'Bout Time: Calgary Cans Keenan

“My expectation is to be here to fulfill my contract.” said Flames coach Mike Keenan following the team's second consecutive first round exit last month. However, his expectations were not the same of the expectations that truly matter, Flames GM Darryl Sutter. Today, Sutter relived Keenan of his coaching duties after just 2 seasons in the Stampede City. The Flames GM went on to say in his statement "We believe this is a necessary change required to allow our team to continue toward our objective of winning the Stanley Cup".

Despite the Flames impressive 88-60-16 record under Keenan, there was simply no excuse for the team's lack of playoff success. The Flames have gone just 5-8 with Keenan behind the bench in the NHL Playoffs, failing to make it beyond the Western Conference Quarterfinals in both seasons. The 2007-08 Playoffs created an even larger controversy in Calgary when Keenan pulled starting goaltender Miikka Kipprusoff out of the game late in the 2nd period of Game 7 in favor for Curtis Joseph, killing any chance of a Flames comeback. Kipper wasn't alone, as Keenan's rumored dispute with Alex Tanguay's style of play led to the left-winger waiving his no-trade clause in favor for a trade to Montreal.

Calgary was the 8th stop for Keenan, who's only Stanley Cup Championship came with the legendary 1994 New York Rangers. The future is undoubtedly uncertain for the former Boston coach, and for good reason. It's very possible that Keenan is becoming 'out of sync' with the current NHL standards of coaching a team towards another Stanley Cup considering the constant evolution of the way hockey is played.

Keenan may have the reputation of being a "no nonsense" style of coach, but it's no longer 1994. He's not coaching Mark Messier, Brian Leetch and Adam Graves anymore. His totalitarian attitude towards his players simply doesn't work on a team of veterans and guys who have "been there before" and/or make millions of dollars. The group of proven NHLers in the Flames line-up simply didn't respond to being treated as if they were minor leaguers being taught a lesson of how to perform, and Keenan had to go.

Flames GM Darryl Sutter, who certainly has to be feeling the hinges off his job security loosening has yet to name a replacement for Iron Mike. With 3 jobs now officially open for the job of NHL head coach in Minnesota, Edmonton and now Calgary, options for a boss behind the bench may become a bidding war.

A name that should intrigue any Flames fan is Peter Laviolette. Winning the Stanley Cup is something Laviolette has experienced before, when he coached the Carolina Hurricanes to a 7 game Stanley Cup series win over the Edmonton Oilers in 2006. Laviolette's track record is more than acceptable, as he's also been the coach of the United States Olympic hockey team and was at one point the U.S's winningest head coach in NHL history. Laviolette's fast and aggressive style may just be what the Flames need, as they were consistently out-skated by the Blackhawks in their 1st round loss. However, Laviolette's services are definitely going to be a hot commodity among other teams without coaches.

Next to Laviolette, a good option for the Calgary Flames could be former Bruins coach Mike Sullivan, who's currently serving as an assistant under Rick Tocchet's staff in Tampa Bay. Sullivan's success as a head coach came with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04, where he coached the team to a Northeast Division title only to be eliminated in the 1st round by the Montreal Canadiens. Following the lockout, Sullivan's Bruins struggled and went from first to last in the division. However, Sullivan should not be held at fault for the struggles of the 2005-06 Bruins, who came into out of the lockout completely unprepared and eventually traded their captain during the season.

However, there's no doubting that Darryl Sutter's brother and coach of the New Jersey Devils, Brent is also in the running for the job behind the Flames bench. Despite being under contract with the Devils, Brent Sutter has expressed his longing to be back in Alberta. A longing that can be changed by his own brother. However, Brent has stated before that he wouldn't like to be under the spotlight of his hometown by coaching the Flames, nor would he want to work under his brother. Surely the speculation will run rampant until a replacement is announced, but Brent Sutter and Darryl Sutter's connection could possibly lead to a family reunion in Calgary.

After these three options, the choices become unlikely and if you ask me, possibly undeserving. Michel Therrien, who was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins after a sluggish start and lack of consistency in February is sure to be a name that's thrown around. However, Therrien's lack of playoff success could be a turn-off for the Flames considering why Keenan was fired. Ted Nolan, who's last coaching job came with the New York Islanders in the 2007-08 season is also a very unlikely, but possible choice. Another unlikely choice is former Canadien coach Guy Carbonneau, who was fired late in the season by Canadiens GM Bob Gainey.

Keenan's ousting in Calgary is just beginning of a re-tooling in Calgary. The Flames will have 11.4 million dollars to spend in this year's market if the NHL salary cap is to stay the same. They'll have to utilize this money to either re-sign free agents such Adrian Aucoin, Michael Cammalleri and Todd Bertuzzi notably, or move the team towards becoming younger and faster. With the interviewing for a coaching position due next, we will certainly get an idea of where the Calgary Flames are heading as a franchise just by Keenan's yet to be determined replacement.