Mitch Love ‘to consider all options’ after missing out on Calgary Flames head coach job

As reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, Calgary Wrangles head coach Mitch Love is exploring his options this summer after not getting selected for the Calgary Flames’ bench boss gig.

According to Seravalli, Love still has term on his contract with the organization but will look to see what other options are available.

Love, 38, was believed to be one of the favorites to land the Flames’ coaching job after the team moved on from Darryl Sutter, the 2022 Jack Adams Award winner. The Flames are expected to announce that Ryan Huska, the team’s previous assistant coach, as the team’s next coach.

Love has won coach of the year honors in each of the past two American Hockey League seasons, his only two in the league.

Love’s rise through the ranks has been swift. After retiring from the Central Hockey League in 2011, he was hired as assistant coach with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips for 2011-12, a role he held until 2018. He then took over as coach of the Saskatoon Blades before the Flames snagged him in 2021.

In 2022, Love led the Stockton Heat to the third round before ultimately losing in six games to the Chicago Wolves. The Wolves went on to win the Calder Cup. The Heat relocated to Calgary in 2022-23, with Love guiding the team to first in the Pacific Division, just like he did with Stockton the year before. This time, though, the Flames posted a 51-17-3-1 record to make themselves one of the most dangerous teams in the league. They earned a bye out of the first round but eventually lost 3-2 to Coachella Valley in the divisional finals. The Firebirds currently lead the Hershey Bears 2-0 in the Calder Cup finals.

With the Columbus Blue Jackets expected to name Mike Babcock as the next coach, the only other team with a current vacancy is the New York Rangers. More likely, if Love was to leave the Flames’ organization, he’d look for an assistant coaching job in the NHL in hopes of moving his way up the ladder.