It’s time to cross another name of the Calgary Flames’ list of future head coaches. The deal between the Montreal Canaidens and Bob Hartley seems to be official as he signs on to be their head coach. While Hartley’s current contract stipulates he must remain in Zurich until the completion of the 2013 season, people seem confident that he will be behind the Habs bench come October.
Where does that leave the Flames?
As of Friday night, New York Rangers assistant coach Mike Sullivan’s season ended and is now available to be courted for the head coaching position.
Sullivan is a former Calgary Flame center who has head coaching experience with the Boston Bruins for two seasons. The Bruins placed first in the Northwest Division in 2003-2004 and in fifth the following season, making the playoffs only in that first season.
Will the Flames go for this long time assistant coach? All signs seem to be pointing to him, but after helping John Tortorella rebuild the Rangers since 2009, does he want to repeat this process again in Calgary? Sullivan won’t be walking on to a highly functioning team. There’s problems from top to bottom and the head coaching position is the first of many the Flames need to address this summer.
If I were a coach being courted by the Flames, I’d hesitate. Between the rumors and the facts, whatever I sign on to now won’t be the same in October, and it can be an amazing situation or a bigger mess than it already is now. A nice deal like the Rangers might be enticing enough for Sullivan to not commit to the Calgary Flames.
What do you think? Where do you see the Calgary Flames getting their head coach?