The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that head coach Bob Hartley, who won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach last year, had been fired.
“I met with Bob this morning, and we relieved Bob of his coaching duties effective immediately,” Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving said at a morning news conference. “I want to thank Bob. Bob did some very good things here. He built a foundation in this organization.”
“Apart from all else, he put his heart and soul into this team every day.”
“He bled for this team,” Treliving said. “Bob’s a good coach, so I want to thank him for it – and it’s a difficult day to go through this.”
WATCH: Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving spoke to the media about the decision to relieve Bob Hartley of his coaching duties
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 during the last season, finishing 26th overall.
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.”
“This decision that I reached was not based solely on this season,” Treliving said.
“This is not letting players off the hook,” Treliving added. “Quite the contrary. This is on a lot of other people that need to take responsibility as well. Myself included, the players included.”
“Bob has taken this team as far as I feel he can take it.”
“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 admitted.
The news comes just four days after the Anaheim Ducks fired head coach Bruce Boudreau, leading to speculation he could be called upon to head the team.
“Today’s decision wasn’t based upon anybody sitting in the on-deck circle,” Treliving said, when asked about the timing of Hartley’s dismissal. “This isn’t about ‘is there a prettier girl at the dance.'”
“We did this decision today with nobody else in mind.”
Treliving added he doesn’t know Boudreau personally. He said there was no set timeline for finding a replacement and that “the process will start today.”
“I’ve got a profile in my mind of what I’m looking for,” he added. “I know we’ll find the right match.”
Associate coach Jacques Cloutier was also informed he would not be returning to the club.
Associate coach Martin Gélinas, goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet and associate coach Jamie Pringle remain with the organization.
WATCH: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that head coach Bob Hartley had been fired. Global Calgary’s Kevin Smith joins Scott Fee and Amber Schinkel with some insight into why the decision was made.
Flames fans were quick to react to the news on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
BELOW: Flames fans react to Bob Hartley’s dismissal
– With files from The Canadian Press