Greg Cronin likely to return behind Eagles bench

According to sources, while nothing is concrete, the general feeling is that Colorado Eagles head coach Greg Cronin is likely to sign a new contract with the team.

Cronin, who has been the Eagles bench boss since the team made the leap to the AHL in 2018-19, is coming off his third season with the team. The 58-year-old coach was given a two-year deal back in 2018 by the Avalanche, who picked up the third-year option on his contract this past season. Cronin will need a new deal before the start of the 2021-22 campaign begins in October. 

In his three seasons behind the Colorado bench, Cronin has coached the Eagles to a 85-60-13 regular-season record, including a trip to the Calder Cup playoffs in his first season behind the bench. His Eagles looked destined for a Calder Cup run during the 2019-20 season, sporting a 34-18-4 record before covid cancelled the season.

This past year, he led his team to a 15-15-4 record, which is a decent mark when considering his job in navigating the revolving door that was the NHL-AHL taxi squad.

Cronin is a coach who preaches detail, tight-checking and accountability. His teams generally err on the side of defense, usually finishing average in terms of goals-scored, but among the top of the standings when it comes to fewest goals allowed and penalty kill. 

In his first year, the Eagles finished seventh in goals allowed and fifth in penalty kill. The following year, Colorado finished with the fourth-fewest goals allowed, and this past season, he led an Eagles team that had the league’s fourth-best PK. 

Cronin has had a hand in developing such Avalanche prospects like first-round picks Martin Kaut and Shane Bowers, and mainstay Avs like defenseman Ryan Graves and forward Logan O’Connor, both of whom rave about the work Cronin and his staff have done for them in their respective journeys to the NHL.

Colorado Hockey Now will continue to provide updates whenever available.