[united]

The Flames held their pre-trade deadline fan forum tonight. As always, the summary is paraphrased 100% from memory so be aware the tone may come across wrong as could the context. I'll try my best. And remember not to shoot the messenger - these are their thoughts and opinions not mine.

Anyone else there please add or correct. Surely I completely misunderstood some points.

Thanks again to the Flames for putting these on once or twice a year.

Current season
- Hartley and Treliving view the season as a disappointment - goal was always to make the playoffs. They expect to make the playoffs every year. That said, they haven't lost sight of the long-term goal which is to be a Stanley Cup contender every single year.
- Last season every single bounce went the Flames way. Wouldn't say it publicly, but knew things wouldn't go that way this year. But with roster changes they expected to improve regardless.
- Question about the team's response to Gaudreau getting boarded/cross-checked/hit from behind last night: Treliving says he was disappointed in the team's response. The referees have an obligation to protect the safety of the players but when they neglect to enforce the rules teams have to enforce them themselves. Like that Bollig challenged Manson the next shift he was out, but wanted a more immediate response when it was clear the officials were not going to stop the liberties. Gives teams the green light to continue. Burke, on the other hand, thought the Flames response was perfect: Bollig challenged Manson at the first opportunity but did so without taking a minor penalty. In a one-goal game in today's NHL it's not worth going shorthanded. Said you could tell Bollig embarrassed Manson front of both teams and the crowd and Boudreau hardly played him the rest of the night as a result and so Manson wouldn't get hurt. Said Engelland also provides that intimidation factor and if neither Bollig or Engelland were dressed the Ducks would have continued - their presence stopped it.
- Biggest reason the PK is bad is faceoffs. Every shorthanded faceoff win kills 20-30 seconds off the powerplay while a loss equal immediate setup. Also the Flames forwards have not killed smartly. Working hard on both faceoffs and PK.
- Really happy with Frolik and Hamilton. Committing that much cap with Gaudreau and Monahan due for re-signing was risky but they are pleased with the results. The downside is their signings have turned okay contracts (mentioned Smid, Stajan by name) into bad contracts. Can't believe Hamilton is only 22. Hamilton enjoys analyzing video and many days is the last player to leave the rink.
- Early in the season a lot of the Flames' younger players completely lost their confidence and it took them until December to regain it. Once the Flames were that far back come November it was going to be a huge task to gain the ground back.
- Also, the younger guys like Monahan, Gaudreau, and now Bennett are facing top forwards and top defenders every night which is not easy. Monahan facing a Stanley Cup winner with two Olympic gold medals in Ryan Getzlaf is incredibly tough given Monahan is only 21.
- The coaches and management don't and will never judge players on counting stats (goals, assists). It's all about the process. If you play the game the right way and don't cheat the points will come. Young players tend to get in a bad streak and start cheating their responsibilities because they have been groomed since youngsters to equate points with success. Used the example of Grandpa giving youngster a treat every time he scores no matter if he played a good game or not.
- To the previous point, mentioned Sam Bennett as a player who is years beyond his age in that regard. Awful slump yet kept grinding and doing what he was asked. Held daily meetings with him to show him what he was doing was good despite getting no counting stats. Now he's exploded, they all feel he's been rewarded.
- Fan asked about the Flames poor gap control. Hartley and Burke mentioned they agree it's a big problem, but they lay a lot of the blame on forwards who aren't good puck managers. Defencemen keep getting caught flat-flooted because forwards commit high-zone or neutral zone turnovers. Unacceptable and an ongoing issue.
- Flames will continue slowly developing youngsters with limited minutes against easy opposition until they have continuously proven they are capable. Did it with Monahan, Gaudreau, and early this season with Bennett. Sometimes frustrating for fans but they believe it's the right way and will continue doing so.
- Flames need to get bigger, but not if it makes them worse. Anaheim showed that again last night.
- According to the Flames' internal statistics, they are a positive-ratio scoring chance team this season (think % like corsi). This season they average 8-12 against per game depending on pace of opposition, and 16-18 for. It's a good start but room for improvement.
- Flames and analytics: Queue Burke lampost quote (yes, it did come out). Flames use their own advanced stats but they aren't the first or the second priority when evaluating players - but yes part of the equation.

Contracts
- Would not talk about any of the Flames' upcoming UFAs, other than they have quite a few.
- Flames still believe in the second contract - queue Burke's story about Penner and his anger. Flames pointed Subban and recently Ryan Murray as examples bridge deals do still exist for high end young players. Also said the Flames will pay RFAs what they think they are worth on second deals or the player can sit at home and watch, like Drouin is now (watching from home).
- Flames absolutely will not hand out full NTC or NMC for the full length of contracts. Partial are fine in the right circumstances but full is not acceptable. Lost out on a player because they wouldn't budge from partial while eventually another team did and went full. So be it.
- Disappointed in Joni Ortio (NHL and AHL) and thinks Ortio would give the same assessment of his own play. Undecided what his future will hold right now.

Prospects/draft
- See the draft as a big three, then five or six in the next tier, then fairly weak after that.
- The performances at the WJHC by draft eligible players was the best they had ever seen. Completely dominated 19-year-olds.
- Happy with Kylington, Anderson, and Kulak.
- 50/50 shot they sign a college free agent this year. Seems they seldom pan out. Burke pumped Bozak as one who did.
- Mark Jankowski: every facet of his game is good except pace of play. What they mean by pace is speed and decision making - still too slow for NHL. Every other piece is there, though. Mentioned again he could go free agent in August and the Flames would receive a compensatory second-round pick, but they would try to sign him.

CalgaryNext
- Of course they took the chance to pump CalgaryNext (eye roll)
- The Flames want to build not just a rink for themselves but a venue for the city. If they just wanted a rink, they would start building one on the Stampede ground.
- Some other stuff. Really not worth typing as it's the same PR BS.

I'll add more as it comes to mind.