The Ducks should fire Randy Carlyle as their coach after an embarrassing loss Friday to the Pittsburgh Penguins, which extended their franchise-record losing streak to 10 consecutive games heading into a five-game cross-country trip that begins Sunday.

The Ducks shouldn’t fire Carlyle because the timing is all wrong for a midseason shakeup in an organization that’s already in the midst of a transition from an elite team to one that’s restructuring on the fly. These things never work as intended. Look at the Kings, Blackhawks, Blues and Oilers.

They should fire him because their streak of six consecutive playoff berths is in real jeopardy.

They shouldn’t fire him because they’d be better off missing the playoffs this season.

They should fire him because the players need a swift kick in the pants.

They shouldn’t fire him because the 10-game skid isn’t on him but on the players.

They should fire him and replace him immediately with Dallas Eakins, coach of their successful AHL team in San Diego. Eakins has done a fine job nurturing the Ducks’ many prospects in recent seasons with the Gulls and deserves another chance at an NHL coaching job.

They shouldn’t fire him and promote Eakins because it might solve one problem in Anaheim but create another in San Diego. Eakins should get another shot in the NHL after a disastrous stint in Edmonton several years ago, but it’s better to wait until season’s end and avoid the disruption.

The Ducks should fire Carlyle because the players haven’t mastered the new NHL’s speed game.

The Ducks shouldn’t fire Carlyle because the players haven’t mastered the new style of play.

They should fire him because he’s a dinosaur and has failed to adapt.

They shouldn’t fire him because he’s not a dinosaur and he has adapted.

They should fire him because he’s lost the team.

They shouldn’t fire him because he hasn’t lost the team.

They should fire him because the fans are demanding a change.

They shouldn’t fire him just because the fans are upset.

They should fire him because everyone around the league believes he should be canned.

They shouldn’t fire him just because everyone around the league believes it’s the thing to do.

The Ducks should fire Carlyle because there are better candidates ready, willing and able to jump back into coaching after they were let go earlier this season. Joel Quenneville is available. Todd McLellan is available. John Stevens is available.

The Ducks should not fire Carlyle just because Quenneville, McLellan and Stevens could be next in line. Quenneville will likely want too much money and wish to coach a team that’s closer to a Stanley Cup than the Ducks. McLellan and Stevens might not be good fits either.

They should fire Carlyle because sometimes the message is right but the messenger is wrong.

They shouldn’t fire Carlyle because the messenger is delivering the right message.

They should fire him because you can’t fire the players, so you fire the coach.

They shouldn’t fire him because maybe changes to the roster are in order. Big changes.

They should fire him because they shouldn’t just kiss off a season when it’s only January.

They shouldn’t fire him because the season is still in play and because it’s only January.

They should fire him before the winning culture they’ve built over the years is destroyed.

They shouldn’t fire him because one season doesn’t make or break a franchise. Related Articles NHL, players unveil series of anti-racism initiatives

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They should fire him because he’s too old to relate to the young players on the roster.

They shouldn’t fire him because he does seem to have the rookies’ ears.

They should fire him because, other than goalie John Gibson, who’s having a good season?

They shouldn’t fire him because they’ve had too many injuries to gauge their success or failure.

The Ducks should fire Carlyle.

The Ducks shouldn’t fire Carlyle.