The Calgary Flames organization announced several news items related to their coaching staff today: head coach Ryan Huska’s entire staff of assistants, including Trent Cull, Dave Lowry, Cail MacLean, video coach Jamie Pringle, and goalie coach Jason LaBarbera, have been signed to two-year contract extensions. Additionally, it was announced that longtime AHL assistant coach Joe Cirella will not return to the organization for 2026-27.
This past season was a difficult one for the Flames, but it’s tough to pin that on their coaching staff. The team is undergoing a significant roster reconstruction, and management has elected to subtract considerable NHL talent from the lineup in order to build a sustainable contending team down the line. While that very well could lead to the Flames competing for Stanley Cups later in this decade or early in the next one, in the immediate term, it means Huska and his staff are coaching with a talent deficit on most nights. While some might still argue that they haven’t made the most of the talent they’ve had access to, however limited, it’s clear the Flames view this staff as the right one to lead the team forward.
Other notes from the Western Conference:
- Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen was fined $5K for cross-checking Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced today. The infraction came during last night’s contest between the two teams, one that saw the Wild end the Stars’ season. Rantanen had a strong campaign for Dallas, scoring 77 points in 64 games. He put up seven points in the team’s six-game series loss, but his overall impact left some, including Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, wanting more.
- Injured Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson hit the ice in a standard jersey for the team’s practice today, but that should not be viewed as a sign that his return is imminent. Per Sin Bin Vegas, head coach John Tortorella said that Karlsson’s inclusion was more about getting him around the team as he rehabs than anything else. Karlsson was limited to playing in just 14 games during the regular season as a result of his injury, which is of the lower-body variety. GM Kelly McCrimmon has already indicated that Karlsson is unlikely to return this year unless the Golden Knights have a deep run in the playoffs.
Rantanen is an undisciplined hot head that scored just 22 goals in the regular season, The Stars may want to rethink his inflated value.
He’s a diver – one of the worst in the league. Always has been a cheat and probably always will be. Prone to sulking and losing his temper.