Former Edmonton Oilers coach Dallas Eakins was named today as the first coach of the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League.
The hiring returns Eakins to the AHL, where he guided the Toronto Marlies to the 2012 Calder Cup Final, the league’s championship series. Eakins was a defenseman with the Calder Cup champion 2001-02 Chicago Wolves.
Eakins coached the Oilers to a 36-63-14 record from the start of the 2013-14 season until being fired 31 games into the 2014-15 season after Edmonton got off to a 7-19-5 start.
Eakins “brings experience in hockey at all levels, both as a player and head coach,” said Bob Murray, the executive vice president/general manager of the Gulls’ NHL parent, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Gulls’ president of hockey operations.
Eakins was also an assistant coach with the Marlies in the 2005-2006 season and with the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs from 2006-2008.
— City News Service