Report: Flames deny Penguins permission to contact Treliving

The Calgary Flames don't want the Pittsburgh Penguins contacting Brad Treliving about their general manger vacancy - at least for the time being.

The Penguins wanted to reach out to the ex-Flames GM as part of their initial round of interviews, but the Flames wouldn't allow it, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. Calgary said Pittsburgh would need to wait until Treliving's contract expires June 30 before contacting him.

Though the Flames are paying Treliving for another six weeks or so, the team and the executive agreed to part ways in mid-April. Don Maloney took over as president of hockey operations and interim GM.

The Penguins fired GM Ron Hextall along with president of hockey operations Brian Burke a few days before Calgary and Treliving made their decision official.

Pittsburgh reportedly interviewed 10-12 candidates in the first round of discussions about the GM role, including Peter Chiarelli and Marc Bergevin.

The Penguins are slated to draft 14th overall next month. Calgary will be on the clock two picks later.

Treliving assembled a Flames squad that won the Pacific Division last season. However, Calgary lost in the second round of the playoffs in 2021-22 and failed to make the postseason this campaign after a roller-coaster offseason in which management was forced to overhaul the roster.

The 53-year-old was initially lauded for acquiring Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk, but the former didn't mesh with head coach Darryl Sutter and had a disappointing season. Calgary fired Sutter in early May.

Treliving had served as Flames GM since April 2014. He drafted the likes of Dillon Dube, Rasmus Andersson, and Andrew Mangiapane and was never afraid to make a blockbuster trade or signing. In 2018, he landed Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin in an ill-advised swap with the Carolina Hurricanes in which he gave up future Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox.

The former GM signed Nazem Kadri to a seven-year, $49-million pact last summer, but the gritty forward had a somewhat disappointing campaign. Kadri enjoyed a career year with the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche last season.

Before joining the Flames, Treliving was the Arizona Coyotes' assistant GM.