SOURCES: Avs to hire Islanders assistant as Colorado Eagles head coach

While it hasn’t been yet been made public, the Avalanche has decided on a new head coach of the Colorado Eagles, their new American Hockey League affiliate, BSN Denver has learned: 

That person is Greg Cronin, a former assistant coach with the New York Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs. Cronin will serve as head coach of the Eagles, while former Eagles head coach Aaron Schneekloth will stay on as an assistant coach, as will Ryan Tobler.

A formal announcement is expected soon.

Cronin, 55, has had a long career in coaching, including a stint from 1990-93 as an assistant at Colorado College. He had two assistant coaching stints with the Islanders, including last season. He coached Northeastern from 2005-11, and has also coached at Maine. He played college hockey at Colby College in the 1980s.

The Eagles are making the jump from the ECHL, where they finished as two-time defending Kelly Cup champions under Schneekloth, to the AHL. The Avalanche make the big hockey operations moves for the Eagles now, though former Eagles front office staff has been retained.

The Eagles begin their next season Oct. 5 at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland against the Chicago Wolves.