NHL Notes: Flames Hire Canucks Assistant Glen Gulutzan as Head Coach

CALGARY, Alberta -- The Calgary Flames have hired Glen Gulutzan, an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks for the past three seasons, as their new head coach.

The move announced Friday is a homecoming of sorts for Gulutzan, who was coach and general manager of Calgary's ECHL affiliate in Las Vegas from 2003 to 2009. He posted a 254-124-55 record during his time with the Thunder and was named the league's coach of the year in 2006.

Gulutzan's previous experience as an NHL head coach came with Dallas from 2011 to 2013. The Stars went 64-57-9 under Gulutzan and missed the playoffs both seasons.

Gulutzan replaces Bob Hartley, who was fired May 3 after the Flames finished 35-40-7. Only Vancouver and Edmonton posted fewer wins in the Western Conference (see full story).

Coyotes: Cunningham signed to 1-year deal
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Coyotes have signed forward Craig Cunningham to a one-year contract.

Terms of the deal announced on Friday were not disclosed.

The 25-year-old Cunningham had an assist in 10 games with the Coyotes last season, spending most of the year with Springfield of the AHL. He had 22 goals and 24 assists in 61 games with the Falcons.

Cunningham, who was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins, has three goals and five assists in 63 career NHL games.

NHL: What would Las Vegas franchise be named?
Many factors go into naming a pro sports franchise

What's in a name? When it comes to a pro sports team, quite a bit.

With an NHL expansion franchise expected to begin play in Las Vegas during the 2017-18 season, speculation is already beginning to swirl about what the team will be called.

Black Knights keeps coming up because the Vegas expansion bid is run by a company called Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, the same name as prospective owner Bill Foley's financial services company. Foley graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, which calls its sports teams the Black Knights (see full story).