Cameron out in Calgary
Flames in market for new head coach after firing Glen Gulutzan, two assistants
Glen Gulutzan bore the brunt of the Calgary Flames’ shortcomings this season with his dismissal Tuesday.
With a year remaining on his contract as head coach, Gulutzan was sacked along with assistant Dave Cameron of Kinkora and Paul Jerrard less than two years after they were hired. A weak home record, a wretched power play and a lateseason swan dive contributed to Calgary finishing out of the playoffs with a 37-35-10 record.
“Accountability lies with all of us,” Flames general manager Brad Treliving said at a hastilycalled news conference at Scotiabank Saddledome.
“As a manager, I lead that charge. Our hockey staff leads that charge and also our players. When you make a decision (like) I made today, there is lots of blame to go around.” Gulutzan coached Calgary to the playoffs in his first season, but the Flames were dispatched in four straight games by the Anaheim Ducks in 2017. The addition of veteran goaltender Mike Smith and blue-chip defenceman Travis Hamonic were considered to be the pieces of the puzzle that would get the Flames further into the playoffs.
Riding a seven-game win streak and sitting second in the Pacific Division in January, the Flames lost six in a row coming out of their bye week and continued to fray coming down the stretch.
The team held down the Western Conference’s final wild-card spot Feb. 25, but managed just two victories in its final 11 games of the regular season.
Smith’s performance dropped late in the season after missing a month with a lowerbody injury.
Top-line centre Sean Monahan played through multiple injuries that required surgeries when he was shut down for the season March 21.
“We relied too much on too few,” Treliving said. “Certainly, the lack of depth, or the lack of contributions by many, was a big part of the problem we had.” Cameron, who turns 60 in July and has a summer home in Kildare Capes, went to the Flames after five seasons, including parts of two season as head coach, with the Ottawa Senators. He’s also coached in the OHL and the AHL.
A 17-20-4 record at the Saddledome and a power play that ranked 29th in the league at 16 per cent were a drag on Calgary’s playoff aspirations.
Gulutzan, 46, was Treliving’s first head-coaching hire.
Treliving extended the contract of Gulutzan’s predecessor, Bob Hartley, in December 2014, but fired him 17 months later and brought Gulutzan on board.
So the Flames will hire their fourth head coach in nine years after Gulutzan (2016-17) Hartley (2012-16) and Brent Sutter (2009-12). Calgary has finished outside the playoffs seven of the last nine years.
“You can’t churn (coaches),” Treliving acknowledged. “Having said that, you can’t not make a decision for the same reason. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility to get it right. I really try to avoid emotional decisions.
“This is not a step back from the season and a need to throw a body on the tarmac.”
Assistant coach Martin Gelinas, goaltending coach Jordan Singalet and video coach Jamie Pringle remain with the team. Recently unemployed NHL coaches include former P.E.I. Rocket head coach Alain Vigneault, Dan Bylsma, Dave Tippett and former Flames coach Darryl Sutter.
“I think having experience in this league is critical,” Treliving said.