Calgary’s new coach hungry for playoff success in return home to Alberta
CALGARY — The sooner Bill Peters can tick the box of coaching an NHL playoff team, the better for him and the Calgary Flames.
The 53-year-old from Three Hills, Alta., was introduced Monday as the Calgary’s new head coach. The Flames fired Glen Gulutzan last week after two seasons and a 37-35-10 record in 2017-18.
Peters had a quick turnaround between his first and second NHL head-coaching jobs. He’d resigned from the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday after four seasons and with a year remaining on his contract.
Peters went 137-138-53 with the Hurricanes but wasn’t able to get the team into the playoffs.
Flames captain Mark Giordano, defencemen Dougie Hamilton, Travis Hamonic and T.J. Brodie and centre Sean Monahan sat in on the news conference at Scotiabank Saddledome and listened to their new coach talk about post-season hunger.
“Guys are disappointed not to be continuing to play in the playoffs and I’m right there with them as a coach,” Peters said. “I want to be playing in the playoffs.”
Carolina’s new ownership reassigned former general manager Ron Francis within the organization last month.
Peters’ tenure there would have eventually been subject to the new GM’s approval.
“With a new owner and a new GM coming in, they needed the opportunity to hire their own coach and that’s how I made that decision to be honest with you,” Peters said.
He’s Calgary general manager Brad Treliving’s second head-coaching hire and the fourth coach of the Flames in nine years after Gulutzan (2016-17), Bob Hartley (2012-16) and Brent Sutter (2009-12).
Treliving asked the Hurricanes for permission to speak to Peters last week about coming to Calgary. The GM said he didn’t talk to any other candidates before signing Peters to a multi-year contract.
“This is somebody I believe fully in,” said Treliving. “I have nothing but belief that Bill is going to come in here and do a phenomenal job.”