Flames announce Huska as head coach

*Photo from The Hockey Writers*

   On the off day cycle, we have more coaching news. The Calgary Flames have named assistant coach Ryan Huska as their next head coach, according to an announcement by the Flames on Monday.

   Huska served as an assistant coach for the Flames for the previous 5 seasons, being promoted to that role after being the head coach of the Flames AHL team for 4 seasons before that. This will be Huska's first chance as an NHL head coach.

   Flames GM Craig Conroy said of hiring Huska that "When I looked around and said, 'What am I looking for and who would be the best fit?' it really became clear the last four or five days that Ryan was the guy. I feel like he's put his time in, he's done everything he can, the only thing he hasn't gotten is the chance to be an NHL head coach, and now he is."

   As an assistant, Huska oversaw the penalty kill and the defense group of the Flames. The penalty kill ranked 6th in the NHL last season, while the average of 27.3 shots per game allowed was good for the 3rd fewest in the league.

   The 47 year old Huska started his coaching career with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL in 2002, being named head coach in 2007 after being an assistant. He joined the Flames organization at the AHL level before the 2014-2015 season.

   Huska said of taking over as head coach that "I know these players, and I look at that as a positive thing. There is a lot of good people in our dressing room and there are excellent hockey players who want to win, and they will do anything they can to succeed. I am a big believer in that group of people and their ability, and my job now as a head coach is to make sure I push them every day to get the best version of them and also to try to push them to another level both as individuals, and as a team."

   Last season, the Flames failed to make the playoffs for the second time in the past 3 seasons. Following the end of the regular season, head coach Darryl Sutter was fired, as was GM Brad Treliving. Conroy was promoted to GM, and now Huska takes over as head coach.

   Following the hiring of Huska, the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers are the only teams left without a head coach. Spencer Carbery, Andrew Brunette, Greg Cronin, and Huska have been hired as head coaches this offseason.