The Anaheim Ducks‘ free fall has cost coach Randy Carlyle his job.
The team announced that general manager Bob Murray will take over for the rest of the season and then the team will begin a search for a new coach.
“We thank Randy for everything he has done for the organization,” Murray said in a statement. “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.”
Carlyle, 62, was in his second stint with the Ducks and is the winningest coach in team history. He led them to a Stanley Cup in 2006-07, his second season with the team. Carlyle was fired after a slow start to the 2011-12 season and was hired by the Maple Leafs. Toronto let him go in 2015.
He returned to Anaheim in 2016 and led the Ducks to the conference finals. But Anaheim was swept out of the first round last season. After a promising start this year, Anaheim has plummeted to last in the West.
The Ducks lost 12 straight from Dec. 18 to Jan. 15, then won two in a row, but they have lost their past seven games.