EDMONTON- Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish announced Dallas Eakins as the team’s new head coach in a news conference Monday afternoon.
“I’m pleased to announce we were able to formalize that relationship with Dallas,” said MacTavish.
MacTavish explained when he spoke with Eakins in Toronto, he felt the former head coach of the Toronto Marlies (AHL) was better suited for a “primary leadership role,” rather than a secondary, associate coaching role.
MacTavish said he was “amazed at how unflappable he’s been,” and added it’s “incredible how he’s handled this situation.”
Eakins is the fourth coach in the past five seasons for the Oilers, who have not made the playoffs since reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2006.
The 46-year-old Eakins spent the past four seasons with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, reaching the Calder Cup final in 2012. He was also an assistant under Paul Maurice with the Maple Leafs for two seasons.
Eakins said his focus for the team will be building competitive hockey players.
“This isn’t about winning one game or winning one season. This is about putting a foundation in place, that we’re bringing this organization back.”
Eakins said he has often made career decisions based on what is best for his family, but this one was slightly different.
“This one… we looked at obviously what we thought would work for the family, but it was a hockey decision this time.”
“The atmosphere was one that I knew I could work with,” he added. “The pieces that are currently in place with this team excite me. It definitely is a team that has potential to do some special things.”
On Saturday, Edmonton Oilers general manager announced the team was letting go head coach Ralph Krueger.
MacTavish said he spoke with Krueger Friday and advised him he was going to be making “a head coaching change with our hockey club.”
Krueger’s Oilers went 19-22-7 during his one season as head coach.
With files from the Canadian Press
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