The Anaheim Ducks were in need of a change of some kind, as they were in the midst of one of their worst stretches in franchise history. Their 4-1 win Wednesday night over the Montreal Canadiens was just their third victory in their last 19 games. But it wasn't enough to save head coach Randy Carlyle's job, as he was dismissed in favor of Bruce Boudreau, who was recently let go by the Washington Capitals.
Boudreau was signed to a two-year contract by the Ducks on Thursday, and sounded like somebody excited for a new opportunity. "If I didn’t believe that this was a team that had the possibilities and the makings of something special, I think I would have sat at home and waited," Boudreau said in his introductory press conference. "But I don’t think opportunities like this come around every day, with the talent that we have here."
The other option for a change for Anaheim was a trade, and Bobby Ryan was the player most often mentioned in the last week or so. It was an option that Ducks executive vice president and general manager Bob Murray strongly considered.
"When you are struggling in a funk like we were, you get lots of phone calls. You always get phone calls. Sometimes you listen and sometimes you don’t. I’m not going to lie, I was listening," Murray said. "But don’t think for one second, the calls were just on Bobby. That was a popular one. But don’t think it was just him. I’m hoping everything settles down right now. I think it will."
Boudreau had Ryan on the same line with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf during practice on Thursday. "I believe the first shift tomorrow they will be. Beyond that, we’ll have to see how they do," said Boudreau. The Ducks host the Philadelphia Flyers Friday night at Honda Center.
To discuss Boudreau, Carlyle and the Ducks, go to Anaheim Calling.