Edmonton Oilers bring Dallas Eakins on board as Head Coach – NHL news
Considering himself not to have ever been as good a player in the National Hockey League (NHL) as he should have been, Dallas Eakins was sure that he would become a coach in the major league one day and perform much better in that capacity.
Eakins was formally announced as the new head coach of the Edmonton Oilers by the general manager Craig MacTavish on Monday.
Despite having played just 120 games throughout his career as a player in the NHL with teams like the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders and Calgary Flames, Eakins
is confident of his coaching abilities.
Not having played as much gave Eakins the ability to learn the game. Being with so many teams after he was drafted as the 208th overall during round-10 of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by Washington Capitals, Eakins has certainly picked up more than most players.
“Roger Neilson told me on many occasions my mark in the NHL would be made as a coach, because I wasn't a very good player,” said Eakins. “Go down the list, every one of them, I watched things and I've shook my head and gone, 'That does not work,' and I've
nodded my head and taken note of what does. I guess I'm a little bit of a hybrid. There are a lot of pieces there.”
His previous stint with coaching was being an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies, the minor league affiliate of the Maple Leafs in the American Hockey League (AHL). He became head coach of the AHL team in 2009 and gave the team 157 wins in four seasons
along with an appearance in the Calder Cup Final. He has also served as an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs.
After a couple of meetings with Dallas Eakins, GM Craig MacTavish is confident that he will be able to guide the Edmonton Oilers out of the mess they currently are in.
“During the course of that meeting, I felt right away in listening to Dallas that his skill set would be better served in a primary role with our coaching staff than a secondary role,” MacTavish said. “I ruled out any chance of us obtaining him for a secondary
position.”
It was back in 2005-2006 that the Edmonton club was able to make the playoffs, but at that time, MacTavish himself was coach. Dallas Eakins certainly has a lot of expectations, which should be seen in the next hockey season.
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