Flames Name Hay As Head Coach

NHL teams

"I look forward to the challenge in the future here in Calgary," Hay said. "Our expectations are the playoffs. There's a core foundation in place, we have to continue to improve on this."

Hay was an assistant coach with the Flames during the 1995-96 season, the last year the team made the playoffs. He then became the head coach of the Coyotes, but was fired after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

"My hockey teams have always played entertaining hockey. We let offensive players have some creativity and that hopefully leads to more offensive play," Hay said.

He later spent time as an assistant coach for Anaheim before becoming coach and general manager of the Western Hockey League's Tri-City Americans, where he spent the last two years.

"We are very excited to bring Don Hay to the Flames organization as head coach," Flames general manager Craig Button said. "Don has proven he has the ability to develop teams that perform well and achieve success. We strongly believe that Don is capable of meeting the challenge."