The Next Flames Coach | News & Rumors

[Toonage]

Flames should hire all available coaches and have some sort of Justice League of coaches behind the bench.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not going to lie and say I've been following Travis Green's post NHL career as a coach religiously. However I frequent the enemies message boards and Canucks fans have been talking for a few years now how their young players rave about him and how good Utica has been under him. It's not like in Calgary where some Flames fans got snookered into thinking Troy Ward was a great coach because he talks a good game on radio interviews. We are talking about a coach that's getting the job done behind the bench and maximizing player talent he's been given to work with. This isn't a guy that has been gifted any caching jobs as he's paid his dues as he went from retirement into coaching for six years now and his one and only season of head coach in the WHL he got the Winterhawks to the memorial cup. He's created a winning culture in Utica in three seasons including getting the team to Calder Cup. Heck he even got Sven Baertschi playing a point a game in the AHL after being mired in a slump with Adirondack. If a GM is truly looking for a guy that maybe the next young, up and coming coaching star I don't see a better looking candidate than Travis Green as there's no smoke and mirrors here as he's simply a very good young coach.

I wouldn't take Canuck fan hype as any indication of true talent. I actually think his coaching experience is a bit green. The one WHL season He was a head coach in, he stepped in mid way because the head coach was suspended for he and the team's cheating. Secondly, that Portland team was stacked and loaded, probably should have won the memorial cup but didn't.

His first season in the AHL, his team missed the playoffs. His second season was good as he led a veteran team to the finals but lost. His third season in the ahl didn't find much playoff success.

He's a decent coach but he really only been a head coach for three and a half seasons. I don't see a whole lot of "building something" in that limited time. As noted above, he stepped into a good situation in Portland, and he was given a veteran ahl team in Utica.

I think there are better resumes out there. He could be a good coach but beware the west coast hype.

[Erick Estrada]

Well sure there are better resumes. Randy Carlyle is a slam dunk if you base your search on resume. He's won a cup which is the Flames ultimate goal. Flames sound like they aren't looking for a retread or career junior coach. Sounds like they are looking for a coach that hasn't been overly seasoned that brings a fresh approach to the game.

[Da_Chief]

A lot of hype behind Travis Green right now but here's what I'm seeing. Based on numbers alone.

-Got hired on as assistant coach and assistant GM on a really stacked Portland Winterhawks team. Half way through the year, takes over as the coach because Mike Johnston got suspended. Johnston had that team at 20-4-1 (0.820 win %) and Green took them to 37-8-2 (0.810 win %). Previous 2 years Johnston had them over 0.700 win % and lost in the finals. He took a stacked team and won the WHL with it something Johnston did not do. Mike Johnston lost 3 WHL finals. Green won the only one he coached.

- 2013-2014 Utica Head Coach - Team does not make the playoffs, 4 of his 6 top 6 scorers are 26 and older. Goalies are Eriksson and Cannata who combined for a 0.909 sv%.

- 2014-2015 Utica Head Coach Year 2 - Canucks demote Jakob Markstorm, who puts up 22-7-2, 0.932 sv%, 1.88 GAA. 4 of his top 5 scorers are 25 or older. In the playoffs, Markstrom plays 23 games (2.11GAA, 0.925 sv%). Utica lost in the finals.

- 2015-2016 Utica Head Coach year 3 - Markstrom is promoted to the NHL. Utica loses in round 1. Grenier, 23 years old, leads the team in points with 48 in 69 games.

In his short half season in Portland he led them to WHL championship, which Mike Johnston failed to do 3 other years (losing in finals 3 times). Goaltending is obviously important and he got some really good tending out of Markstrom riding him all the way to Calder Cup finals. His other 2 years without him are a 1 first round exit.

On him developing NHL players. He's been there 3 years. 2013-2014, I don't see any guy who's established himself as a full time NHLer.

Canucks young players right now and the number of games they spent under Green. Horvat (5), Baertschi (36), Hutton (4), Virtanen (12), Trymkin (0), Gaunce (145), Markstrom (55).

Now I'm not saying if he's a good or a bad coach. His 2 highly successful seasons came on the backs of a stacked team and a very good AHL goaltender (mind you I like Markstrom as an NHLer too). I'm not seeing the evidence of what some are saying, which is taking teams with nothing and improving them.

I don't know about his coaching style nor could I find his PP and PK rankings over the years, if someone can point me to those that would be great. Maybe I'll change my mind if his special teams are special but looking at work, its underwhelming.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well sure there are better resumes. Randy Carlyle is a slam dunk if you base your search on resume. He's won a cup which is the Flames ultimate goal. Flames sound like they aren't looking for a retread or career junior coach. Sounds like they are looking for a coach that hasn't been overly seasoned that brings a fresh approach to the game.

Carlye is an extreme, and not who I'd want either. I'm not opposed to limited nhl experience, but i prefer guys with more experience at different levels or even different roles. Guys like Ward and Dineen have the better resume i think.

I'm also weary of Canuck fan hype when it comes to Green. Many on here are willing to give Ryan Huska a pass for his record in the ahl because he hasn't been given a veteran team, well then why give Green credit for winning in the AHL with a veteran team? ANd if you want to take it to another level, Huska has actually coached a memorial cup winner and built strong teams in the WHL compared to Green's one half season and memorial cup no show. Not that I'm suggesting Huska for the Flames job, just comparing the two.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 868904

Carlye is an extreme, and not who I'd want either. I'm not opposed to limited nhl experience, but i prefer guys with more experience at different levels or even different roles. Guys like Ward and Dineen have the better resume i think.

I'm also weary of Canuck fan hype when it comes to Green. Many on here are willing to give Ryan Huska a pass for his record in the ahl because he hasn't been given a veteran team, well then why give Green credit for winning in the AHL with a veteran team? ANd if you want to take it to another level, Huska has actually coached a memorial cup winner and built strong teams in the WHL compared to Green's one half season and memorial cup no show. Not that I'm suggesting Huska for the Flames job, just comparing the two.

That's fair but there's a reason both Calgary and Anaheim have interviewed Green and it has absolutely nothing to do with Canucks fans hype. There's something there that the league has taken notice of. Now there's always a risk that he could be the next Dallas Eakins but there's also the chance he could become the next Mike Babcock. I would rather give Green a shot than hedge my bets on Kirk Muller not being nearly as crappy a coach as he was in Carolina.

A 2nd interview in Calgary tells me Treliving certainly sees something in Green past hype.

[Bingo]

exactly ...

if the Canuck fan were dreaming of their next head coach then you'd have a hype argument. But the guy is on every one's list (media etc), and has been interviewed for both jobs so its all merit.

Here's a thought ...

Burke mentioned the process would include doing due diligence, talking to people and then at some point bringing them in to talk to ownership/King. This week we've heard second interviews for Carlyle and now Green.

Given how the Flames always surprise the media and this market, what if the Flames just announce a press conference tomorrow to introduce Green as the head coach and Carlyle as an associate?

[Erick Estrada]

Anything is possible I suppose. With a month to the draft (possibility for goaltender trade) and free agency you would have to think the team would ptefer to have the coaching staff in place for input and planning.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Anything is possible I suppose. With a month to the draft (possibility for goaltender trade) and free agency you would have to think the team would ptefer to have the coaching staff in place for input and planning.

I would think they'd have coaches in place prior to the draft, or one would hope. If I'm not mistaken the coaches are usually there now @ the combine interviews getting an idea of the player and shedding some light into the dressing room details etc.

I would wager our coach is announced within the next 2 weeks, or at least I hope

[TheScorpion]

I have a sneaking suspicion that Green is announced as head coach early next week. Just a gut feeling.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Carlyle is likely the best option of the coaches that have experience

Paul MacLean...

[Ashasx]

I really don't think the Flames would hire a rookie HC (Green) with Carlyle as an associate coach. That's just a replacement breathing down his neck. That doesn't seem like a Treliving move.

The coach will be allowed to bring in his own staff.

[PepsiFree]

I think it's absolutely a Treliving move. He's not about you getting your guys, he's about getting his guys that all line up with a specific vision. I think that anyone who comes in is going to come in with the understanding that the HC job is not going to be completely autonomous.

Otherwise I think Gelinas would've been let go already.

[Ashasx]

The way I understood it was that the new coach will decide whether they want to keep Gelinas. If the coach wants somebody else on the coaching staff, the Flames would find somewhere else in the organization for Gelinas.

[Demetric]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The way I understood it was that the new coach will decide whether they want to keep Gelinas. If the coach wants somebody else on the coaching staff, the Flames would find somewhere else in the organization for Gelinas.

Exactly this

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Paul MacLean...

Geoff Ward

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Demetric

Geoff Ward

...has no NHL head coaching experience.

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

...has no NHL head coaching experience.

This is not a prerequisite for the job, as mentioned, multiple times by Treliving and Burke.

I would prefer a Rookie NHL Head Coach over what is currently available for Head Coach with experience in the NHL as a Head Coach.

I would be interested in a Huska - Green - Ward Coaching Staff...a boy can Dream...

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Since1984

This is not a prerequisite for the job, as mentioned, multiple times by Treliving and Burke..

It was a prerequisite for the context in which it was posted if you go back and read what was being discussed.

They were talking about remaining head coaches with experience.

[Badgers Nose]

I cast my vote for Rocky Thompson.

[HighLifeMan]

Troy Mann and Jared Bednar who are currently going head to head in the AHL finals, seem like decent candidates. Although they are still extremely early on in their careers they have both had a tremendous amount of success.

If Travis Green is being considered heavily for the position, I don't see why these two wouldn't be.