Anaheim Ducks retain coach Bruce Boudreau, fire assistant Brad Lauer
The Anaheim Ducks retained head coach Bruce Boudreau for next season, but assistant coach Brad Lauer will not return to the team, the Ducks announced.
Earlier this month, Ducks general manager Bob Murray said he had not talked to the coaching staff as he was evaluating the entire team after Anaheim's Game 7 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals.
It was the third straight season the team lost a Game 7 playoff game at home.
"We’ve spent the last week evaluating everything from top to bottom, including all player and staff performance," Murray said in a statement. "This process is something I believe is essential each and every year, no matter the results of the season. We’ve decided to refocus and change the responsibilities of one of the assistant coach positions. “We want to thank Brad Lauer for his hard work and dedication, and we wish him the best of luck in the future."
Gutsy, talented Lightning winning hearts with Stanley Cup Final heroics
, was responsible for the team’s forwards and power play. Anaheim converted only 15.9 percent of their power play opportunities this season, ranking 28th in the NHL.
Boudreau, 60, is 162-79-29 in four seasons as Anaheim’s coach and as the Ducks won the Pacific Division for the third straight season, finishing the 2014-15 season with the top record in the Western Conference.
Boudreau has two seasons remaining on his current contract.
- Scooby Axson