GM Brad Treliving parts ways with Calgary Flames

After nine seasons, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving is parting ways with the team.

In a tweet, the team says the decision was “mutually agreed” upon.

The #Flames and Brad Treliving have mutually agreed to part ways.

Don Maloney has been promoted to President of Hockey Operations and will also hold the position of Interim General Manager.

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) April 17, 2023

“The #Flames and Brad Treliving have mutually agreed to part ways,” the tweet reads.

“Don Maloney has been promoted to president of hockey operations and will also hold the position of interim general manager.”

Treliving’s contract was set to expire on June 30.

In a news release, the Flames say the process to secure a new GM will begin “immediately.”

“It’s a difficult day when you must part ways with a quality colleague and friend,” said CSEC President and CEO John Bean.

“We are grateful of Brad’s contributions over the past nine years and wish him every success in his future, both personally and professionally. But for our fans and our business, we need to move forward, and we are confident with Don’s experience that we will find the right general manager to build on Brad’s work and lead our team to the Stanley Cup.”

Maloney heads into his sixth season with the Flames, previously the senior vice president of hockey operations. He joined the club as a scout in 2016.

Extension offered to GM

The interim GM, who’s previously served in management roles for the New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Phoenix Coyotes, spoke with reporters Monday.

“Today’s not a good day for me. It’s not,” Maloney said. “The Stanley Cup Playoffs start tonight, and we’re not playing, number one. Number two, Brad Treliving is a good friend and, I think, a very good hockey man. He left us, for his reasons. But we move on.”

Meanwhile, Bean told reporters Treliving was offered an extension, but the decision to step away was his decision.

“You kind of get it — he’s been here nine years,” Bean said. “These are really high-pressure jobs. They’re exhausting at times. And you can say that they look glamorous and it’s all fun, but it’s hard work. And there comes a point in time, whether you’re a general manager or you’re something else, that you come to a conclusion that, ‘Boy, maybe I need to give my body and my brain a break.'”

This comes as the Flames finished a disappointing season as they missed the playoffs.

The team missed the playoffs two times over the past three seasons while making the playoffs five times with Treliving as GM.

Calgary finished with a 38-27-17 record, with 93 points, finishing ninth in the Western Conference and 16th overall.

Their hopes were dashed with a shoot-out loss to the Nashville Predators on April 10.

Read More: Calgary Flames’ playoff hopes end with 3-2 shootout loss to Nashville Predators

The Calgary Flames are the second team to change GMs in the 2023 off-season.

Pittsburgh fired its GM Ron Hextall, assistant GM Chris Pryor, and president of hockey operations Brian Burke.

Meanwhile, the team was expected to challenge for the Pacific Division title after an off-season that saw Treliving bring in Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri and Mackenzie Weegar after trading long-time stars Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk.

According to Maloney, the off-season Treliving steered the Flames through last summer, was a factor in the decision.

“He was the one that was making all the calls until midnight. And I really do think it took its toll,” Maloney said.

“After nine years, he just needs a break. He needs a break from what he was doing.”

Maloney, whose friendship with the former GM goes back decades, shared how the decision-making process progressed.

“Brad, as you all know, as was reported, was offered an extension, was wanted back in training camp to begin, and several times. So there was a point that John and I had a conversation, full transparency, with Brad,” Maloney said. “Really, I thought for sure Brad would re-sign. I’m as close to him as anybody, and up until he told me Wednesday that he couldn’t do it, that was the first time that the reality was that he just needs to take some time.

“So, we had some conversations about the worst-case scenario, if Brad does leave, and this is why I’m sitting here today.”

Treliving signed Huberdeau to an eight-year, $84 million contract and Kadri to a seven-year, $49 million deal.

Kadri finished the season with 52 points, 24 goals and 32 assists, while Huberdeau finished with 55 points, 15 goals and 40 assists. The former had 87 points with Colorado in the previous season, and the latter had 115 points with Florida.

Meanwhile, Tkachuk finished the 2022-2023 season fifth in scoring with 108 points.

There has been no word on the future of bench boss Darryl Sutter, who signed an extension through 2024 in October.

However, Maloney says he will be “looking at everything,” including coaching.

-With files from The Canadian Press and Sportsnet Staff