The Anaheim Ducks have announced that Greg Cronin will be their new head coach. Cronin, who most recently coached the Colorado Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, will be an NHL head coach for the first time. He replaces Dallas Eakins, who was dismissed after four seasons, including a final campaign where the Ducks finished with a 23-47-12 record, worst in the NHL.
In announcing the hiring, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said that “while we did cast a wide net in searching for the next head coach, it became clear to me that Greg would be the ideal fit for the position.” Verbeek went on to explain that in his view, the team needed “a teacher of the finer points of the game, and someone who has worked extensively over time with talented young players, helping them develop into successful NHL players. Greg has done all that and more, and we are excited to name him head coach of the Anaheim Ducks.”
Cronin, who was on the first coaching staff in the United States national team development program, is known for his ability to develop players. He has been a collegiate assistant coach at several schools and was a head coach at both the University of Maine and Northeastern. He was also an assistant coach with the Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs in addition to his time in the AHL.
Cronin takes over a young Ducks team that has missed the playoffs for the last five seasons but has used the draft to develop one of the NHL’s strongest farm systems. The Ducks began tapping into some of their promise during the 2021-22 season, when they were in the hunt for a wild-card spot only to fall short with a 31-37-14 record, before finishing this season at the bottom of the standings.
Despite their struggles, the Ducks feature young talents such as Jamie Drysdale and Mason McTavish along with a pair of NHL All-Star Game selections in Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras. The Ducks’ farm system this season became the first NHL organization to have its prospects win Defenseman of the Year honors in the OHL, the QMJHL, and the WHL in the same year.
With the Ducks holding the No. 2 pick in the NHL draft, they could select University of Michigan center Adam Fantilli to become part of their future.
Cronin is excited to take on this new challenge, saying in a statement that he is “grateful to the Samueli family and Pat Verbeek for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity.” He added that the Ducks “have a fantastic future ahead” and that he is “excited and honored” to be named head coach of the team.
Cronin played an instrumental role within the Avalanche’s organization. He was responsible for the development of players including Pavel Francouz, Logan O’Connor, and Alex Newhook and helped nearly 20 players make their NHL debuts with the Avs.
The Ducks will look to Cronin to help guide their young team and build on the promise they have shown in recent seasons. With his track record of developing players, Anaheim fans will be hoping that Cronin can help turn their team into a playoff contender in the years to come.
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