Last season Glen Gulutzan led the Calgary Flames to just their second postseason berth in eight years. By all accounts he did an excellent job coaching that franchise back to relevance.
But this spring the Flames missed the bracket with a 37-35-10 record, so the team kicked him and his assistants out the door Tuesday.
“The shortcomings of our season are not solely placed on the three coaches today,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said during a late afternoon news conference. “There is lots of blame to go around.”
Yeah, but Treliving is staying put and Gulutzan is gone after posting a 82-68-14 record in two seasons for the Flames.
This season a host of factors — including costly injuries to center Sean Monahan, winger Matthew Tkachuk, goaltender Mike Smith and defenseman T.J. Brodie — held the Flames back in the brisk Western Conference playoff race.
The Flames brought in destined Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, but injuries and advancing age rendered the shaggy winger useless. So like Treliving said, there is lots of blame to go around.
CALGARY JOINS THE COACHING SEARCH
The Flames have joined the New York Rangers (Alain Vigneault fired) and Dallas Stars (Ken Hitchcock retired) is seeking a head coach.
Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion is pondering whether to cashier coach Guy Boucher, so that job may open up as well.
So where will Treliving turn for his next coach? He wants somebody who has done it before. “Having experience in the league is critical,” he told reporters.
PROVEN COACHES AVAILABLE FOR HIRE
Vigneault is an obvious candidate for this opening and Dallas. Dave Tippett did a fine job coaching the Arizona Coyotes when Treliving was assistant GM there. During training camp last fall Tippett did some consulting work with the St. Louis Blues to stay in the loop.
Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters could opt out of his current job and make the jump, given his tenuous position with that franchise after its ownership change. NBC Sports notes that he worked with Treliving in the 2016 World Championships.
Some experts wonder in Treliving has already lined him up.
Might former Los Angeles Kings Darryl Sutter be interested in returning to the bench? that will be another familiar name to track during the days ahead.
