On Friday, the Flames announced they’ve filled their head coach vacancy with former Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks coach Glen Gulutzan.
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He will replace Bob Hartley who was sacked by the Flames shortly after the conclusion of what was a disappointing regular season in Calgary that saw the team finish in fifth place in the Pacific Division, missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years (and the third time in four years under Hartley).
Gulutzan began his coaching career in the ECHL with the Las Vegas Wranglers in 2003-04, and went on to lead the team for six seasons.
Those aren’t great figures but they’re better than the Flames’ underlying numbers during Hartley’s tenure.
Gulutzan is Treliving’s first head-coaching hire, as Hartley pre-dated Treliving’s arrival as Calgary GM.
They’ll name an assistant for Gulutzan in the coming days.
The Flames backslid 20 points in 2015-16 despite the scoring talents of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan and blue-line strength of captain Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Doug Hamilton.
Gulutzan coached the Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate for two seasons prior to his promotion to head coach of the parent club.
“It became very clear, meeting with Glen early, that this is a ideal match”, Flames general manager Brad Treliving said. “I think he can connect with all types of players”. In 2009-10, he took the AHL’s Stars to the Calder Cup finals.
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Gulutzan played in the Western Hockey League, spent six seasons with Fresno in the WCHL and played a year in Finland.
