Ducks update: Coaching change puts trade talk on hold

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.


There may not have been a reprieve for Anaheim Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle, who was dismissed late Wednesday night, but his firing meant at least a temporary halt to trade talk.

The larger meaning: Forward Bobby Ryan can resume exhaling and playing hockey and stop worrying about a possible relocation. He called the recent trade speculation ‘a nightmare.’

Ryan said his girlfriend was the one who told him about the coaching change, calling him in his car when he was driving home from Wednesday’s game.

‘To be honest, right off the bat, I was thinking it might be a yard sale or a fire sale, a lot of things might be changing,’ Ryan said on Thursday after the first practice under new coach Bruce Boudreau. ‘I immediately kind of looked around to see if I had any other texts or missed calls.

‘It’s almost like there’s a little relief on my part. Hopefully, this isn’t meaning that I’m going to be moved too in the future. You almost feel like you let Coach down, you let all three coaches down.’

Ryan said Ducks General Manager Bob Murray let him know that the organization would let things settle down after the coaching change.

‘A lot of times players are left in the dark and it is tough,’ Ryan said. ‘I appreciate Murph being honest with me and letting me know ahead of time, so I could focus on one thing and that’s wins for the Ducks.’

Ryan had one of the better lines about the transition from Carlyle to Boudreau.

‘There’s a little nervousness, what kind of impression you are going to make on your first day,’ he said. ‘It’s almost like a first date. But I think it went well.’

RELATED:

NHL: Pluses and minuses around the league

Helene Elliott: Ducks hope coaching change gives them boost of energy

Ducks will play first game under Coach Bruce Boudreau on Friday vs. Philadelphia

-- Lisa Dillman