck!

 

[Mobiandi]

Actually a pretty good assistant. Will be interesting if he takes over from Eakins should the latter be fired

 

[Zirakzigil]

Pretty decent assistant. Not a bad hire for them.

 

[Fig]

Ward has interesting ideas. The problem is that he seemingly cannot convert ideas into a system of his own that the players were able to buy in on. The line blending stuff and strategy tweaks he did while the Flames HC were ridiculous in number. I don't know if he will learn how to do this and create his own system if he gets a HC gig again, but that's of none of my concern.

However, he seems to be an excellent AC, so this could potentially work well for the Ducks. Just don't promote Ward if Eakins is turfed. Replace Eakins with a different HC instead.

 

[PaddyMcStackin]

Did Ward replace anybody or is this an addition?

 

[justHypnos]

Very good power play coach with NJ

 

[deleted user]

Ward is frustrating to watch coach. He doesn't adapt to the game in progress. Good luck.

 

[Goose of Reason]

Did Ward replace anybody or is this an addition?

There hasn't been an announcement but I believe Mark Morrison was in charge of their (inept) powerplay so its possible he may be on the way out.

 

[Nucker101]

They just need Willie Desjardins to complete the Sad Western Canada Voltron. Good luck!

That would actually be hilarious to witness

 

[AngelDuck]

Very good power play coach with NJ

This is good to hear and the only thing that matters to me. All the other nonsense about how he failed as a head coach is pretty irrelevant

 

[PULSATING]

 

[DJJones]

Blended the shit out of every line accept Gaudreau when Monahan was clearly hurt.

Seems like a good assistant though

 

[InfinityIggy]

He was fine as an assistant coach. Wouldn’t even of objected to the Flames bringing him back in that role, unlikely as it was. This hire is fine.

 

[lawrence]

Title needs to be changed to assistant coach. A lot of fans sending out their condolences but he’s only hired as an assistant.

 

[Fig]

Title needs to be changed to assistant coach. A lot of fans sending out their condolences but he’s only hired as an assistant.

I think some of the condolences is the fact that the Ducks are hearing about coaching moves, but it's to insulate Eakins vs replace him.

 

[Bleedred]

Very good power play coach with NJ

I didn’t appreciate him much when we had him, but it’s ridiculous that he was literally the only coach that Shero hired that he actually wound up letting go, until he finally fired Hynes, which was long overdue by that point.

 

[lwvs84]

I think some of the condolences is the fact that the Ducks are hearing about coaching moves, but it's to insulate Eakins vs replace him.

I think Eakins has 1 more year left (so does Murray as GM), during a rebuild owners probably don't want to spend money paying two coaches and two GM's, so when Murray goes so does Eakins with the new GM hiring his own coach. At least that seems to be the hope around here.

 

[Kimota]

Not a bad coach. They should just fire Eakins and keep him.

 

[CraigsList]

Not the worst out there, but I don't see him getting a head coaching gig unless Eakins is canned.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Title needs to be changed to assistant coach. A lot of fans sending out their condolences but he’s only hired as an assistant.

The title literally says Anaheim Ducks hire Geoff Ward as an assistant coach.

Which is fine, he's a fine AC much like Gulutzan was a fine AC and continues to be a fine AC. Just don't let him take over head coaching duties. Ever.

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

The Alberta rejects.

 

[Terry Yake]

so many posts wondering why eakins is still coaching at the NHL level

he's awful, but the ducks have absolutely no reason to fire him right now given the sad state of their roster. no coach could've had success with the team the ducks were icing in 20-21. eakins will likely remain HC until the ducks show they can compete for the playoffs again, then they'll fire him and bring in someone better