Following the 1996–97 season, Gulutzan left North America to play for Finnish team Sport in Mestis, the second-highest hockey league in Finland. Following his short 35-game stint in Finland, Gulutzan returned to Fresno in 1998. Gulutzan would spend his final five years of professional hockey play with Fresno, being named the team's player-assistant in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons and winning the Bruce Taylor Cup as the WCHL playoff champions in 2002.
Coaching career
Gulutzan was head coach and general manager of the ECHL's Las Vegas Wranglers from 2003 to 2009, leading the team to two division championships, one Brabham Cup and an appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals. During the 2005–06 season, Gulutzan was awarded the John Brophy Trophy as the league's best coach and in 2008,[1] Gulutzan's Wranglers became the first team in the ECHL's 20-year history to have three-consecutive 100 point seasons. Gulutzan had been named the head coach of the National Conference All-Star team three-straight years, from 2006 to 2008, tying the ECHL record for most All-Star Game appearances by a coach.[2]
In 2011, Gulutzan became the front runner for the Dallas Stars' head coaching vacancy following the team's dismissal of head coach Marc Crawford at the conclusion of the 2010–11 season[3][4][5] and was named the head coach on June 16, 2011.[6] He was relieved of his duties on May 14, 2013.[7]
On July 24, 2013, it was announced that Gulutzan would be an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks.[8]
On June 17, 2016, Gulutzan was announced as the new head coach of the Calgary Flames following the dismissal of Bob Hartley.[9] On April 17, 2018, the Flames fired Gulutzan after the team missed the playoffs.[10]
On May 25, 2018, Gulutzan was announced as an assistant coach of Edmonton Oilers.[11]