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The Anaheim Ducks are keeping head coach Dallas Eakins in charge next year for his fourth season with the struggling club.
The Ducks are picking up Eakins' contract option for the 2022-23 season, new general manager Pat Verbeek announced Tuesday.
The Ducks are finishing up their third consecutive losing season under Eakins, who got the job in June 2019. Anaheim is 29-33-12 heading into its game at Florida on Tuesday night.
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Los Angeles, CA - November 30: Head coach Dallas Eakins of the Anaheim Ducks looks on against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
The Ducks were in the Western Conference playoff picture this season until the All-Star break, when they began a 6-17-3 skid that has all but guaranteed they'll miss the postseason for a franchise-record fourth consecutive year.
"Dallas has done this job under difficult circumstances and deserves the opportunity to continue coaching this team," Verbeek said in a statement. "We are pleased he will be returning and look forward to a promising 2022-23 season."
Verbeek has decided not to make an immediate coaching change after taking over the franchise just two months ago. Verbeek replaced longtime GM Bob Murray, who resigned amid misconduct allegations.
Verbeek also made Eakins' current job harder at the trade deadline when he shipped out four veteran contributors: defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson and forwards Rickard Rakell and Nic Deslauriers.
Eakins is just the third permanent head coach of the Ducks since billionaire Henry Samueli bought the team in 2005. Randy Carlyle led Anaheim to its only Stanley Cup title, while Bruce Boudreau won four consecutive Pacific Division titles during 4 1/2 seasons of sustained success.