Rumor Mill: Treliving to walk away from Flames?

Treliving to walk away from Flames?

Hockey Night in Canada Analyst and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell on listeners to the FAN960 radio station in Calgary this morning. When asked about the specifics of contract negotiations between the Calgary Flames and its general manager Brad Treliving, Friendman said, “I think the price has gone up…I really believe this will come down to,’what’s the offer?’ Because I think if Treliving considers it a low ball, then we’ve got a problem.

It’s been assumed by most fans and analysts that the hold up in negotiations has been due to a lack of action on Flames management’s part, but could the hold actually be coming from Treliving’s side? When asked how Treliving ranks in terms of other free-agent general managers on the market, Elliotte said “He would be up there, there’s no question about that. How many GMs are available? How many GMs who made the playoffs in two of the last three years, in a league where it’s suddenly gotten pretty hard to make the playoffs, how many of those guys don’t have contracts now? And how many of those guys wouldn’t get a contract?” 

There’s little doubt that Treliving will be an NHL general manager in 2017-18 and beyond, but whether or not he holds that position with the Flames remains to be seen. The Los Angeles Kings and Buffalo Sabres both recently parted ways with their GMs and Treliving could command a lucrative contract with either team should he decide to pursue his options.