Dallas Eakins slams Edmonton Oilers owner, Daryl Katz

Dallas Eakins had success everywhere in his career until he became head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers were the laughing stock of the NHL during his tenure as he failed miserably. Since Dallas Eakins was fired, nothing has improved for the Oilers. It is clear the issues with the team runs deeper than a head coach or a general manager.

Eakins speaks honestly about the Oilers for the first time. He admits he screwed up by attempting to drastically shift the toxic culture within the Oilers organization too quickly. He blames himself for his failures as head coach. However, Eakins also refers to major roadblocks to shifting the toxic culture in Edmonton.

I don’t think so. It’s your job to do it. But, take this (Anaheim Ducks) organization. I know what the culture of the Samuellis (owners Henry and Susan) is. I know what the culture of (GM) Bob Murray is. I know what the culture of (Ducks CEO) Michael Schulman is. Some of the things that you’d try to hammer down on in Edmonton, it was, ‘Hey, we don’t do that here.’ And I’d be like, ‘You don’t want to change this?’

You’ve got to snicker when some team changes the coach, changes the GM, changes whomever, and they say, ‘We’re going to change the culture.’ Well, I hope he has seven years on his contract, because it’s going to take two years to get it right.

I won’t say it was too much, but the great organizations – I’ve been in with the San Antonio Spurs, I’ve been in with the Seattle Seahawks – that culture doesn’t start with the coach. It runs right through the organization.

Eakins is alluding to the fact that the toxic culture in Edmonton starts at the top with Oilers owner, Daryl Katz, and runs rampant through the organization.

Eakins is slated to become the next head coach of the Anaheim Ducks.