Anaheim Ducks hire former Calgary Flames head coach Geoff Ward

The Anaheim Ducks are adding former Calgary Flames head coach Geoff Ward to their staff.

Ward will take on the role of special assistant to head coach Dallas Eakins — a role formerly held by Darryl Sutter, who took over as Calgary’s head coach.

Ward, 59, posted a 35-26-5 record behind the bench with the Flames over the last two seasons, but the club failed to meet expectations in either campaign. Calgary stumbled to a 11-11-2 start this past year before Ward was let go and Sutter was brought in on a three-year contract.

This year the Anaheim Ducks were the second-worst team in the league with both a 17-30-9 record and a -53 goal differential.

In late May, Ducks GM Bob Murray said both he and Eakins would return to the organization in 2021.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.