Departure of Flames' minor-league head coach leaves another hole to fill
The Calgary Flames are on the hunt to not only complete their NHL coaching staff but also find a new bench boss for the AHL Calgary Wranglers.
Mitch Love, who was named AHL coach of the year each of the two seasons he guided Calgary’s top squad, has reportedly left the organization to become an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals. Jeff Marek reported the news Thursday.
Love, 39, was a finalist for the head coaching position with the Flames, which went to Ryan Huska. Love will join a new head coach in Washington, Spencer Carbery. Washington’s AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, won the Calder Cup title with a Game 7 victory on Wednesday.
The Flames are expected to announce the rest of Huska’s staff before the coming NHL draft, possibly as early as Friday.
Marek reported Dan Lambert — who was an assistant coach under Huska for three seasons with the WHL Kelowna Rockets and spent the last four years an assistant with the Nashville Predators — and current Flames assistant coach Cail MacLean are among those potentially part of the new Flames staff. MacLean has been an assistant in Calgary for two seasons, following three years as head coach of the franchise's AHL affiliate.
