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Is Brad Treliving the Right Choice For the Toronto Maple Leafs?

By Gordon Munro

Jun 1, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Toronto Maple Leafs new general manager Brad Treliving is introduced at a press conference at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 1, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CANADA; Toronto Maple Leafs new general manager Brad Treliving is introduced at a press conference at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 14, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter looks on in the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter looks on in the first period against the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

Coaching Instability

There was a very large coaching carousel for the Flames under Treliving. When he took over, Bob Hartley was already in place and he kept him there for two seasons. Hartley won the Jack Adams award as coach of the year in 2014-15 (Brad Treliving’s first season). However, after failing to make the playoffs the following season, he was fired.

In his place, the Flames hired Glen Gulutzan ahead of the 2016-17 season. In his first season, the Flames made the playoffs but again after missing the playoffs the following season, he was let go.

After Gulutzan, the Flames hired now controversial figure, Bill Peters as the new bench boss. In 2018-19, his first season, he lead the Flames to a division title and their second most wins and points in franchise history. Then in his second season, Peters submitted his resignation on November 29th, 2019 following allegations of abuse and racism.

After Peters, the Flames promoted assistant Geoff Ward as interim coach and later making him the full-time head coach. He would only coach a total of 66 games as head coach, however. In 2019-20 he only coached 42 games due to the covid-shortened season. He was officially named head coach in September of 2020 but was relieved of his duties on March 4, 2021 after a record of 11-11-2.

Immediately after Ward’s firing, the Flames hired the final head coach of Treliving’s tenure, Darryl Sutter. He was unable to right the ship in 2020-21 and the Flames missed the playoffs going 15-15-0 under Sutter. The following season, Sutter would guide the team to a 50-21-11 record and a second round appearance. As a result of their major standings surge, Sutter won the Jack Adams award in 2022.

Unfortunately, Sutter presided over a near mutiny, and when ownership wouldn’t let Treliving fire him, Treliving quit, only for Sutter to get fired anyways.

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