Just 11 days after Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish gave a press conference where he stated that he believed in the team’s head coach Dallas Eakins, and that changes on that front were not imminent, the team has changed course. Eakins was given his walking papers as the second year head coach has become the scape goat for the Oilers poor play this season and inability to get out of the NHL’s basement despite numerous high draft picks on the roster.
Darren Dreger of TSN was the first with the news.
Sources say Dallas Eakins has been fired at head coach of the Oilers. Details to follow.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 15, 2014
Sources say Dallas Eakins has been fired at head coach of the Oilers. Details to follow.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 15, 2014
The Oilers are currently last in the entire NHL with just 19 points this season on a 7-19-5 record. Their seven victories this season are also worst in the NHL, one behind the Carolina Hurricanes who sit tied with the Oilers in points. The Hurricanes are ahead due to the fact that they have played two less games.
The Oilers broke an 11 game losing streak last week with a win over the San Jose Sharks last Sunday. However the team followed that up with three straight losses including last nights 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers at home. With just one win in their last fifteen games, something had to give in Edmonton, and at this point that something is Dallas Eakins’ job. That said, further changes including trades and/or a reassessment of management could be on the horizon if this does not result in an improvement for Edmonton.
Eakins has two years remaining on his contract, and the Oilers remain on the hook to pay him during that time.
There are reports that Craig MacTavish will serve as interim head coach. Whether that is for a few games or for the remainder of the season, remains to be seen. Elliotte Freidman of Rogers Sportsnet is speculating that Todd Nelson, the head coach of the Oilers AHL affiliate, could be added to the coaching staff in some capacity. The Oilers next game is Tuesday against the Arizona Coyotes.
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