While the Calgary Flames relieved Bob Hartley of his head coaching duties well over a month ago, the club has yet to name his replacement.
By comparison, the St. Louis Blues re-upped head coach Ken Hitchcock with a one-year deal AND named his successor for the 2017-18 season.
Flames general manager Brad Treliving was a guest Monday on Boomer and Pinder in the Morning on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. Naturally, much of the conversation centred around where Treliving and Co. are in their search for a new bench boss.
LISTEN: Treliving talks Flames’ coaching search
“We’re fast approaching the finish line,” Treliving said. “It’s a limited list right now.”
Treliving tiptoed around some questioning before he was asked bluntly if he had his mind made up on who he wants to coach the Flames.
“Yes,” Treliving replied.
Treliving alluded to a potential hold up in the process.
“The one thing that I wanted to do is be very respectful for those people that are under contract with other organizations,” the GM said.
Treliving was asked specifically if the Flames would have a new coach in place by the NHL Draft, which runs June 24-25 in Buffalo, New York.
“We will,” said Treliving. “In saying that I know there’s always a lot of talk ‘will you have a coach by the draft?’ … The coach and you [hosts] have about the same responsibilities at the draft, let’s put it that way.
“There’s very little that the coach will do in the draft. Now having said that as you get into starting to build your team and talking about potential additions to your team, moves, things like that, you always want to have the coach to communicate with. The thought that the coach is heavily involved with selecting players isn’t the case.”
The Flames are slated to select sixth overall in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft.
