ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Ducks announced Thursday that the club has signed head coach Bruce Boudreau to a two-year contract extension through the 2014-15 NHL season. Boudreau was originally under contract with Anaheim through 2012-13. Per club policy, financial terms were not disclosed.
“Since joining the organization last November, Bruce has done an outstanding job with the team,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. “He’s committed to us and determined to lead us back to the playoffs.”
Boudreau, 57 (1/9/55), was named the eighth head coach in team history on Nov. 30, 2011 and led the Ducks to a 27-23-8 record in 58 games last season, including a 24-15-6 mark in 2012 that ranked fifth in the Western Conference. All-time, Boudreau has compiled a 228-111-48 record in 387 career NHL games with Anaheim and Washington for a .651 win percentage. Since making his debut as a head coach with Washington on Nov. 23, 2007, Boudreau is tied with Detroit’s Mike Babcock for the most standings points earned (504), while ranking second in wins (228, one behind Babcock).
“I’m really happy about this,” said Boudreau. “I’m convinced we have a great core of players and a bright future, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
As head coach of the Washington Capitals (2007-11), Boudreau won the 2007-08 Jack Adams Award (NHL Coach of the Year) and led his club to the 2009-10 Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top club in the regular season. He posted a record of 201-88-40 (.672 winning percentage) with the Capitals and won the Southeast Division four times. Boudreau became the fastest coach in modern-day NHL history to win 200 games (Nov. 21, 2011 vs. Phoenix) and recorded more wins (184) in his first 300 NHL games than any NHL coach all time.
Before joining the Capitals, Boudreau spent nine seasons as an AHL head coach, including a Calder Cup championship with the Hershey Bears in 2006. He spent four years with Manchester (Los Angeles) and two with Lowell (Los Angeles) before joining Hershey (Washington). He compiled a 103-45-27 record with the Bears, including an AHL-best 51-17-12 in 2006-07. Boudreau began his coaching career in the Colonial Hockey League with Muskegon in 1992-93 and was named the International Hockey League Coach of the Year in 1993-94 with Fort Wayne. He also served as head coach and director of hockey operations for Mississippi (ECHL), where he won the 1999 Kelly Cup championship.
Boudreau played parts of eight NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks between 1976-86, recording 28-42=70 points in 141 career games. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Boudreau was originally selected by the Maple Leafs in the third round of the 1975 NHL Entry Draft. As a Canadian junior playing for the Toronto Marlboros in 1974-75, he scored 68-97=165 points, a Canadian Hockey League record until Wayne Gretzky surpassed the mark during the 1977-78 season. Boudreau also ranks 11th all-time in scoring in AHL history with 316 goals and 799 points. No AHL player in the 1980s notched more points than Boudreau. He won the 1987-88 John B. Sollenberger Trophy for leading the league in scoring, and was also a member of the 1992 Calder Cup champion Adirondack Red Wings.
