In Anaheim, California, the local hockey team has seen a significant front-office shift as the Anaheim Ducks announced the termination of Coach Greg Cronin. This decision was made public by General Manager Pat Verbeek, who expressed the need for a fresh perspective to advance the team’s rebuilding efforts, which have been underway for several years now. Verbeek did not specify the exact reasons for parting ways with Cronin, despite the team’s poor performance that ended with a 35-37-10 record and missing the playoffs for the seventh year in a row.
Interestingly, Verbeek clarified that the disappointing record was not the primary driver for the dismissal. Neither the team culture nor Cronin’s handling of the ongoing offensive woes were factors, according to Verbeek. He briefly mentioned possible scapegoats like the special teams’ struggles but emphasized that the real reasons were shared only with Cronin in private discussions and would remain confidential.
Verbeek, now in his third year and six months as GM, expects a turnaround and declares that the Ducks should qualify for the playoffs next season. This statement marks a noticeable change in the team’s direction, particularly considering their dismal performance in terms of goal-scoring this season—the Ducks were third from the bottom in the NHL. Cronin’s two-year tenure resulted in 62 wins, 87 losses, and 15 overtime losses. Over the past season, Anaheim registered 80 points, a notable 21-point rise over the previous year, although still insufficient for a serious playoff bid, ultimately sealing Cronin’s fate.
Cronin was informed of his dismissal during an early Saturday meeting at the team’s extensive facility in Irvine. Verbeek reported that the coach found the decision unexpected, saying Cronin was “completely shocked,” which he understood given the circumstances. As Verbeek reflects on the Ducks’ trajectory, he still believes Cronin’s demanding leadership style, admired by some and criticized by others, wasn’t the main problem—instead, it was the persistent inability to improve the Ducks’ offensive output.
Despite possessing promising young scorers such as Troy Terry, and several experienced free-agent signings, the Ducks were ranked 30th in goal production over Cronin’s leadership. Furthermore, their power play deeply suffered, finishing last in the league with an 11.8% success rate, a glaring issue not taken into account when assessing Cronin’s performance according to Verbeek.
The Ducks have been in a downward spiral since an era of success spanning 2013 to 2017, when the club won five consecutive Pacific Division titles and played in two Western Conference finals. With this long famine nearing its end, Verbeek is adamant about seeing tangible results and has made it clear he will be proactive in transforming the team to meet playoff expectations.
Anaheim closed their season seated 12th in the Western Conference, 16 points shy of the playoffs. They are currently enduring the third-longest active playoff absence in the NHL, behind only Buffalo and Detroit. Verbeek has announced plans to conduct an in-depth search for a new coach—a process that took nearly two months the last time—while emphasizing his openness to appointing a first-time head coach.
The Ducks’ next coach will join a squad full of young potential. This includes players like Mason McTavish, who topped the team with 22 goals, and Leo Carlsson, the second overall pick in the NHL draft, who had an impressive debut season with 20 goals and 44 points. Though despite having six players who scored at least 19 goals, the Ducks still ranked 30th in goals per game.
The search for a new head coach is expected to be thorough, ensuring the right fit for the evolving talent pool. Meanwhile, Cronin’s firing marks the first head coach dismissal post-regular season, shortly followed by similar moves in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia. As the Ducks press forward, their focus remains firmly on rebuilding towards a more prosperous future.