Making headlines today the Anaheim Ducks have found their new head coach. General Manager Pat Verbeek announced their new bench boss will be Greg Cronin. Cronin takes over from former coach Dallas Eakins. This will help the momentum for the Ducks who are on the re-build. Furthermore, they have the number two pick in this year’s draft. Whether it is Adam Fantilli or someone else they choose, it will inject an immediate difference-maker into the lineup.
🚨NEWS🚨We have hired Greg Cronin as head coach.
Cronin brings 36 years of prior coaching and player development experience, including 12 years as an NHL assistant coach.https://t.co/EysmCe5Rvn— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) June 5, 2023
The Anaheim Ducks Name Greg Cronin Their Head Coach
The hiring of Cronin is a bit of a changing of the guard. He has never previously been a head coach at the NHL level. Now, he will be able to grow with the young crop of Duck players. He has, however, spent 12 years in the NHL as an assistant coach. This was with the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Cronin has spent the last five years at the helm of the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. One may question Cronin’s age, at 60. However, he has spent a lot of time working at the NCAA level. A claim to fame for himself is being recognized as a co-founder of the vaunted United States National Team Development Program. Therefore, he has a propensity for raising and nurturing young, talented players into well-rounded hockey players.
Cronin Will Be Developing the Youthful Core
Pat Verbeek: “Being a young team, I felt we needed a teacher of the finer points of the game and someone who has worked extensively over time with talented young players, helping them develop into successful NHL players. Greg has done all that and more.”
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) June 5, 2023
The Anaheim Ducks roster needs someone who can bring it all together. With the experience Cronin brings, he should be able to create the link that might be missing. Some veterans need to step up and help the young guys. Players like Adam Henrique (33), Ryan Strome (29), and Jakob Silfverberg (32), need to show their experience and help show their young crop the ropes. Hopefully, a coach like Cronin can bring the best out of his veterans, in turn, bring the best out of the youngsters. Players like Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras, and even Troy Terry, need to learn what it takes to become consistent, producing NHLers. If it all works out for the Ducks and Cronin, the potential for this team, and especially the forward group is sky-high. They will be a fun team to watch for years to come.
Main Photo: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
