SportDucks' GM Bob Murray takes over as interim head coach, was only 'fair' decision

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"I don't think it would be fair to put anyone else in this position right now," Anaheim Ducks executive vice president and general manager, and now newly-appointed interim head coach, Bob Murray said Sunday on a conference call with reporters.

Murray assumed the role after the team announced it fired the winningest coach in Ducks history, Randy Carlyle, earlier in the day.

"I felt I needed to be in the trenches," Murray said. "I talked to enough people where I know this is the right move for our organization right now. This is the only way for me to determine what the problems are."

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Anaheim Ducks Executive Vice President/ General Manager Bob Murray , right, is seen at the news conference to announce the hiring of former Coach Randy With that established, Murray delved into how they will go about getting faster. Pure speed matters and the Ducks ’ GM didn’t question that.

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Carlyle leaves Murray with a team that has lost seven consecutive games and sits at the bottom of the Pacific division with a 21–26–9 record.

"What bothered me the most was the lack of emotion, the lack of pushback," he noted. "This has always been a pride team and it's gone away, it's not there."

As we prepare for our three-game homestand, Bob Murray leads practice @the_rinks - Anaheim ICE. pic.twitter.com/MlcTjPEVJF

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) February 10, 2019

The 2014 NHL General Manager of the Year, Murray has worked in NHL front offices since 1991 but has never taken on the position of head coach before. In fact, he has never coached at any pro level.

He said the decision to personally take over came from the advice he received from other executives.

Ducks fire coach Randy Carlyle amid 7-game losing streak

The Anaheim Ducks have fired coach Randy Carlyle amid a seven-game losing streak. The Ducks say general manager Bob Murray will take over as interim coach for the remainder of the regular season. Anaheim will name a new coach following the season. The winningest coach in Ducks history, the 62-year-old Carlyle was in his second stint with Anaheim. The Ducks have lost 19 of the last 21 games.

The Anaheim Ducks are an American professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The franchise was founded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company as the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

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"We've got problems here and they've got to be fixed," said Murray, who won the 2007 Stanley Cup with the Ducks. "Some real wise GM's told me 'You should go behind the bench just so you know what coaches go through.'

"This is my job and I'm looking forward to finding out what the issues are."

As the long-tenured GM commented on the call, he must now find out if the team currently has players with the proper leadership skills to get the team back on track.

"Not everyone has leadership capabilities," Murray insinuated, considering his roster is bolstered by Ryan Getzlaf and Adam Henrique. "There are leaders and there are followers. I got too many guys following and I think there should be people leading here. One of the biggest things I have to determine here is if I have people that can do that. I thought we did and I haven't given up on them, but I'm obviously very worried."

The Ducks will play their first game with Murray at the helm Feb. 13 at home against Vancouver. He does expect to feel the pressure when the Canucks come to town.

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"I think Wednesday night is going to be interesting and I'm sure I'll be very nervous," the first-time bench boss said. "I'll be very focused on watching my players."