Bruce Boudreau Replaces Randy Carlyle as Ducks Head Coach

[VodkaFish]

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Bruce Boudreau head coach, replacing Randy Carlyle. The club has also relieved Assistant Coaches Dave Farrish and Mike Foligno, and Video Coordinator Joe Trotta of their duties. Brad Lauer has been added to the Ducks staff as an assistant coach. One additional assistant will be named at a later date.

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. “Randy is a terrific head coach, and did a tremendous job for us for six-plus seasons. 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.”

As head coach of the Washington Capitals (2007-11), Boudreau won the 2007-08 Jack Adams award (NHL Coach of the Year) and led his club to the 2009-10 Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top club in the regular season. He compiled a record of 201-88-40 (.672 winning percentage) with the Capitals and won the Southeast Division four times. He became the fastest coach in modern day NHL history to win 200 games (Nov. 21, 2011 vs. Phoenix) and recorded more wins (184) in his first 300 NHL games than any NHL coach all-time.

Boudreau, 56, was named interim head coach of the Capitals on Nov. 22, 2007. On that date, Washington was 30th in the NHL standings. Boudreau led the club to a 37-17-7 finish, as the Capitals won the Southeast Division in the first of four seasons under his direction. Boudreau, whose interim tag was removed on Dec. 26, 2007, became the second Washington head coach to win the Jack Adams Award. He was also the first coach since Bill Barber (2001) to win the Jack Adams Award after taking over a team midseason. In 2008-09, Boudreau led the Capitals to their first playoff series win since 1988. In addition to the Presidents’ Trophy, the 2009-10 club set team records for wins (54), points (121), and goals (313).

Before joining the Capitals, Boudreau spent nine seasons as an AHL head coach, including a Calder Cup championship with the Hershey Bears in 2006. He spent four years with Manchester (Los Angeles) and two with Lowell (Los Angeles) before joining Hershey (Washington). He compiled a 103-45-27 record with the Bears, including an AHL-best 51-17-12 in 2006-07. Boudreau began his coaching career in the Colonial Hockey League with Muskegon in 1992-93 and was named the International Hockey League Coach of the Year in 1993-94 with Fort Wayne. He also served as head coach and director of hockey operations for Mississippi (ECHL), where he won the 1999 Kelly Cup championship.

Boudreau played parts of eight NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks between 1976-86, recording 28-42=70 points in 141 career games. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Boudreau was originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the third round of the 1975 NHL Entry Draft. As a Canadian junior playing for the Toronto Marlboros in 1974-75, he scored 68-97=165 points, a Canadian Hockey League record until Wayne Gretzky surpassed the mark during the 1977-78 season. Boudreau also ranks 11th all-time in scoring in AHL history with 316 goals and 799 points. No AHL player in the 1980s notched more points than Boudreau. He won the 1987-88 John B. Sollenberger Trophy for leading the league in scoring, and was also a member of the 1992 Calder Cup champion Adirondack Red Wings.

Lauer, 45, was named assistant coach of the Syracuse Crunch, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the AHL, on July 12, 2011. Lauer most recently served as an NHL assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators from 2009-11, marking the second time in club history in which a former player went on to serve on the team’s coaching staff. Prior to joining the Senators, Lauer was an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville’s AHL affiliate) from 2007-09. In 2008-09, he helped guide the Admirals to a 49-22-3-6 record, a Western Division title and a share of the league lead in points (107). He began his coaching career in 2002 with the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and served as an assistant for five seasons. During his time with Kootenay, the club had two 100-point and three 40-win seasons.

Selected by the New York Islanders in the second round (34th overall) of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, Lauer appeared in 323 career NHL contests with the Islanders, Chicago, Ottawa and Pittsburgh, scoring 44-67=111 points with 218 penalty minutes (PIM). The Humboldt, Saskatchewan native also appeared in 635 career IHL and AHL contests before his retirement from professional hockey in 2002.

Carlyle, 55, was named the seventh head coach in team history on Aug. 1, 2005 and led the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup championship (2007), Pacific Division championship (2007) and five playoff appearances in six seasons (2005-09, 2011). He compiled a record of 273-182-61 record (.588 win percentage) in 516 career games with Anaheim, recording the most wins and highest win percentage in club history.

In the most memorable season in team history, Carlyle guided the Ducks to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in 2007. Helping Anaheim become the first California team to win hockey’s ultimate prize, Carlyle also led Anaheim to its first Pacific Division championship in 2006-07, compiling a regular season record of 48-20-14 for 110 points.

[gongermuskegon]

guy does one interview and he already has a job, he didn't even get to sit on the thrown before he's headed on a plane to LA...good for him he should've given ovie a snickers

Liza Minnelli-Diva's Snickers...

[Matt Doom]

Wow! I didn't see this coming, and right after a win tonight haha. Hopefully this will be for the best for the Ducks.

[GIANTSFAN]

So much for Ray Ferarro's prediction this morning when he said that he'd be shocked if Boudreau ever got another NHL coaching gig. It's time for Ferraro to be fired.

[Phillyfan11]

I hope that the Ducks don't become soft now because of Bruce :/

[dipandmitts]

shocker, i didnt see this coming in a million years

[I_am_Belak_2]

Originally Posted by Phillyfan11

I hope that the Ducks don't become soft now because of Bruce :/

Parros will be in the pressbox or minors as soon as he's healthy

[Big_Fat_Dan]

I fear for George Parros, i hate Bruce.

[straka91]

Randy will find another job by seasons end. He is a superb coach. Very interested to see how BB does,

[ThrowdownSJ408]

i am getting scared the ducks wont play nasty anymore : (

[LuigiStone]

This sucks ass. Carlyle is awesome, BB sucks ass.

[Peno36]

Didn't see this coming.

Hope they don't loose their tough take no prisoners style

Good Luck Randy, you made an Aussie a die hard NHL fan

[Leafs_Fan18]

Now that has to be a record for the shortest time out of work between NHL coaching assignments.

[illukka]

i really hope that the fat bastard dont turn NHLs toughest/meanest/dirtiest team into a bunch of sissies like the caps now are. randy carlyle is such a great coach im willing to be that he will get another job fast.

[Isles4life]

Not too often do you see a coach fired after a 4-1 win, but Carlyle got the boot for a season that's been filled with struggles for Anaheim.

While Boudreau is taking over the coaching job, and not the GM's position, we still have to hope that this change doesn't end up having too big of a negative effect on the physical style of hockey we've all come to expect and appreciate from Anaheim over the last several years.