Kirk Muller: a candidate for the Flames head coaching position

Despite his brilliant professional career in the NHL (both as a coach and player), Kirk Muller wasn’t a head coach for very long. From 2011-2012 to 2013-2014, he was the Hurricanes’ pilot, but that’s about it.

Otherwise, he was an assistant coach with the Canadiens and, more recently, the Flames.

By the way, Calgary is looking for a coach and Muller is among the candidates. That’s what Elliotte Friedman mentioned.

Friedman on Flames head coaching: “The word is from some of the people is that they do plan on giving legit chances to their 3 internal candidates, Ryan Huska, Kirk Muller, who I believe has interviewed with a couple of other teams, and also Mitch Love, the 2-time AHL COTY”.

– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) May 28, 2023

Ryan Huska and Mitch Love, who are also coaches in the Flames organization, are also being considered for the job. As my colleague Pablo Herrera-Vergara reported a week ago, Captain Kirk is attracting interest from all corners of the NHL.

Friedman believes a few teams have interviewed him, in fact.

If Craig Conroy really wants to hire the next Flames head coach from among the in-house options, I don’t think Muller is the best option. Mitch Love, head coach of the Wranglers in the AHL, has won the last two titles for the league’s best head coach. Love doesn’t have Muller’s NHL experience, however, and in the end, that may be what tips the scales.

In addition to these three candidates, Peter Laviolette and Gerard Gallant are two who are making a lot of noise in Alberta. Both are highly experienced coaches. On the one hand, Gallant may be the perfect coach for Jonathan Huberdeau and, on the other, Laviolette has always had the respect of his players.

Alex Tanguay, Andrew Brunette, Marc Savard and Travis Green are other candidates who could go a long way in the hiring process.

In short, the team’s new GM, Craig Conroy, will have his work cut out for him this summer.

Highlights

– What a tournament!

Sam Montembeault

1.42 GAA, .939SV%, 1 shutout.

6-1 record

Gold medalist 🥇#IIHF2023 #IIHF #IIHFWorlds 🇨🇦@HabsUnfiltered #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/MzCPevfdCM

– Matt Smith (@Snakebite350) May 28, 2023