'BEST PERSON TO CARRY US FORWARD'

There were three key qualities that Brad Treliving wanted clear on the resume of his new head coach:
The ability to teach.
To inspire.
And to be disciplined and accountable.
When decision time came, a frontrunner emerged.

"Those are the three main areas (of coaching) and I think Geoff is excellent in all three," the Flames GM said Monday, emphatically announcing Ward - the former 'interim' bench boss - as the 20th head coach in franchise history.
"There's a part of this game where there's a technical side to it. But I think the ability to genuinely inspire people and push them beyond places that they think they can get to…
"I felt Geoff was the absolute best person to carry us forward."
Ward, who held the interim tag since taking over the top job in November of last year, led the Flames to a 25-15-3 record in the regular season before advancing to the Stanley Cup playoffs and knocking off the Winnipeg Jets 3-1 in the Qualifying Round.
He was lauded by the players for his communication style - how he empowered individuals to "be part of the program," to have a voice, and really take ownership of what is ultimately their team.
Ward is a teacher by trade and has worked tirelessly on that part of his profession over the years, earning his stripes at every stop on this now 20-year journey in the coaching ranks.
While the title may be a new one for the 58-year-old Waterloo native, Treliving insists there's no greenery in Ward's talents.
He's earned it.
And he's ready to help take the Flames to the next level.

"It's an opportunity he's worked long and hard at," Treliving said. "This is a guy who's got lots of experience behind the bench at all sorts of levels. His experience, coupled with what he did with our team, and from learning and getting to know him on a head coach and a manager basis, that relationship has only strengthened.
"I'm ecstatic to name him as the head coach."
Treliving went through a "process" in identifying what was needed from the new skipper.
In other words, Ward wasn't handed the keys because he was the incumbent and already had an office at 555 Saddledome Rise. Rather, he, too, was put under the microscope and was heavily scrutinized for his performance, just like the players would be after any season, good or bad.
But Ward, who ultimately signed a multi-year deal, has the credentials, the support of his players and a proven track record as a Stanley Cup winner that would make him an attractive candidate for any team at any point in their championship pursuit.
"Geoff's not the coach here because it's the path of least resistance or because he was here," Treliving said. "You want the very best person for the position.
"We're always going to see things a little bit different, but we have to be connected in terms of how we get to where we want to get to, and to make sure there's a consistent them of how we see the game, how we want to play, and what we see as important.
"Those can be hard discussions, but they have to be done.
"You're aware of what's out there in the coaching landscape, but at the end of the day, once I completed the process and with spending a lot of time with Geoff and our management group here, I felt Geoff was the absolute best person to carry us forward."

With Ward at the helm, the attention now turns to the rest of the staff, which includes assistant coaches Martin Gelinas, Ryan Huska, Ray Edwards, video coach Jamie Pringle, and goaltending guru Jordan Sigalet.
Edwards, in particular, joined the staff on Dec. 6, shortly after Ward took over as the lead man and vacated his post as the team's lone associate coach.
Whether or not he remains on staff or returns to his full-time role as Director of Player Development remains to be seen.
"We're going to look at that now," Treliving said. "Geoff and I are going to sit down and have those conversations.
"I would say this: The staff did a good job. Whenever we spoke about Geoff and the talk about the job he did, I think along with that is the job the staff did. I commend all of them. For me being able to watch it, there's great synergy, there's great debate in the coaches' room, and they push each other. There isn't one person that has all the answers here.
"We have to push each other."
And that, right there, is what Ward is all about.
Everyone has a voice.
While the top guy is ultimately in charge and has the final say on most matters on the bench, everyone is a part of the solution if they choose to be.
That's the culture he's built and hopes to continue all the way to a Cup here in Calgary.
"I was looking for the best coach for our team," Treliving said. "With Geoff, he's just now completed 40-some-odd games plus playoffs as a first-time head coach. I think he's got the ability to become a top, top coach in this league.
"That's what makes me excited."