‘One of Calgary’s worst-kept secrets’: Flames announce Glen Gulutzan as new head coach

The Calgary Flames announced Friday that Glen Gulutzan, former bench boss for the Dallas Stars, would serve as the team’s new head coach.

GM Brad Treliving introduced the 44-year-old at a morning news conference at the Saddledome.

“So I think it’s one of Calgary’s worst-kept secrets,” Treliving said. “We are excited to be here to announce a new head coach in Glen Gulutzan.”

“We went through a real thorough process in this search. This is an important person that we need to bring into our organization.”

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WATCH: Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving announced Friday that Glen Gulutzan would serve as the team’s head coach.

3:09 RAW: Calgary Flames announce new head coach Glen Gulutzan

Gulutzan made the transition to coaching in 2003-2004 after seven seasons of pro hockey, including a year in Finland. Gulutzan also starred in the Western Hockey League in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades.

He became the head coach of the East Coast Hockey League’s Las Vegas Wranglers in 2003, where he spent six seasons.

Gulutzan later served as head coach of the Dallas Stars from 2011 to 2013, followed by three seasons as the assistant coach of the Vancouver Canucks.

“What a pleasure to be in Calgary,” Gulutzan said. “My wife is from Calgary so it’s a really good fit for us.”

“It’s an honour to be the head coach of the Calgary Flames.”

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WATCH: Glen Gulutzan, who will serve as the new head coach for the Calgary Flames, spoke at a Friday morning news conference

2:01 RAW: Glen Gulutzan speaks at Calgary Flames news conference

Former head coach Bob Hartley, who won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach last year, was fired in May. Associate coach Jacques Cloutier was also let go.

At the time, Treliving said the decision to dismiss Hartley was not based “solely on this season.”

After surprising many by making the playoffs in 2014-15 and then beating Vancouver in the first round, Calgary (35-40-7) took a step back last season, finishing 26th overall.

“I felt for us to move forward as an organization, that it was time, it was important, and it was critical that we make this decision,” Treliving said in a May 3 news conference at the Saddledome.

In an interview with Calgary’s Global News Morning on April 13, Hartley admitted the team had a “tough start” to the 2015-16 season and consistency had been a “major problem.”

READ MORE: ‘Consistency was a major problem this year’: Bob Hartley reflects on the Calgary Flames’ 2015-16 season

Associate coach Martin Gélinas, goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet and associate coach Jamie Pringle remain with the organization.

– With files from Brendan Parker and The Canadian Press