The world of professional hockey is rarely short on drama, but few stories have unfolded with as much intrigue as the recent departure of Greg Cronin from the Anaheim Ducks. Once seen as a guiding force for a young, rebuilding team, Cronin’s tenure came to an abrupt end amid a storm of criticism and controversy. As the Ducks continue to search for their identity both on and off the ice, questions now swirl around the circumstances of Cronin’s exit—and the role the media may have played in shaping his fate.

In the wake of his dismissal, Cronin has not remained silent. Instead, he’s turned the spotlight back on the media, challenging the narratives that surrounded his time in Anaheim and calling out what he believes to be unfair and damaging portrayals of his leadership. With the dust still settling, both fans and analysts are left to wonder: Was Cronin simply a casualty of a rebuilding franchise’s growing pains, or did the relentless scrutiny from the press ultimately seal his fate? As the Ducks look to the future, Cronin’s story serves as a stark reminder of the complex relationship between coaches, teams, and the ever-watchful eyes of the media.

Former Anaheim Ducks Head Coach Greg Cronin.

Photo credit: Sportsnet

Greg Cronin was recently fired by the Anaheim Ducks, and now he’s fired shots at the media for the way he was represented as the teams Head Coach.

While the Anaheim Ducks took some steps forward in 2024/25, they still struggled to remain in contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and as a result, the team quickly parted ways with Head Coach Greg Cronin.

That came amidst plenty of criticism for Cronin, who was called out by the media for being old-school, with many that knew of the situation claiming that it wasn’t a good time to be in the Ducks locker room.

Now, the veteran Head Coach has fired back at those reports, specifically naming the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast as one of many media outlets that have maliciously represented him and what he stood for with the Ducks.

I got bounced around by Spittin’ Chiclets – I was like a soccer ball. I don’t know what motivated it or where it came from. I was maliciously represented by the media at times.

While there was plenty to criticize Cronin for, it is safe to say that plenty of people in the media took those criticisms further than expected, and whether or not they contributed to his perception in Anaheim among the fans and the front office, we may never know, but it may have certainly contributed to his firing.

Cronin would help this young team take steps forward, with players like Leo Carlsson and Mason McTavish stepping up to become crucial pieces of this Ducks future, but ultimately, the franchise wanted to go in a different direction, and now that’s left Cronin looking for a new role in 2025/26 and beyond.