Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

Lanny_McDonald · 04-18-2023, 04:52 PM

Time to take a look forward and see if there is a path out of the mess the Flames have found themselves in thanks to the fallout of the past couple weeks. Personally, I think there is a path forward here and one where the team can indeed come out of this smelling like a rose. It requires some transitions here and there, and some thinking outside the box. Here are my thoughts on how this can all work for the club and things shake out for the best with a future plan in mind.

General Manager

Personally, I think this is not as bad a situation as we think. The worst thing that COULD happen would be for Sutter to be named GM, but I don't think he has any interest in the job, which is why Malone was offered the position. I don't think Sutter is in the mix, which is good for the team.

Craig Conroy has been cutting his teeth and has the right tools for the job so does make some sense. He could be a solid addition and pick up where Treliving did from the soft skills and relationship perspective. We should not discount that important facet of the job. Relationships and relationship management are going to be key here. I would actually be comfortable with Conroy being GM so long as he had the right support. Maloney is a good "old school" check and balance but another guy to help out and be a little more business-centric would be extremely helpful. Would Brad Pascal in an associate or assistant GM role bring the right balance to the mix? I think that could make some sense and really help with continuity in the organization. Go with this troika and let things naturally evolve.

Coaching Staff

I'm all for cleaning house here. This should be a garage sale. Everything must go! That is unlikely to happen and we are stuck with Sutter for the time being.

The secret here is to try and minimize his impact on the team and introduce someone who has a similar strategy as Sutter but can also act as the middleman to the players. I think the Flames have that guy already in the system in Mitch Love. Bring him in as an associate coach and slowly transition Sutter out of the picture. Next bring in a couple of younger coaches who understand the changes in the game. Let Love help out in picking the young tacticians and come up with a staff that is more in touch with the league and how young players can positively impact the lineup. Love and a couple young guys to balance out the crusty dinosaur may make it easier for the young players to step in and find their places in the sun.

The Team

Figure out who wants to be here long-term and who doesn't. Ship out those who don't and move on. Sounds like Lindholm and Backlund are done so they need to be moved. Leaves a somewhat large hole in the middle, but two pieces that may help us recoup a player to help out. It is obvious that we're going to have to move out some salary and dip into the free agent market to plug some holes and focusing in on getting futures returns for the guys we are losing. If we can be tactical in nature I think we can make this work.

Out: Lucic, Lewis, Lindholm, Backlund, Markstrom/Vladar

This is going to free up some money that we can use to bring in some proven players that fit in the mix of fast and willing to battle, but also having the skill to play some east-west hockey.

Up from the farm: Pelletier, Coronato, Zary, Wolf

Youth movement, ENGAGE!

UFA Targets: J.T. Compher (28 - RS C/W), Colin White (26 - RS C)

Some may question these targets, but they play the right tyoe of hockey to be successful with the coaches and the mix of players. Compher is a Sam Bennett type player that Huberdeau should find success with. White is a responsible two-way player that has always given me a bit of a Yelle vibe and I think would be an outstanding replacement on the third or fourth line.

We go into 2023-24 with this lineup. Yes, I know it's not a Stanley Cup team but it would be fun to watch. Plus... just get in, and you never know (too soon?)!
Huberdeau-JT Compher-Toffoli
Mangipane-Kadri-Coronoto
Pelletier-Zary-Coleman
Dube-White-Duehr
Ruzicka

Weegar-Anderson
Tanev-Hanifin
Stecher-Zadorov

Markstrom/Vladar-Wolf

Hopefully we recoup some good assets from the departure of Backlund, Lindholm, and one of the goaltenders. Those futures will be important, as will any futures from players we can't extend and have to move at the next trade deadline.

It's ain't perfect, but it's a plan. It's an attempt to put a positive on what seems like a real negative situation, which I don't think is that bad. Get this done and I think we're headed in the right direction. All they need after that is shovels in the ground for a new building.

04-18-2023, 04:52 PM	#1
Lanny_McDonald Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2013 Exp:	An internal path forward? Time to take a look forward and see if there is a path out of the mess the Flames have found themselves in thanks to the fallout of the past couple weeks. Personally, I think there is a path forward here and one where the team can indeed come out of this smelling like a rose. It requires some transitions here and there, and some thinking outside the box. Here are my thoughts on how this can all work for the club and things shake out for the best with a future plan in mind. General Manager Personally, I think this is not as bad a situation as we think. The worst thing that COULD happen would be for Sutter to be named GM, but I don't think he has any interest in the job, which is why Malone was offered the position. I don't think Sutter is in the mix, which is good for the team. Craig Conroy has been cutting his teeth and has the right tools for the job so does make some sense. He could be a solid addition and pick up where Treliving did from the soft skills and relationship perspective. We should not discount that important facet of the job. Relationships and relationship management are going to be key here. I would actually be comfortable with Conroy being GM so long as he had the right support. Maloney is a good "old school" check and balance but another guy to help out and be a little more business-centric would be extremely helpful. Would Brad Pascal in an associate or assistant GM role bring the right balance to the mix? I think that could make some sense and really help with continuity in the organization. Go with this troika and let things naturally evolve. Coaching Staff I'm all for cleaning house here. This should be a garage sale. Everything must go! That is unlikely to happen and we are stuck with Sutter for the time being. The secret here is to try and minimize his impact on the team and introduce someone who has a similar strategy as Sutter but can also act as the middleman to the players. I think the Flames have that guy already in the system in Mitch Love. Bring him in as an associate coach and slowly transition Sutter out of the picture. Next bring in a couple of younger coaches who understand the changes in the game. Let Love help out in picking the young tacticians and come up with a staff that is more in touch with the league and how young players can positively impact the lineup. Love and a couple young guys to balance out the crusty dinosaur may make it easier for the young players to step in and find their places in the sun. The Team Figure out who wants to be here long-term and who doesn't. Ship out those who don't and move on. Sounds like Lindholm and Backlund are done so they need to be moved. Leaves a somewhat large hole in the middle, but two pieces that may help us recoup a player to help out. It is obvious that we're going to have to move out some salary and dip into the free agent market to plug some holes and focusing in on getting futures returns for the guys we are losing. If we can be tactical in nature I think we can make this work. Out: Lucic, Lewis, Lindholm, Backlund, Markstrom/Vladar This is going to free up some money that we can use to bring in some proven players that fit in the mix of fast and willing to battle, but also having the skill to play some east-west hockey. Up from the farm: Pelletier, Coronato, Zary, Wolf Youth movement, ENGAGE! UFA Targets: J.T. Compher (28 - RS C/W), Colin White (26 - RS C) Some may question these targets, but they play the right tyoe of hockey to be successful with the coaches and the mix of players. Compher is a Sam Bennett type player that Huberdeau should find success with. White is a responsible two-way player that has always given me a bit of a Yelle vibe and I think would be an outstanding replacement on the third or fourth line. We go into 2023-24 with this lineup. Yes, I know it's not a Stanley Cup team but it would be fun to watch. Plus... just get in, and you never know (too soon?)! Huberdeau-JT Compher-Toffoli Mangipane-Kadri-Coronoto Pelletier-Zary-Coleman Dube-White-Duehr Ruzicka Weegar-Anderson Tanev-Hanifin Stecher-Zadorov Markstrom/Vladar-Wolf Hopefully we recoup some good assets from the departure of Backlund, Lindholm, and one of the goaltenders. Those futures will be important, as will any futures from players we can't extend and have to move at the next trade deadline. It's ain't perfect, but it's a plan. It's an attempt to put a positive on what seems like a real negative situation, which I don't think is that bad. Get this done and I think we're headed in the right direction. All they need after that is shovels in the ground for a new building.