March 17, 2023 | 10:30am ET
By Anthony Di Marco, TheFourthPeriod.com
QUESTIONS HOVER AMID FLAMES PLAYOFF RACE
Flames head coach Darryl Sutter
MONTREAL, QC — As the finish line rapidly approaches on the 2022-23 NHL regular-season, the Calgary Flames remain in a dog fight for their playoff lives.
Currently three points back of the final wildcard spot in the West and having already played 69 games entering Friday, the math isn’t in a favourable position for the Flames, with many beginning to look at their off-season plans.
The roster and its new look additions have certainly come into question, with some serious decisions potentially on the horizon off the ice should Calgary miss the post-season.
Flames GM Brad Treliving is in the final year of his contract. Questions have arisen over his future with the organization. However more attention may be placed behind the bench.
Speculation over head coach, and reigning Jack Adams winner, Darryl Sutter started in mid-February after TFP’s David Pagnotta reported turmoil mounting within the Flames’ room. That noise got louder after Jonathan Huberdeau’s agent Allan Walsh voiced concern through Twitter.
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli recently mentioned on the DFO Rundown podcast that Sutter had been pushing his players too hard, leaving many to speculate whether or not a change could be coming.
According to a well-placed source, should Treliving remain at the helm, Sutter will not be replaced. Citing Sutter’s new contract extension with the club, the source emphasized the team has gone through too many coaches and making another is not part of the current regime’s plans.
Sutter, 64, was hired by the Flames for his second tour of duty as the organization’s Head Coach during the 2020-21 season after taking over for Geoff Ward; he also previously served as General Manager of the team from 2003 until 2010. Sutter guided the Flames to its best regular-season (50-21-11, 111 points) in over 30 years, ultimately bowing out to the Edmonton Oilers in the second-round.
Sutter is the fifth Head Coach during Treliving’s tenure, along with Bob Hartley (who was hired prior to Treliving), Glen Gulutzan, Bill Peters and Ward. It is important to note that Peters was dismissed for off-ice issues.
Treliving, 53, was hired by then-President and Interim GM Brian Burke as GM of the Flames in April 2014. He had previously served as the Assistant GM of the Phoenix Coyotes for over a decade to then-GM Don Maloney, now serving on Treliving’s staff in Calgary as Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations.
During Treliving’s time in Calgary, the Flames have failed to make it past the second-round and have missed the playoffs in three of eight seasons – and are currently on pace to miss for a fourth time.
Last summer proved to be a massive challenge for Treliving, as he was faced with the unfortunate (and unprecedented) situation of his two best players (Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk) wanting out after career years.
After Gaudreau walked in free agency (turning down an $84 million contract from the Flames), Tkachuk was flipped to the Florida Panthers for Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, both of whom signed eight-year contract extensions, worth $84 million and $50 million, respectively. Treliving then landed free agent centre Nazem Kadri, inking the 32-year-old to a seven-year, $49 million deal.
Despite Treliving’s valiant efforts, the team has arguably had the most disappointing season of any team in the league and, as Pagnotta reported leading up to the Trade Deadline, a lot of irons seems to be in the fire and more roster changes could occur this summer.
Should a change in management (even beyond Treliving) be made this summer, it could have a direct impact on the coaching staff. If things (mostly) remain status quo in the front office, it appears Sutter’s job is safe for the foreseeable future.
