Considering the expectations for the team this year, I would say that everyone involved in the hockey ops department should be feeling some heat and under some scrutiny. That's what a disappointing season does to an organization - and it should have that effect.
With that being said, it isn't like Treliving has shown himself to be a bumbling idiot. While I haven't agreed with every move he has made, he is nowhere close to even being considered a poor GM, or one that should perhaps be fired.
A GM should have a longer leash than a coach. He is no Peter Chiarelli here. Let's see what the off-season changes bring (as there are always some), and let's see how the team responds next season. If the Flames don't become a top team (consistent top 8 or so team in the NHL) over the course of the next few seasons, then we can start having discussions about who should be replacing Treliving.
I think the NHL is fairly cyclic. Teams rise to the top, should stay there, and then they often start fading and end up near the bottom for a while. The Flames should be one of those teams that rise to the top eventually, hopefully stay there awhile, and then like most other organizations eventually deteriorate and the cycle begins anew.
|