Dallas Eakins Fired by Oilers: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

On the heels of a horrid start to the season that has seen the team win just seven of its first 31 games and earn 19 points, tied for the worst in the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers have reportedly decided to part ways with head coach Dallas Eakins.   

Darren Dreger of TSN has the report:

General manager Craig MacTavish will have his work cut out for him turning this season around. He already spent eight seasons managing the club from 2000 to 2009, leading the team to the playoffs twice in that span and the Stanley Cup Final in 2005-06.

McTavish later spoke about the decision, via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News:

I's not hard to see why the Oilers felt a change was needed.

Eakins went 29-44-9 in his first season at the helm last year, the third-worst record in the NHL, and things further deteriorated this season, including a stretch where the Oilers lost 11 straight games.

While the postseason is out of the question for the Oilers, finishing the season by playing competitive hockey is not.