Breaking: Anaheim Ducks Fire Greg Cronin, Big Name Floated As Replacement

Saturday, April 19, 2025

                     


Despite a 21-point improvement this season, the Anaheim Ducks have decided that head coach Greg Cronin will not be returning, as he has been relieved of his duties. 

Cronin had one year left on his contract.

He took over the Ducks in 2023-24, when they went 27-50-5 for 59 points. Cronin led them to a big improvement this season with 80 points (35-37-10), but management obviously felt that wasn't enough, as they were still a full 16 points out of a playoff spot.

As noted by Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, "They want to make the playoffs next year. I think, in their eyes, the rebuild is over, and they are going for the postseason."

“[Cronin] is responsible in many ways for the improvement we’ve seen from our young core. However, after several weeks of careful evaluation, I concluded we needed a change in direction and a new voice,” Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “This was an extremely difficult decision for me to make, but I felt it was necessary to continue our progress toward becoming a Stanley Cup contender that I know we can be.”

Verbeek, according to Friedman, had gotten some complaints about the frustrations of some young guys "who were frustrated" by their lack of ice time at times. Whether that played into the decision is unknown at this time. 

Overall, Cronin finished his two seasons at the helm in Anaheim with a 62-87-15 mark, for a .424 points percentage.

There's already one big name that's being floated as a potential replacement:

University of Denver head coach David Carle will be heavily in demand by young teams with some nice pieces in place, and the Ducks certainly fit that profile. 

Photo: © James Guillory-Imagn Images

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