[News] Flames name Geoff Ward and Ryan Huska as assistant coaches

[sureLoss]

http://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/...ime=1527370214

Brad Treliving is on the verge of announcing his assistant coaches.

Following an exhaustive search that included interviews with a vast number of candidates, the Calgary Flames GM is confident he’s found the right men.

Flames fans will be happy to hear one hire is a veteran coach with a proven track record running power plays.

The other will oversee the defensive side of things.

Expect an announcement this week.

Stockton Heat head coach Ryan Huska is still very much in the mix as part of a search that has gone on since assistants Paul Jerrard and Dave Cameron were let go with head coach Glen Gulutzan on April 17.

Also of note:

Treliving would undoubtedly like to add more speed and scoring to his lineup this summer but is hamstrung by the fact his club doesn’t have a pick in the first three rounds of next month’s NHL Entry Draft thanks to last summer’s trades for Mike Smith and Travis Hamonic.

“Would we like to add a pick? Sure, but we’re not going to trade a player just so we can stand up there Friday night,” said Treliving who spent this week meeting with his pro scouting staff to assemble their rankings for the NHL Draft on June 22 in Dallas.

Like every other GM not named McPhee or MacLellan, Treliving has been studying the style of play needed to get to the Stanley Cup final.

And this year, the formula is rather simple.

“Speed – you need speed,” he said when asked what he’s gleaned from this spring’s tourney.

“The speed and tempo has never been higher, and we’ll probably say that again next year and the year after that. But like every year, you have to be careful of it – there are certain players who can get you to the playoffs and certain players who can help you win in the playoffs. You need to have a blend, to play in all different situations.

“You need that mix of speed and skill and competitiveness.”

Also talk about how depth and toughness.

[GoJetsGo]

[jayswin]

I love how tight lipped this organization is under Treliving. The media rarely gets anything on him.

"The job is finished and we will announce it when we're ready" isn't something most teams could say without the hockey world knowing the details through rumour already.

[transplant99]

Im holding out hope that Sheldon Keefe is one of the hires. His AHL record is remarkable and he is a young guy who can relate to players a little easier. His teams are also pretty defensively solid as well.

[ForeverFlameFan]

This is very good news for the Flames.

[GranteedEV]

I have this eerie and unsettling feeling that "veteran" coach is Woodcroft. I hope not.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I have this eerie and unsettling feeling that "veteran" coach is Woodcroft. I hope not.

Nope. He's now head coach for the Oilers AHL team

[dammage79]

It's gonna the " 'Stache " Who will run the PP. I feel it in me bones.

[dissentowner]

Really hoping that vet coach for the PP is Paul MacLean.

[dammage79]

Wouldnt it be hilarious if AV was the veteran PP hire?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Wouldnt it be hilarious if AV was the veteran PP hire?

Or Dallas Eakins?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Or Dallas Eakins?

Eakins recently extended by the Gulls. He's Anaheim's problem. We're safe.

[Gaskal]

I was thinking Todd Nelson, like some have suggested in the Assistant Coaches thread.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Really hoping that vet coach for the PP is Paul MacLean.

For those curious, he was in charge of the ANA PP for 2 seasons.

2015 - PP was 1st in the league
2016 - PP was 17th in the league

Edit: Maclean left the Ducks organization at the end of the 2016 season.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by activeStick

For those curious, he was in charge of the ANA PP for 3 seasons.

2015 - PP was 1st in the league
2016 - PP was 17th in the league
2017 - PP was 23rd in the league

Not good, just based on those stats.

I thought he was only there for 2015 and 2016?

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

I thought he was only there for 2015 and 2016?

Youre right!

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I love how tight lipped this organization is under Treliving. The media rarely gets anything on him.

"The job is finished and we will announce it when we're ready" isn't something most teams could say without the hockey world knowing the details through rumour already.

Compare that to the northern tire fire, where it was no secret at all that the Oil were talking to Gulutzan and Yawney from the get go.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Hoping it's Keefe as well. The Marlies are still in the AHL playoffs, so no announcement yet.

[Rtown]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Really hoping that vet coach for the PP is Paul MacLean.

That would be a great choice, and I'm not saying that the Flames can't strike first, but I have heard that Babcock is high on DJ Smith being ready for a head coaching job, so much so that he has taken the initiative to introduce Smith to McLean so that in the off chance that Smith gets a HC gig, he'll have "a helluva vet ass't coach" (Babcock's words) to help Smith transition to HC in the NHL.

Again, a lot of if's and buts in that scenario, and like I said, here's hoping Treliving/Peters strike first on McLean.

[Strange Brew]

So does Francis know who the assistants are? Seems oddly phrased