The Calgary Flames are searching for a new head coach, and now it looks like they may have a candidate in mind.
Canada has the day off in Russia, so I'd suspect Mike Yeo sits down with #flames GM Brad Treliving. CGY has asked #mnwild for permission
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 11, 2016
When Bob Hartley was fired last week, there were a number of potential replacements still available. Fast forward one week and the options – at least for coaches with NHL experience – have dwindled.
Bruce Boudreau is finalizing a deal to be next head coach of the Minnesota Wild. Ottawa has been informed.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 8, 2016
News Release: Guy Boucher named Ottawa Senators head coach: https://t.co/UBwwAxmaRR #Sens
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) May 8, 2016
Guy Boucher confirms that Marc Crawford has come to terms on a contract to be an associate coach with the Sens.
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) May 9, 2016
The Minnesota Wild won the coach lottery, picking up the highly-coveted Bruce Boudreau. Meanwhile, the greedy Ottawa Senators decided one former NHL coach wasn’t enough, and snagged both Guy Boucher and Marc Crawford.
With those three off the table, the most talked about former NHL coach right now is ex-Wild coach Mike Yeo. In addition to the Flames, Yeo is also garnering interest from the Anaheim Ducks.
#ducks have permission to speak with former #mnwild coach Mike Yeo, sources say
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 10, 2016
Both Yeo and Treliving are part of the staff for Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships, so the Flames GM should get a good look at the 43-year-old coach.
Yeo joined the Wild in the 2011-12 season, putting together an overall record of 173-132-44. After missing the playoffs in his first season, the Wild made the playoffs three straight years under Yeo, losing each year to – who else – the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Wild advanced to the second round in back-to-back playoffs under Yeo despite being the lower seed, pulling off upsets against Colorado and St. Louis.
Yeo has a reputation as a strong defensive coach, which could be a good fit considering the Flames allowed the most goals in the NHL (260) this season.
Much of that was likely Jonas Hiller’s fault, but I digress…
Getting an actual starting goalie will go a long way to reducing goals against, but hiring a defensive-minded coach would help with that too. The unknown is how much of a hindrance that play-style would have on the offence, led by Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.
The Flames could still elect to give a newer coach a chance. Kevin Dineen, Travis Green, or even Ryan Huska, coach of the Flames’ AHL-affiliate Stockton Heat, all could be looking to land an NHL head coaching gig.
But if Treliving wants a coach with a decent NHL resume, Yeo just might be the best option available.
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