Calgary Flames fire head coach Bob Hartley

Flames GM Brad Treliving said that the firing of Bob Hartley on May 3, 2016, didn't just come from last season.

The Calgary Flames announced on Tuesday that it has decided to part ways with head coach Bob Hartley.

Also being let go is associate coach Jacques Cloutier.

Brad Treliving, the general manager of the Calgary Flames, addressed the media on Tuesday morning.

"Today is a tough day. This is a hard day. As you are aware, I met with Bob this morning and I relieved him of his coaching duties effective immediately."

Treliving did acknowledge Hartley's good work for the team during the conference. "He built a foundation in this organization and apart from all else, he put his heart and soul into this team every day. He bled for this team. Bob's a good coach, so I want to thank him for it."

He went on to say that the choice to go in a different direction didn't just come from this season.

"There's blood on a lot of hands. It starts with myself, there's responsibility with the players and it goes through organizationally. So, make no mistake, there is responsibility to bear outside of Bob."

Treliving said that he felt Hartley has taken the team as far as he can take it. He said that each coach is able to achieve things in certain ways and he knows that Hartley got a lot out of the players.

"As I've gone through the process for the past few weeks, I felt for us to go forward as an organization, it was time, it was important and it was critical that we made this decision."

At the end of the season, Treliving said that he took some time to step back and evaluate what had gone on and the change isn't just because the team didn't make the playoffs.

He said there are some issues on the team that could only be addressed with a fresh set of eyes. "Our special teams for a good part of the year were 30th in the league. There's some style of play issues in terms of how to more forward.

"Our goaltending was not good this year. That falls on the general manager. I need to fix that. The way we play in front of the goaltender needs to be fixed as well."

Treliving says that players won't be let off the hook with Hartley's departure. "Quite the contrary. This is on a lot of other people that need to take responsibility as well. Myself included, players included."

He said that they will be looking immediately for a replacement but there is no one in mind right now.

"There is no set timetable. The process will start today. I have a profile in my mind of what I am looking for. I feel I have a good idea of what gives us success and what can drag success out of our group," Treliving said. "We'll be thorough, we'll be extensive and when we find the match, I know we've found the right match."

There is a lot of speculation that the Flames will be looking to recruit Bruce Boudreau, who was just fired last week from his job with the Anaheim Ducks.

As for Hartley, some say he may end up with the Ottawa Senators.

Hartley would have been finishing his third full year later this year with the club, which ended out the season with a 35-40-7 record.

It was not even a year ago when Hartley was given the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top head coach.

At the time, he was credited with turning the team around from a dismal 77-point season in 2013-2014 to 97 points in 2014-2015 and a trip to the playoffs.

Hartley was the first Flames coach ever to be given the award.