There are always a number of changes to organizations in the summer. This summer, the Flames made a change to their Assistant GM ranks, as well as multiple changes to their coaching staff in both the NHL and AHL levels. The Flames also added to their development, scouting, and data/analytics departments. Let’s detail the changes to the Flames organization below.
Promotions / Role Changes
Peter Hanlon – Hanlon was promoted to Assistant General Manager after previously serving as the Vice President of Communications with the Flames, a role he’s held since the 1997–98 season.
Sean Kelso – In a subsequent move, Kelso was promoted to Vice President of Communications. Kelso was previously the Director of Media Relations with the club.
Trent Cull – Cull has been promoted to assistant coach with the Flames. He began as the Head Coach of the Calgary Wranglers for the 2023–24 season before becoming an Interim Assistant Coach with the Flames following Brad Larsen’s departure for family reasons.
Brett Sutter – Sutter has been promoted to head coach of the Calgary Wranglers. He served as an assistant coach with the Calgary Wranglers last season. Sutter was the captain of the Calgary Wranglers in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.
Matt Stajan – Stajan joined the Flames and Wranglers last season as a skills consultant. He was previously an assistant coach with the Calgary Hitmen. The former Flame played nine seasons with the team.
Alex Robson – Robson was promoted to Director of Engineering, Hockey Analytics. Robson was previously a Data Engineer.
Individuals who have joined the organization
Dave Lowry – Lowry joined the Flames as an Assistant Coach a few weeks ago, following Brad Larsen’s departure. Calgary is a familiar spot for Lowry. He captained the Flames in the early 2000s as a player. After he finished his NHL career, Lowry joined the Calgary Hitmen as an assistant coach. He would then move into the head coaching role of the Hitmen, and then move to be an assistant with the Flames. After subsequent stops with the Victoria Royals, the Los Angeles Kings, Brandon Wheat Kings, Winnipeg Jets, and, most recently, the Seattle Kraken, Lowry returns to Calgary.
Brent Seabrook – The three-time Stanley Cup champion joined the Flames as part of the Player Development staff. He started working with the Flames ahead of development camp, where he was working with the defensive prospects. Alongside Michael Stone, the team now has two former NHL defencemen working in player development.
Joby Messier – Messier joined the Flames organization in-season. He’s focused on the NCAA. Messier previously served as an Amateur Scout with the Carolina Hurricanes from 2018–19 through the 2020–21 seasons.
Etienne Rouleau – Rouleau joined the organization this past season as a Data Analyst in their Data/Analytics department. Previously, Rouleau was a Scout & Coordinator with the University of Moncton in USports from the 2017–18 thru the 2021–22 seasons. He also served as a Scout & Analytics Coordinator with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL in the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons. Rouleau then moved on to the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL as a Scout & Analytics Coordinator from the 2020–21 to the 2023–24 season, before being promoted as the Director of Analytics with the Wildcats in 2024–25.
Individuals who have left the organization
Dan Lambert – Lambert was released from the final year of his contract as an assistant coach following the promotion of Trent Cull.
Brad Larsen – Larsen joined the Flames as an assistant coach before the 2024–25 season. Larsen left the club midway through the season to deal with a family matter. The Flames announced that Larsen would not be returning to the bench. We wish him and his family the best.
