Has spent five seasons as an assistant in Calgary
Ryan Huska has reportedly moved to the front of the line in the Calgary Flames’ quest to find a new head coach.
In the second intermission of Thursday’s Stanley Cup Final game between the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said Huska has become the front runner.
“Nothing is done until it’s done, but the word is that Ryan Huska, who has been an assistant coach for the past five seasons, is the leading contender. But nothing is done,” Friedman said.
Huska has been an assistant in Calgary since the 2018-19 campaign after he spent four years guiding the franchise’s AHL affiliate. The 47-year-old spent seven years as a head coach of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets before moving to the pro ranks.
The Flames are believed to have been in their final wave of interviews this week. It will be the first hire by new general manager Craig Conroy.
The Flames fired Darryl Sutter after a disappointing campaign in which they posted a 38-27-17 record and missed the playoffs.
Among the candidates for the post are believed to have been Kirk Muller, who has been associate coach in Calgary the past two seasons, Mitch Love, head coach of Calgary’s AHL team the past two seasons, former Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirdeon and Gerard Gallant, who was fired by the New York Rangers after this season.
Moving Huska to the head coach position would be a perfect opportunity for Love, the two-time AHL coach of the year, to serve as an assistant.