Ducks turn to ex-Maple Leafs, Islanders assistant Greg Cronin for head coaching job

The Anaheim Ducks have hired veteran NHL assistant and American Hockey League head coach Greg Cronin to be their new bench boss.

Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek announced the decision Monday to hire the 60-year-old Cronin, who will be a first-time NHL head coach.

Cronin has 12 years of experience as an NHL assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs and in two stints with the New York Islanders. The Massachusetts native has been the head coach of the AHL's Colorado Eagles since 2018, and he spent six years as a collegiate head coach at Northeastern.

Verbeek called Cronin "the ideal fit" to take over a young, rebuilding team.

"I felt we 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," Verbeek said. "Greg has done all that and more."

Cronin replaces Dallas Eakins, whose contract wasn't renewed in April after the Ducks finished their fourth consecutive losing season of his tenure. Anaheim finished in last place in the overall NHL standings at 23-47-12.

The Ducks never finished higher than sixth in the Pacific Division during Eakins' four years in charge. They've missed the playoffs in a franchise-record five straight seasons, and Anaheim was the NHL's worst defensive team of the 21st century by several measures during the just-completed season.

Cronin takes over a struggling team still loaded with young talent, including the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft and a wealth of farm prospects seemingly ready to break into the NHL. Anaheim has a solid long-term base with playmaking centre Trevor Zegras, two-time all-star Troy Terry and promising forward Mason McTavish.

Cronin has never led an NHL