Flames name former Canucks assistant Glen Gulutzan as their new head coach

The Calgary Flames have confirmed the rumours and announced they’ve named Glen Gulutzan as head coach.

Flames’ GM Brad Treliving told the media last week that a decision would be made on the new head coach before the draft, which takes place on June 24-25 in Buffalo, N.Y.

Former coach Bob Hartley as well as assistant coach Jacques Cloutier were both fired from the team in May. Gulutzan spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks following two seasons as a head coach with the Dallas Stars.

“It’s quite an honor to stand up here and be the coach of such a distinguished franchise”, Gulutzan said at Friday’s introductory news conference.

“When I was hired in Dallas, I was two years removed from the East Coast League and I’d spent two years in the American Hockey League”, Gulutzan recalled. “We want to defend fast, we are going to defend fast, we’re going to utilize the assets we have here”.

He will fill the vacancy left by Bob Hartley, who was sacked in May after the Flames went 35-40-7 for 77 points while missing the playoffs last season.

“I think he can connect with all types of players”.

The hope is that the Flames will spend less time in their own end, meaning more time on the attack. Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy flew to Vancouver in mid-May to meet with Gulutzan.

Gulutzan’s name circulated as a possible replacement after Hartley’s sacking. Gulutzan says there will be a bit of a style change for the team (which is completely necessary in order for the team to improve) but he plans on the team continuing to play an exciting up-tempo game and he will still be giving the Flames’ dynamic defense the opportunity to jump up into play.

Gulutzan also coached Las Vegas of the East Coast Hockey League for six seasons from 2003-09.

Gulutzan stepping behind Calgary’s bench became a solid bet when other job-seeking coaches Bruce Boudreau (Minnesota) and Mike Yeo (St. Louis) landed in those markets.