Eakins to be named Marlies head coach

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to name Dallas Eakins as the new head coach of their Toronto Marlies farm team, according to several media reports.

A news conference will be held Tuesday to announce Eakins' promotion from his post as director of player development, and both the Toronto Star and GLobe and Mail are reporting that Eakins is to be introduced.

Eakins has been in the Leafs organization since he retired as a player in 2004. He was an assistant coach under Paul Maurice with both the Leafs and the American Hockey League's Marlies.
Eakins played a total of 120 NHL games, 18 of them with the Leafs in 1998-99.

Eakins will replace Greg Gilbert, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons at the helm of the Marlies.

with files from Canadian Press