There has been another interesting, and somewhat expected, development in the Calgary Flames’ search for a new head coach. Bill Peters, a product of Three Hills, Alberta and widely linked to the vacancy created with Glen Gulutzan’s firing on Tuesday, has officially opted out of the final year of his contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Several media figures are connecting the dots between him and the Flames.

Speaking on Sportsnet 960 The Fan during his weekly morning show hit, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted: “My expectation is that it’s going to get done. He’s going to be the coach in Calgary.”

The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun tweeted: “Source says the Flames called Carolina yesterday to ask permission to speak with Bill Peters. Hurricanes had no issue with it. And Peters today opted out of his Hurricanes deal anyway.”

Brad Treliving had Peters as his head coach two years ago at the World Championship and spent a lot of time with him. His Hurricanes had several stylistic similarities to Glen Gulutzan’s Flames, and Peters’ reputed bluntness might be a wake-up call for a team that often seemed to forget what time games started (and ended up behind the eight-ball after several woeful first periods).

It’s not a done deal, but there’s rarely this much smoke without some flames.