Movie buff Bruce Boudreau thought of “Moneyball” after the news was handed to him. Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane, played by actor Brad Pitt, told his top lieutenant in blunt terms that emotion can’t be involved when someone has to be put out of a job.

Boudreau knew when the final seconds ticked off and another Game 7 home loss was in the books that his future as coach of the Ducks was in jeopardy. Two days later, he was asked by General Manager Bob Murray to meet with him at Honda Center.

“When I came in, I knew what was happening,” Boudreau told the Register on Monday. “When I got the call, I knew it wasn’t just for another meeting. So it was quick. But it was very heartfelt.

“I don’t think any GM is happy that they have to make that decision. But he thought it was the best thing to do at this time and he did it.”

Boudreau was indeed out of a job. Given that his team was expected to mount a serious challenge for the Stanley Cup and was knocked out in the first round, the veteran bench boss was not surprised that Murray cut him loose.

Losses in Game 7 for four consecutive years – and losses in all the Game 6s when the Ducks held 3-2 series leads – were simply too many.

“I always had the sense that something was going to happen unless we actually won the Cup,” Boudreau said in his first comments since his firing. “The worrywart in me is always worried about that. I didn’t know where it would go. I had let some people know that it was great working with them before it happened. And I thought it was going to happen.

“Quite frankly, I’m glad Bob did it when he did it and not waited too long. I thought that was pretty classy. It wasn’t not expected. We expected a lot from us on our team and I expected a lot from me. And we didn’t get to where we wanted to be.”

Boudreau, 61, said he held no ill will toward Murray or anyone else in the organization and was thankful the Ducks did not make a change after their horrendous 1-7-2 start and last-place standing at the Christmas holiday break.

“Quite frankly, I’m really happy he stuck with me through October, November and December and gave me a chance to help turn the team around,” Boudreau said. “And then when we did that, things were going pretty good from Christmas on.”

With a 409-192-80 record and eight division titles over nine seasons with Washington and Anaheim, Boudreau is already a hot commodity on the NHL coaching market. Minnesota GM Chuck Fletcher has reportedly asked for permission to speak to Boudreau. Ottawa has a vacancy and could make him a top candidate.

Boudreau wouldn’t say whether he’s talked with either team but acknowledged he has fielded interest.

“I’ve had a couple conversations,” he said. “I can’t delve into it right now. Let’s put it this way, this is why my voice is so bad. I couldn’t talk at all Sunday. I’ve been on the phone all day Frdiay and Saturday. For 15 hours a day, it was pretty crazy.

“Whether it was the support of people talking to me about different things, it was pretty crazy. And fairly exciting.”

Boudreau said he had no regrets in decisions made in the playoff loss to Nashville. Looking back, he felt he was right in starting John Gibson in goal and giving him another shot in Game 2 before turning to Frederik Andersen. He put Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry back together during Games 6 and 7 but felt the Ducks were at their best and deepest when apart.

And as he remained comfortable with his choices, the coach also didn’t feel his players failed him.

“All a coach can do is ask them to give their best,” Boudreau said. “Sometimes their best doesn’t work out. … They poured everything into it. they played with emotions and they played with pride. I can never complain that they never did their jobs or anything. I can’t do that.

“I believe they gave it everything they had and it just wasn’t good enough right now.”

One thing is clear about his immediate future. Boudreau wants to jump right back into the fire. He’d rather look at the openings that are available now than sit back and see which jobs could be there after the 2016-17 season begins.

“I’ve always worked,” Boudreau said. “Since I was 17 years old, there was never a time I never had a job. In the hockey jobs when I’ve gotten fired, I’ve tried to get back into work right away. Sometimes it’s been fortunate. One time I had to wait for five months. At the same time, I was pumped up to get another job.

“I love the game. I love the people involved in the game. There’s no place I’d rather be than a hockey arena. I just know that’s me.”

Contact the writer: estephens@ocregister.com