May 08--Coach Bruce Boudreau, fired by the Ducks on April 29 following the team's first-round playoff elimination, wasn't out of work for long.
The Minnesota Wild announced Saturday that it had agreed to terms with Boudreau, 61, to take over its coaching job. Those terms were not disclosed, but Bob McKenzie of Canada's TSN said the deal is for four years at almost $3 million a year.
Boudreau -- who briefly played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Assn. -- is scheduled to appear at a news conference Tuesday in Saint Paul.
Boudreau led the Ducks to a fourth straight Pacific Division title this season, overcoming a terrible start by orchestrating a switch to a defense-first philosophy. Scoring eventually came, and the Ducks passed the Kings for the division title on the final day of the regular season.
However, his fate was sealed when the Ducks lost their first-round playoff series to the Nashville Predators by squandering a 3-2 series lead and losing a Game 7 at home for the fourth straight season. They lost to Detroit in the first round in 2013, the Kings in the second round in 2014, and to the Chicago Blackhawks in the West final in 2015.
After his dismissal he was courted by several teams, including the Ottawa Senators and the Wild, who lost in the first round of the playoffs this season to the top-seeded Dallas Stars. Boudreau had one season left on his contract with the Ducks, but they will not receive any compensation, per a league policy change that took effect on Jan. 1.
Boudreau has a regular-season record of 409-192-80 (.659) in nine seasons as an NHL head coach with the Ducks and the Washington Capitals and has guided teams to eight division titles. He needed the fewest games in NHL history to reach 400 wins, 663 games. He is 41-39 in eight trips to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Ducks issued a statement when news of Boudreau's new job became official.
"On behalf of the club, congratulations to Bruce and the Minnesota Wild," said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. "Although coaching changes are extremely difficult, we felt that Bruce would be back behind the bench quickly. Everyone in the organization is very pleased he's getting another deserved opportunity."
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