5 Flames Head Coach Candidates if Ryan Huska is Fired

It’s been a long and hard fall from NHL grace for the Calgary Flames since their Pacific Division title in 2022.

After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third straight season, the Flames opened their 2025-26 season with a thud, tumbling towards the bottom of their division and inching closer to relying on lottery luck. 

Take one look at the hockey odds, and the picture painted of the Flames’ season is not pretty.

Their NHL playoff odds continue to sag, and with an apparent lack of appetite for a full rebuild with a new arena on the horizon, the temperature is starting to heat up for head coach Ryan Huska, even after signing an extension this past October.

If the Flames determine that Huska isn’t the man for the job, here are a few potential head coach options that could find a gig in Calgary.

5 Flames Head Coach Candidates if Ryan Huska is Fired

Marc Savard: Former Assistant Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs

Despite the Maple Leafs deciding to fire Marc Savard in December, it’s hard to fault the former NHL All-Star, given the state of things in Leafs Nation.

Savard lacks head coaching experience; however, his name has come up in the past as a top candidate for openings, including with the Calgary Flames just three seasons ago.

A move into the bench boss role for the Flames could be a logical next step for the Ottawa, Ontario native, having previously served in a role with the club during the 2023-24 NHL season.

Alex Tanguay: Assistant Coach, Detroit Red Wings

A two-time Calgary Flame and former teammate of general manager Craig Conroy, Alex Tanguay has served as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings for the past five seasons.

Tanguay’s time with the Red Wings hasn’t resulted in enormous team success yet, but as the power-play coach, that unit has fared well under his tutelage. 

Ranking 26th in the NHL in his first year, Detroit’s power play has developed into one of the league’s most lethal attacks, ranking in the league’s top half each of the last three seasons.

That includes a 27% conversion rate during the 2024-25 season, the highest in Detroit’s 100-year history.

Gerard Gallant: Former Head Coach, Shanghai Dragons

Gallant has been out of the NHL since the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he and the New York Rangers decided to mutually part ways.

Earlier this year, however, the 2018 Jack Adams Trophy winner returned to the rink for the 2025-26 season with the KHL’s newest club: the Shanghai Dragons, though he returned to North America later in the season amidst reported health issues.

If Gallant decides he’s not done coaching yet, the 62-year-old serves as a strong fit with the Flames, given his defence-first system.

Considering Calgary’s roster construction, with 2025 Calder Trophy runner-up Dustin Wolf and their heavy investment into their defence, there are enough similarities to Gallant’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers to see the makings of a good match between the pair.

Dave Lowry: Assistant Coach, Calgary Flames

Despite hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Dave Lowry’s Calgary connections run deep.

Lowry concluded his 19-year NHL career with the Flames (2000-04), serving as captain his first two seasons before Conroy eventually supplanted him.

Following his retirement, the former hard-nosed forward moved on to coach the city’s WHL squad, the Calgary Hitmen, first as an assistant before taking over the top job on the bench and leading the team to the 2009 WHL Final with a remarkable 59 wins.

From there, Lowry returned to the Flames as an assistant coach for three seasons, before venturing on to various other spots between the WHL and NHL as a head coach and assistant.

This season, Lowry has returned to the city he knows so well, hired by the Flames ahead of training camp to replace Brad Larsen, who departed the team for personal reasons.

Lowry’s lengthy resume, even without an NHL head coaching job to his name, appears well-suited to step into a prominent role, especially with a team and city he’s linked so strongly with.

Pete DeBoer: Free Agent

Perhaps the most sought-after coach on the market, Peter DeBoer is no stranger to turning things around quickly, wherever he lands.

The 57-year-old has reached the Conference Finals or better in his first year with his last four teams, including trips to the Stanley Cup Final with the New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks.

Most recently, DeBoer served as head coach of the Dallas Stars for three seasons, averaging nearly 50 wins each year and reaching the Western Conference Final all three seasons.

Known for his strong possession teams and offensive lean, DeBoer’s system would be a big departure from the Flames’ current structure, but could be a welcome addition given the youth infusion Calgary is set to embark on.