Report: Boudreau's job with Ducks safe for next season

Bruce Boudreau can rest easy.

The head coach of the Anaheim Ducks, who failed to advance to the Stanley Cup after losing Game 7 of the Western Conference Final to the Chicago Blackhawks, will return to the team's bench next season, reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.

There has been speculation about the fate of Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau, but we understand that he is safe. And frankly, I don't think he was ever in trouble.

General manager Bob Murray raised eyebrows when he told local media in Anaheim that he needed time to think, but I think that was taken out of context. Like any other GM after an emotional seven-game series in the conference finals, he just needed time to collect his thoughts. He's evaluating everything from top to bottom, period, players included.

In any case, Boudreau will return behind the bench next season.

LeBrun later strengthened his words on TSN's "Insider Trading." "There has been a lot of speculation about Bruce Boudreau in Anaheim after the way in which that series ended, but there really shouldn't have been, as it was never in doubt that Bruce Boudreau will be back behind the bench of the Anaheim Ducks," Lebrun said.

The 60-year-old bench boss has never advanced to the final in his NHL coaching career and became the first head coach in NHL history to lose a Game 7 six times after Saturday's loss to the Blackhawks.

Anaheim finished atop the Western Conference standings with 109 points in the regular season and didn't lose a regulation contest in the postseason until their series with Chicago.