Eakins named head coach of Gulls

The San Diego Gulls announced today that the American Hockey League club has named Dallas Eakins head coach.

“We are very pleased to name Dallas as head coach for our inaugural AHL season in San Diego,” said Bob Murray, Anaheim Ducks executive vice president/general manager and San Diego Gulls president of hockey operations. “He brings experience in hockey at all levels, both as a player and head coach. We feel fortunate to be able to bring him on board.”

Eakins, 48, was most recently the head coach of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers for 113 games during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Before that, Eakins was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for eight seasons. As head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies from 2009-13, Eakins accumulated a record of 157-129-26 and guided the Marlies to consecutive North Division titles in 2011-12 and 2012-13, as well as a berth in the 2012 Calder Cup Finals as the Western Conference champions.

Eakins was also a member of the coaching staffs at the 2012 and 2013 AHL All-Star Classics.

Eakins was an assistant coach with the Marlies in 2005-06 and served in the same role with the Maple Leafs for two seasons (2006-08) before spending the 2008-09 campaign as the team’s director of player development.

A 1985 draft pick by the Washington Capitals, Eakins played 120 career NHL games as a defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and New York Islanders.

The Dade City, Fla., native also suited up in 609 AHL games during his playing career, winning a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves in 2002.