Randy Carlyle appears to be heading back to Anaheim.

According to ESPN’s John Buccigross, candidates for the Anaheim Ducks‘ head coaching job are being told Carlyle will be the organizations’ choice.

Bucci Mane on Twitter



Travis Green, Dale Hunter and Rick Bowness have reportedly been interviewed by the Ducks in recent weeks.

If Carlyle is hired, he will replace Bruce Boudreau and return to the team that he won a Stanley Cup with in 2007. He coached the Ducks from 2005-06 until 2011-12 when he was replaced mid-season by Boudreau. Carlyle coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for parts of four seasons, making the playoffs once in 2013. He was fired mid-season in 2014-15 and has been inactive in the NHL since.

In Saturday’s 30 Thoughts column, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman wrote about the Ducks’ coaching vacancy.

Dale Hunter declined the opportunity to interview with the Anaheim Ducks, but do not underestimate his chances for that job if he had. When these coaching searches end, I surmise we’re going to find out the interview pool was deeper than we realized. My suspicion is the finalists in Anaheim and Calgary include some unfamiliar names. For the Ducks, my guess is that list includes Randy Carlyle, Travis Green and Rick Bowness. Word is they are getting close to a decision. For the Flames, it includes Glen Gulutzan and Mike Yeo.

Mike Yeo was hired by the St. Louis Blues Monday as an associate coach who will assume the head coach position when Ken Hitchcock presumably retires at the end of next season. Hitchcock has said 2016-17 will be his last in the NHL.

According to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register, Ducks GM Bob Murray is on record saying that he aims to have a new coach in place by June 24.

Eric Stephens on Twitter



The Ducks were ousted in the first round of the 2016 playoffs by the Nashville Predators in seven games. Boudreau has since been hired as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild.

Carlyle’s coaching record in Anaheim was 230-155-49 while going 27-19 in the postseason.

The Calgary Flames remain the only team without a head coach.