Hartsburg cut from Flames coaching staff, Hartley seeks another assistant

CALGARY - The Calgary Flames continue to overhaul their coaching staff with the release of associate coach Craig Hartsburg.

New head coach Bob Hartley brought Jacques Cloutier on board as his assistant this week.

Hartsburg was on Brent Sutter's coaching staff for one season. Sutter and the Flames parted company in April after the team missed the playoffs for a third straight year.

Hartley is searching for another assistant, the Flames said Thursday in a statement that also quoted Hartsburg.

"I believe it is best for Bob Hartley, coming into a new coaching situation, to have his own staff," Hartsburg said. "I'm looking forward to my next venture in hockey.”

The 52-year-old from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., is back on the NHL job market. He was head coach of the Ottawa Senators for less than a season in 2008-09. The Sens fired him in February when the team was 17–24–7.

The former NHL defenceman has also been a head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks during his career.

Hartsburg coached Canada to back-to-back gold medals at the 2007 and 2008 world junior men's hockey championships.

He was with the Western Hockey League's Everett Silvertips for two seasons before joining the Flames.