Who should the Flames hire as the new head coach?

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Treliving stated that him going to Worlds will have no affect on his search for a new coach.

I thought I actually heard Burke say the opposite when making the case that it would be Brad's hire, that some of his guys would do preliminary interviews but key interviews would wait until Brad is back. But hazy sleep deprived memory right now...

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by edslunch

The fact that he wasn't fired may mean he wasn't the problem

He coached the 30th ranked PK all season and that's not a problem?

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

He coached the 30th ranked PK all season and that's not a problem?

It's a huge problem, which makes it puzzling why he wasn't let go too. Maybe he was following Hartley's orders?

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by edslunch

It's a huge problem, which makes it puzzling why he wasn't let go too. Maybe he was following Hartley's orders?

It's just tough for me to believe Gelinas just stood there while Hartley coached for him. Doesnt add up.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Fire

If it wasn't for Jankowski and Gillies, 99% of people here wouldn't recognize the name. Jumping from coaching in college to the NHL is a big jump. If the Flames are looking for a rookie NHL coach I would rather them go after an AHL coach like Travis Green.

I agree it is a big jump, but...

Let's take a quick look at Nate Leaman:

Won the NCAA championship as an assistant coach with Maine in 1999.

8 seasons at Union as head coach. Built that program up into one of the very best programs in the entire NCAA. ECAC coach of the year in his final 2 seasons there. In his last season at Union, he also won the Spencer Penrose Awared (Best coach in NCAA Division 1) - 2010-11.

Moved over to Providence (which hasn't been a good program). Here is where most of 'us' are familiar with. Of course he won the NCAA championship. Named the USCHO coach of the year that championship year. He is widely respected as one of the very best coaches in the entire NCAA.

Let's compare him to who is widely thought of as the NHL's best coach - Mike Babcock - before his shot at being an NHL head coach.

3 years with Red Deer College. Won the Provincial Collegiate Championship once. Named Coach of the year.

Moved over to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL - 2 losing seasons, but placing 6th and 8th in the eastern standings.

After that, he moved over the University of Lethbridge for one season. It was a hell of a season - they unexpectedly won the CIS championship, and he was named coach of the year.

Moved back to the WHL, and experienced a lot more success this time around. Was with the Spokane Chiefs - some really good seasons, some really poor seasons (as to be expected with any Junior club really). Overall record was good - .564 winning percentage over 6 full seasons. No championships, but was named West Division coach of the year twice.

Then he finally went to the AHL - only for 2 seasons. 1 very good season, 1 above average season. Made the playoffs both years, but that was it.

Now, I don't think Babcock's resume is more impressive than Nate Leaman's before he got his first NHL head coaching gig - one where he led Anaheim to the finals. NCAA is a superior league to CIS and Major Junior - and Nate Leaman was noted for building up two programs, winning coach of the year in both divisions he was in, and winning the equivalent of the Jack Adams for the entire NCAA.

I guess it depends what 2 seasons' worth of AHL experience means. Definitely a step up on the NCAA, that's for sure, but is 2 season's worth of 'decent' results mandatory before someone is offered a head coaching position? I would consider Nate Leaman a 'more accomplished' coach right now than what Babcock was right before he entered the NHL.

Ask yourself this question: Who do you think has been the best head coach the Calgary Flames ever had? In my opinion, it is 'Badger' Bob Johnson. Guess how many seasons of AHL he had? Zero. Flames hired him directly out of the NCAA - I think that was a pretty good hire.

A good mind is a good mind. Now, I am not campaigning that the Flames have to get Leaman, or even that he is the best candidate out there. There probably are much better candidates, and I hope the Flames hire the very best candidate they can. He is, however, a very highly regarded coach in the NCAA, and is seen as someone who will get an NHL head coaching chance sooner rather than later. Boston apparently was very interested in him this off-season.

I personally would be fine if the Flames brought in a coach from the NCAA. I just want them to get a good coach, period, whether it be a recycled one that has tonnes of NHL experience, an up-and-coming AHL head coach, an NHL head coach assistant, and NCAA head coach, or even heck - a European head coach (though I have absolutely no idea if any would possibly be considered - and I am NOT referring to Crawford or Keenan).

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

He coached the 30th ranked PK all season and that's not a problem?

The distribution of labour for the Flames coaching staff has never been fully laid out, and I expect that Gelinas was not alone in coaching the special teams. I know it is popular to believe that he was the "special teams coach," but I think that is as much internet speculation and inference as anything concrete.

In any event, the horrible PK was largely a problem of goaltending, and the PP showed remarkable improvement once Wideman and his horrible shooting luck was moved off of it.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I really like Marc Crawford for this. Guy knows how to win, experienced with kids and vets. Great hair

[SportsJunky]

I've read that Crawford was really good with special teams. I wonder if there would be an associate spot for him? I don't want him as head coach though.

[FlamesFanFromBC]

Originally Posted by DSIM420

We should Hire Donald Trump so he can "Make The Flames Great Again"

Maybe he would bring "The Bulin Wall" out of retirement

[dying4acup]

This will be the signature of brad trelivings tenure in Calgary. More than likely his on and only coaching hire, as most GMs only get one shot at this.

I'm curious if he goes same, or makes a reach. And if a reach, how big of a reach?

Also, given that he is a young GM, and doesn't make a lot of money, would he offer the $$ necessary if Boudreau is his guy.

I honestly think, unless Treliving already has a guy, he's going to be safe, or hire a guy Burke recommends.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

This will be the signature of brad trelivings tenure in Calgary. More than likely his on and only coaching hire, as most GMs only get one shot at this.

This is Treliving's big summer. This is his prove it moment and will determine how long he is around the Calgary Flames. He screwed up the goaltending situation last summer, so has already used his mulligan. He has to hire a new coaching staff, find two NHL ready goaltenders, sign two star players to new contracts, and have a good draft. No pressure, but if he doesn't knock most of these out of the park he may not be in the GM role come the expansion draft.

[dissentowner]

Not that I would ever consider him for the job but how hilarious would it be convince Gretzky to give it another shot? Can you imagine the uproar in Mulletville? They would have a statue of their provincial rivals head coach!

[Da_Chief]

Them seeing him in any kind of Flames gear would make them chop of their mullets.

[Ashasx]

Boggles my mind that we are still talking about Treliving's future with the team. He is one of the best general managers in the league.

Firing him would only be replacing him with a lesser talent.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by New Era

This is Treliving's big summer. This is his prove it moment and will determine how long he is around the Calgary Flames. He screwed up the goaltending situation last summer, so has already used his mulligan. He has to hire a new coaching staff, find two NHL ready goaltenders, sign two star players to new contracts, and have a good draft. No pressure, but if he doesn't knock most of these out of the park he may not be in the GM role come the expansion draft.

How many GMs are fired after three seasons? They're not coaches. They're brought in to implement long-term strategies. The chance Treliving is fired within a year are pretty much nil, regardless of the Flame's record next season.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

How many GMs are fired after three seasons? They're not coaches. They're brought in to implement long-term strategies. The chance Treliving is fired within a year are pretty much nil, regardless of the Flame's record next season.

Completely disagree. Treliving screwed up this past season badly. There is no argument here. Every person in the hockey world acknowledged it and everyone knows what the Flames biggest problem was. That is a major strike against him. Now he has this summer to address the same problem. He also has to bring in a new coach to get this team to perform to expectations. Then he has to get his young stars under contracts. All of these are immediate measurables. You don't need an extended period of time to see if these decisions bear fruit.

The contract situation may not be as big a thing as it could be, but he still is under pressure to perform. If he doesn't address the goaltending fiasco properly, that's a big strike two against him. If he gases the coaching decision and this team under-performs again, someone has to take it in the neck. The fans aren't going to sit around and watch this team not achieve expectations and they are going to want blood. Drafting top 10 again will not be something acceptable to the masses or the ownership. That will add up to strike three and Burke will have to make a move. This team has more than enough talent to make an impact next season. The right goaltender, the right coach, and this team is back in the playoffs. Mess up those decisions and we're right back where we are at this moment. Imagine how owly the fans would be if these decisions don't bear fruit and the Oilers vault past us in the standings, and we're bottom of the pack. Treliving would be expected to fall on his sword, and fans like you would be leading the charge.

[oldschoolcalgary]

the risk for an NCAA coach is whether there is an easy transition.

unlike NCAA football, where college coaches make the jump seemingly every year or two, this simply does not happen in hockey.

there was a 33 year gap between Bob Johnson and Hakstol getting the Philly job... the NCAA has hardly been the "cradle of coaches" for the NHL.

now one can argue that's becasue the NHL are dinosaurs and that the NCAA is an untapped resource for coaches... but do you really want the Flames to be the organization that rolls the dice on that?

[Roof-Daddy]

The only thing screwed up this last season was some peoples expectations apparently.

Good grief.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by New Era

Completely disagree. Treliving screwed up this past season badly. There is no argument here. Every person in the hockey world acknowledged it and everyone knows what the Flames biggest problem was. That is a major strike against him. Now he has this summer to address the same problem. He also has to bring in a new coach to get this team to perform to expectations. Then he has to get his young stars under contracts. All of these are immediate measurables. You don't need an extended period of time to see if these decisions bear fruit.

The contract situation may not be as big a thing as it could be, but he still is under pressure to perform. If he doesn't address the goaltending fiasco properly, that's a big strike two against him. If he gases the coaching decision and this team under-performs again, someone has to take it in the neck. The fans aren't going to sit around and watch this team not achieve expectations and they are going to want blood. Drafting top 10 again will not be something acceptable to the masses or the ownership. That will add up to strike three and Burke will have to make a move. This team has more than enough talent to make an impact next season. The right goaltender, the right coach, and this team is back in the playoffs. Mess up those decisions and we're right back where we are at this moment. Imagine how owly the fans would be if these decisions don't bear fruit and the Oilers vault past us in the standings, and we're bottom of the pack. Treliving would be expected to fall on his sword, and fans like you would be leading the charge.

"Every hockey person in the world acknowledged this"....LOL

Your out to lunch

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

"Every hockey person in the world knows this"....LOL

No kidding. What ridiculous hyperbole. I want to see the hundreds of quotes of "every person in the hockey world acknowledging it".