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Ducks coach Dallas Eakins hoping to return to finish the job

April 13, 2023

IRVINE — In the end, Ducks coach Dallas Eakins simply wants to finish the job that has been started in Anaheim.

Eakins will coach his 291st game with the organization against the visiting Kings on Thursday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

With the final chapter of this season about to close for the Ducks (23-46-12), there are questions looming about the future of players and coaches on expiring contracts, including Eakins himself. Just when they will be answered is a decision for general manager Pat Verbeek, who is wrapping up his first full season with the Ducks.

“It’s as simple as that for me,” the fourth-year Ducks coach said. “I’ve got my fingers crossed, I hope there’s a process to it. We’ll see where it goes. That’s just pro sports.”

Equally unclear is Verbeek’s timeline. He’s under no obligation to instantly make his call.

“That’s Pat’s decision,” Eakins said. “Respect the hell out of him. I think he’ll make the decision that he thinks is right for our organization at this time. I’m certainly going to respect that one way or the other because I only want the best for here.”

Eakins was talking about a tumultuous 2022-23 season for the Ducks, which has them in contention for last place overall heading into the finale. In an interview in the dressing room at Great Park Ice after the Ducks’ final practice of the season Wednesday, Eakins touched on the future.

“For me, personally, I have zero interest in going to somewhere where it’s rainbows and butterflies. That kind of ‘walk in and win right away’ mentality,” Eakins said. “There’s a part of me that enjoys going through the mud part of it, because the payoff down the road will be an incredible experience, to watch these young men develop and watch a team develop and do something far different that it has been this year.”

After three losing seasons under Eakins, the Ducks are sitting in second-to-last place in the NHL, one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They started the season slowly – failing to win in regulation until Game 20 – and are finishing in roughly the same manner, having not won in their last 12 games.

There is a potential pot of gold at the end of the rainbow this year, in the person of Regina Pats center Connor Bedard, the consensus No. 1 draft pick who is widely considered to be a franchise-changing talent. By virtue of their poor season, the Ducks are one of a handful of teams to have a legitimate chance at getting Bedard.

“I’ve said it before. I’m inspired by the ownership,” Eakins said. “I understand Pat’s plan and the patience and the work ethic that it’s going to take to get it there. When my coaching days are over here – and I hope they are not – I want to be a Duck forever.”

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If coaching isn’t in his immediate future, Eakins would welcome a chance to stay in the organization in a different capacity,

“I want to go do something else here,” he said. “I just think this is an incredible organization that is well led. When you find a place that is inspiring to work, I don’t think you should be trying to go look somewhere else to do whatever you’re going to do.”

KINGS AT DUCKS

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: Honda Center

TV: Bally Sports West, Bally Sports SoCal

Orange County Register

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Ducks coach Dallas Eakins hoping to return to finish the job

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