(Anaheim) The Anaheim Ducks have hired Greg Cronin as head coach, California organization general manager Pat Verbeek announced in a statement Monday.

The duration of the agreement, as well as the value of it, are unknown at this time. Cronin, 60, has never managed an NHL club.

However, he has 36 years of experience in the hockey world, including 12 as an assistant coach in the NHL. Cronin has also coached the Colorado Avalanche’s farm club, the Colorado Eagles, for the past five seasons.

Verbeek called Cronin “an ideal candidate to lead a young, rebuilding team.

“I felt like we needed a teacher to develop specific aspects of our game, and someone who has worked with young players for a long time, so that they develop and establish themselves in the NHL. , mentioned Verbeek. Greg accomplished all of this and more. »

In Colorado, Cronin has overseen the development of many players in the Avalanche organization, including three who contributed to winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 (Alex Newhook, Logan O’Connor and Pavel Francouz).

“I’m excited and honored to be the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks,” Cronin said. This team has a bright future, and I want to thank the Samueli family (owners of the Ducks) and Pat Verbeek for this great opportunity. »

The American from Arlington, Massachusetts, also held an assistant coaching position with the American team at three World Championships (1997, 2011 and 2012). Cronin also served as an assistant coach with Team USA at the World Junior Hockey Championships in 1997 and 1998, including helping the USA win silver in 1997.

The Ducks announced in April that Dallas Eakins would not be back behind the team bench after four seasons. The Ducks also finished 31st and last in the NHL by virtue of their 23-47-12 record in 2022-2023.

The California team has never finished beyond sixth place in the Pacific Section under Eakins. The Ducks missed the playoffs for the fifth straight year, a franchise record, and they became the NHL’s worst defensive team of the 21st century in many ways.

Cronin will therefore lead a club in difficulty, but which has many promising young players, including the second choice of the next NHL draft. The Ducks are also a hotbed of talent, including center Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry and Mason McTavish.

Cronin became the Ducks’ fourth permanent head coach since Disney brought the team to Henry and Susan Samueli in 2005, following Randy Carlyle, Bruce Boudreau and Eakins.