New head coach had plenty to say about how he wants to steer the ship
Ryan Huska has clocked in for day one as the new head coach for the Calgary Flames.
In his introduction as the new bench boss after five years as an assistant, Huska — as well as general manager Craig Conroy — provided some insight to what they expect to achieve together.
Here are a few comments that stood out:
ASSISTANT COACHES: There was no announcement of who will be part of Huska’s coaching staff, with the new bench boss given the opportunity to make those decisions. Conroy said that Mitch Love, the two-time AHL coach of the year with the Calgary Wranglers was a finalist for the job. However, he said it was too soon for Love to be a NHL head coach.
“There is a step and there is a learning curve,” Conroy said. “To just get thrust into that without going through that, it’s not fair to him. I know he believes 100 percent he can do it and I’m not saying he couldn’t. But for me, first time a GM in the league, to have someone that’s went through the steps the way I’ve envisioned in my mind was probably the difference in making the hiring, and I felt Ryan was 100 percent the guy for me.”
That said, it seems Love will be in the mix for an assistant job.
TEAM CULTURE: Make no mistake, there were issues between the players and now-fired coach Darryl Sutter, and there are whispers those spilled over between the players themselves. One of Huska’s jobs is to change the atmosphere, a task made easier with the affable and upbeat Conroy around.
“You want them to have fun around the rink, that’s important, but they also have to come with a focus to get better every day,” Huska said. “When we talk about creating an environment around the rink, fun is talked about a lot, but it’s not fun like you’re going to an amusement park. There needs to be a focus to what you’re doing. … You want to create something where the players enjoy each other and to make sure they’re going to push each other to get better.”
PLAYERS HAD THEIR SAY: Conroy said he spoke with many players en route to hiring Huska, likely the most being Jonathan Huberdeau. Huberdeau’s thoughts would be important since he is the highest-paid skater and boasts the longest contract. Another key player to converse with is Elias Lindholm, due to be an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
“He wants to know who the coach is going to be, what type of coach, how he sees the team being built going forward,” Conroy said of Lindholm. “It’s still a work in progress. Now that we have Ryan, … I’m going to be back in touch. He is a priority for us and we’ll get back to him and see how it moves forward.”
ON-ICE PLANS: When asked what changes to the team’s gameplan he had in mind, Huska said a huge key will be to shore up the defensive play with a changed approach.
“When I mention managing the puck, we’ll put priority on making sure we put each other in a good position,” Huska said. “By making some of those subtle changes to what we want to do, it’s going to make the chances we give up maybe lesser quality and make the shots that our goaltenders are going to see a little more predictable.”
While it may seem Huska believes defense is the only focus, he knows Calgary’s offensive attack needs improvement.
“You want them to have the freedom to make plays. That’s why they’re where they’re at and that’s why they get paid the way they do. They have talent that not a lot of people do have, so you want to give them that freedom. The way I see this team playing, you want to get them to understand the importance of being quick with how you’re getting to the other end, so you can get the puck to the net as fast as you can, and then their skillset takes over.”
ADDING YOUTH: When he was hired, Conroy said his new coach must be on the same page about bringing more youth into the lineup. Huska’s four years coaching in the minors gives him a perspective on the value.
“They bring a different type of energy, a different dynamic, and that’s something I feel we need,” Huska said. “When you’re a guy trying to make his way into the lineup on a consistent basis, they bring a different energy level, and that’s not just on the ice, it’s in the room, and sometimes I find that to be infectious. I want to see that competition. Those guys are going to be given a chance, and then it’s a matter of what they do with that chance.”
TIME FOR A CAPTAIN: The Flames have not had a captain for the past two seasons after the departure of Mark Giordano, opting for a collection of alternates. Huska and Conroy will work together to name one. With so many veterans due to become UFAs after next season, one factor will likely be who is expected to be part of the squad on a long-term basis. Even so, plan to see a full-time captain when the season begins.
“The players need to be able to trust that player will come to us with their best interests and, vice-versa, we have to trust our message that goes to that person is gonna be brought forward to the team the right way,” Huska said. “It’s a really important role and one I don’t think either side should take lightly, and one I think we need.”