The Athletic's annual front office fan survey was released today.
2021 NHL front office rankings: Fans weigh in on every team
This is the sixth annual version of the list, and it gets bigger and bigger every year. This year there were nearly 17,000 responses for those voting on just their favourite team and 650 for the full-team survey. The vast user base here in each market has been really beneficial in figuring out where different fan bases stand with much more specificity than the public could muster on its own. It’s always nice to see the dichotomy between the two judgments, but what the fans say about their own teams is definitely becoming a much bigger focal point.
Select fan comments:
“There seems to be a disconnect with the Flames management between what they want, and what the team actually needs.”
“It’s hard to identify what the plan is or what the team identity is supposed to be. All I see is mediocrity, and it’s tiring.”
“The Flames strategy of clinging to mediocrity rather than risk a rebuild seems to come down from ownership. So Flames management needs to be judged on the basis of how well they’re carrying out a bad plan.”
Author's commentary:
I don’t know what the plan is here and it seems neither do most Flames fans. Calgary was a mediocre team last year that didn’t make the playoffs in an all-Canada division, lost its captain, didn’t replace him, and are basically just going to run it back next year? I guess …
The Flames are at the same crossroads that all average teams are at when they realize they’re stuck in the mushy middle: go all-in or fold. Pick a lane and either try to contend or try to rebuild. Doing neither just delays the inevitable and wastes time for everyone and that lack of vision is obviously going to be frustrating to a hungry fan base. Only 4 percent were more confident in this team now than they were last year, the lowest of any team in the league. Do something!
- Treliving's Flames finished 24th.
- Flames fans had him ranked 23rd, with non-Flames fans ranking him 26th.
- Fell from 19th last year.
- Didn't grade 3/5 or higher in any category from non-Flames fans.
- Flames fans graded him 3.5 in the cap management category, while non-Flames fans graded him 2.8. This was his highest category among both sets of fans.
- On the other hand, Flames fans graded him 2.1 in free agency while non-Flames fans graded him 2.5.
- His lowest grade was in the Vision category where Flames fans graded him 2.1 while non-Flames fans graded him 2.2.
- Top 5: Lightning (1st), Avalanche, Red Wings, Panthers, Islanders
- Bottom 5: Sabres (32nd), Sharks, Coyotes, Canucks, Oilers
Accompanying graphic