Mired in a seven-game losing streak and stuck in last place in the Pacific Division, the Anaheim Ducks fired head coach Randy Carlyle Sunday, cutting ties with the winningest coach in team history.
Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the regular season, the team announced.
“We thank Randy for everything he has done for the organization,” Murray said. “Leading the team to a Stanley Cup and three conference final appearances, he has accomplished so much in Anaheim. Difficult decisions need to be made when times are tough, and our play has clearly been unacceptable. We have a tradition of success in Anaheim and we need to get back to that.”
Murray went on to say that Anaheim will name a new head coach following the 2018-19 season.
Carlyle, 62, led Anaheim to a Stanley Cup championship in 2007 and three appearances in the Western Conference Final (2006, 2007, 2017). Originally named the seventh head coach in team history on Aug. 1, 2005, Carlyle went 384-256-96 in 736 games with the Ducks.
This season was a struggle from the beginning, though, and as of Sunday the team stood at 21-35 after losing to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. The Ducks have the worst goal-scoring ratio in the league this season at minus-55.
The Ducks’ next game is Wednesday at home against the Vancouver Canucks.