The Calgary Flames’ 2021 playoff run has ended in disappointment, with the team being eliminated in the first round by the Winnipeg Jets in a four-game sweep. In the wake of this disappointing result, the Flames and General Manager Brad Treliving have announced that they will be “mutually parting ways” as the team looks to move forward and build for the future. In this article, we’ll explore what led to this decision, what Treliving brought to the organization during his tenure, and what the Flames might do next to get back to championship contention.
The Calgary Flames have announced that Brad Treliving will not be returning as their general manager for the upcoming season. Treliving’s contract is set to expire on June 30, and the club states that they have mutually decided to part ways. The announcement comes after the Flames lost their playoff chances in an overtime loss against the Nashville Predators last week. Don Maloney, who has just completed his fifth season as the senior vice-president of hockey operations, has been promoted to president of hockey operations and will also serve as interim general manager. Despite Treliving leaving, Maloney had thanked him for his contributions to the team over the past nine years. He went on to say that they “have to do a deep look at how we operate, how we make decisions – and fix it.”
The Flames are now starting the search for their new general manager, which they expect to begin immediately. They have not set a timeline for when a new GM will be hired, but it is noted that the team’s assistant general managers – Craig Conroy, Brad Pascall, and Chris Snow – are strong candidates for the position. However, the team is also looking to find the best candidate outside of their organization. The Flames went 324-238-58 under Treliving and twice topped the Pacific Division with 50-win seasons (in 2019 and 2022).
In the end, it was simply not meant to be for Brad Treliving and the Calgary Flames. Despite his tireless efforts to build a winning team, the Flames once again fell short in the playoffs, and the decision was made to part ways with the general manager. There is no doubt that Treliving will be remembered for his dedication and passion, as well as his successes in building a team that found regular season success. However, the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup eluded him, and it is now up to the Flames to find a new leader who can guide them to greater heights. As the team looks to the future, we can only hope that they will find the right person for the job and bring home the championship that has eluded them for so long.
