Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Calgary Flames agree to part ways with assistant coach Marc Savard

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Mike Gould | Last updated 5/22/24

The Calgary Flames and assistant coach Marc Savard have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced Wednesday afternoon.

Savard, 46, spent one season as an assistant coach on Ryan Huska’s staff in Calgary, during which he primarily oversaw the team’s power play. The Flames finished fifth in the Pacific Division during the 2023-24 regular season and failed to qualify for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“We would like to thank Marc for his commitment last season and also for his professionalism during this process to arrive at today’s decision,” Flames general manager Craig Conroy said in a statement released on Wednesday. “We wish Marc success with his future endeavors in the game.”

Since the regular season ended, rumors have swirled that the Toronto Maple Leafs have interest in Savard as a potential addition to Craig Berube’s staff. Wednesday’s news could function as the precursor to a forthcoming move.

The #Flames and Marc Savard have agreed to mutually part ways.
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) May 22, 2024

Under Savard’s tutelage, the Flames finished with the National Hockey League’s 26th-best power play during the 2023-24 season, scoring on 17.9 percent of their opportunities with an extra skater.

Savard joined the Flames from the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, with whom he had spent the previous two seasons as head coach. He also worked as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues in the 2019-20 season.

During his playing days, Savard was known as one of the league’s premier playmakers and won the Stanley Cup in 2011 as a member of the Boston Bruins. After being drafted by the New York Rangers, Savard played for the Flames from 1999 to 2002 before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers amidst a clash with then-Flames head coach Greg Gilbert.

Savard topped out with 97 points as a member of the Thrashers in 2005-06 before signing with the Bruins, with whom he finished his career. He played his final NHL games in the 2010-11 season before his career ended prematurely due to a series of concussions.

Through 807 career NHL games over parts of 13 seasons with the Rangers, Flames, Thrashers, and Bruins, Savard racked up 207 goals and 706 points. The Ottawa, Ontario product added 22 points in 25 playoff contests and was named to two NHL All-Star Games.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: