There’s no denying that Dallas Eakins leaving Toronto to join the Edmonton Oilers is a big blow.  His ability to develop young players such as Nazem Kadri and Jake Gardiner was beneficial to both the Marlies and the Leafs.

In any event, the Marlies must now concentrate on finding the ideal replacement to help continue the impressive work Eakins did within the organisation.  At least they have the benefit of being able to offer the best working environment outside of the NHL, including excellent working facilities.

There are various names being floated around at the moment, such as Ryan McGill (WHL’s Kootenay Ice), Steve Spott (OHL’s Kitchener Rangers) and Dominique Ducharme (CHL’s Halifax Mooseheads)

Another aspect which should ensure no shortage of interest, is the paycheque, which increases the scope of possible candidates, including those with NHL coaching experience.  In that respect, Joe Sacco, former head coach of the Avalanche, is another possibility.

However, according to sources, the front-runner appears to be Glen Gulutzan, who was recently fired by the Dallas Stars.  While Gulutzan was unable to end the longest playoff drought in franchise history, he did have the team in contention down the stretch in each of his two seasons as head coach in Dallas.

Gulutzan went 64-57-9 during his time in charge of the Stars, a decent effort when considering the talent at his disposal.  The potential upside he displayed in Dallas is the main reason why the Marlies are intrigued by the former professional player.

When you combine this with his age (41), it becomes clearer as to why the Marlies organisation is keen to make further enquiries about Gulutzan.  The hope is to bring someone to help maintain the progress and stability that was the hallmark of Eakins tenure, while also being a potential future replacement for Randy Carlyle.

Photo credit: @IAmByks

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