Flames Head Coach Search: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation on Vacant Position

The Calgary Flames are reportedly beginning to ramp up their efforts to find a new head coach after firing Bob Hartley following the season. 

Continue for updates.

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Gulutzan Reportedly Targeted by Flames

Wednesday, May 25

Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Sun passed along confirmation from Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning that the Flames requested permission to interview assistant coach Glen Gulutzan.

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Flames Request Interview With Coveted Coaching Target

Wednesday, May 11

Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune‎ reported Wednesday that Calgary general manager Brad Treliving is expected to meet with former Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo after the Flames put in a request with the Minnesota front office.

Yeo was relieved of his coaching duties by the Wild back in February. He signed a three-year contract extension in May 2014, however, which means he's still under the Minnesota organizational umbrella, and the team must give clearance for him to interview elsewhere.

The 42-year-old coach spoke with Russo shortly after his exit from the Wild bench after four-plus seasons, which featured three playoff appearances but just two playoff series victories.

"I'm a winner," Yeo said. "Everywhere I've gone at every level. As a player, assistant coach, head coach, I've won. This is the only place that I've been where I haven’t gone to the finals or won a championship. And I think I just ran out of time for that."

He accumulated a 173-132-44 record during his time in Minnesota, according to Hockey-Reference. His .559 points percentage ranks 70th all-time among NHL head coaches, nine spots above Hartley (.554), the coach he could replace in Calgary.

The Flames are facing competition for his services, though. Russo reported Tuesday the Anaheim Ducks, who fired Bruce Boudreau, received permission to speak with Yeo. Boudreau has since joined the Wild as part of the coaching carousel.

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Flames' Next Coach Will Have Young Talent to Build Contender

Ultimately, whichever coach lands with the Flames will acquire a roster that vastly underperformed en route to the NHL's fifth-lowest points total. The team's 77 points represented a 20-point drop off from the 2014-15 campaign.

It's a group that does feature some promising young talent with the likes of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Sam Bennett and Dougie Hamilton. The franchise also owns the sixth overall pick in the 2016 draft to acquire another piece for the future.

All told, the front office must find a coach with a system to get those rising stars to perform on a consistent basis while also seeking a way to improve the league's worst goaltending situation.