Flames Daily: Treliving to Leafs, book it; Conroy desperately seeking Huberdeau swagger

Yes, it’s summer-like out there (remember, it’s not officially summer until June 21) but that doesn’t mean the Calgary Flames and NHL news pipeline outside the Stanley Cup playoffs stops flowing. Oh, no no no.

Burning for you

Tre to T.O.: I’d so very much like to take credit for being a verifiable Swami when it comes to the reports of ex-Flames GM Brad Treliving joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in the same capacity — very likely this week — but it makes too much sense given the Leafs said they wanted a proven manager after Kyle Dubas departed the team. I suppose the likes of Marc Bergeron and Peter Chiarelli are out there, but those two, while successful at times, have had rollercoaster rides as GMs — high highs, yes (Chiarelli was GM for Bruins Cup win in 2011; Bergeron in place when Canadiens made miracle Cup final appearance in 2021) but some low lows, too. Some Most of those Chia Oilers trades, woof. Treliving not so much. And say what you will about the Matthew Tkachuk deal, but the return to Calgary was still ‘A’ grade.

‘Bring the swagger’: New Flames GM Craig Conroy plans to talk to star Jonathan Huberdeau to no doubt pump his tires, and for good reason.

Coach list shortens: Strike a name from the potential Flames head coaching list — Andrew Brunette is now head coach of the Nashville Predators after new GM Barry Trotz fired John Hynes the same day.  . o O (Hmmm, would Hynes be a Flames coaching candidate now?)

Burke says Leafs right to dismiss Dubas: Brian Burke, recently fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins but also a longtime executive with a long list of teams that include the Flames and the Maple Leafs, is back commenting in the media. He sided with the Leafs letting GM Kyle Dubas walk, saying on a Toronto podcast that Dubas’s uncertainty, desire for a raise and more power in the organization was ” a huge problem.”

Stanley Cup final

Florida Panthers: A whole lotta South Florida is unexpectedly in line for pro sports championship glory at the same time.

And to think both the NHL’s Florida Panthers and NBA’s Miami Heat won Game 7s in Boston to reach the finals in their respective leagues.

The phenomenon of two teams from the same area playing in the finals of the two leagues has occurred nine times before, but it’s the first time two No. 8 seeds will compete for a championship at the same time, never mind they’re from the same city.

Only one NHL team has won a Stanley Cup as an eighth seed, by the way: the Los Angeles Kings in 2012. Game 1 of the Cup final is Saturday in Vegas.

Vegas Golden Knights: Defeated Dallas Stars head coach Peter De Boer wished his ex-players on VGK well in their Cup quest after losing the Western Conference final in six games. Vegas fired De Boer after the team missed the playoffs last season. Dallas then hired him.

Why can’t a Canadian team win the Cup?: Globe & Mail columnist Cathal Kelly is onto something here. His finger is finding the pulse on this question. I won’t give away the plot or even do a TL;DR. Has to do with expectations of fans on either side of the border.

Around the NHN network

Boston Bruins: So Tyler Bertuzzi is a free agent. The Bs acquired him at the trade deadline, which was a good move, but now he’s free to sign with whoever he wants without any compensation for Boston. I’m sure Bruins GM Don Sweeney doesn’t expect to re-up Bertuzzi given the salary cap hell Boston is in. Flames angle: Once upon a time, Todd Bertuzzi was a Calgary Flame. Just sayin’.

Detroit Red Wings: Speaking of salary cap and former Winged Wheelers x2, Steve Yzerman has a lot of it — $31 million, to be exact. The Motor City GM does have to look ahead to next summer when some significant names need new contracts, but this summer, Yzerman could spend rather freely like he did last year, when he signed prized goalie Ville Husso. Here’s a spitball from me: Would the Wings bring Bertuzzi back? Flames angle: Could Detroit be interested in taking on Calgary leading scorer Tyler Toffoli in a trade?

Montreal Canadiens: Habs aren’t going to re-sign one of their goalie prospects. That could be a concern given their goaltending cupboard is rather bare. Flames angle: Dan Vladar could be available on the trade market.