Ducks hire Randy Carlyle for second stint as head coach

ANAHEIM — In an attempt to sit atop hockey’s mountaintop again, the Ducks have tued back to the coach who made that climb the first time.

The team officially hired Randy Carlyle as its coach Tuesday, giving the Stanley Cup wier a second stint with the franchise. Carlyle succeeds Bruce Boudreau, who took Carlyle’s place behind the Ducks’ bench in the fall of 2011.

Carlyle, 60, captured the Cup with the Ducks in 2007 and is the franchise’s wiingest coach, going 273-182-61 in six-plus seasons.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to come back to Anaheim and rejoin the organization that gave me my first opportunity as an NHL head coach,” Carlyle said in a statement. “I’ve followed this team closely for the last couple of years and am familiar with the core group. I believe this team can win immediately and I can’t wait to get started.”

In the same team-released statement, Ducks general manager Bob Murray said he believes his team is still a title contender and Carlyle is the one to push them over the top.

“A proven wier and motivator, Randy has expertly managed the bench throughout his coaching career,” Murray said. “Our expectations are extremely high, and I believe Randy is the coach who can lead us to playoff success and our ultimate goal, the Stanley Cup.”

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