Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [Article] Calgary Flames: Alone at the bottom

Calgary4LIfe · 06-02-2025, 11:24 AM

https://champsorchumps.us/team/nhl/calgary-flames

For anyone who thinks that the article has a specific agenda, maybe go and click through every team's page. Look at their report cards. Judge for yourself.

I liked Treliving for a number of years as a GM. However, I started wanting him removed after so much 'nothingness'. His tenure was a decade of nothingness. Not horrible and embarrassing, but definitely not good either. Sure, there were 2 great regular seasons. There were some interesting and exciting moves that he made. There was the unexpected 2015 team (that I give him credit for as he was the GM). I am not going to try and paint a darker picture than necessary here - there were lots of things to cheer for.

However, simply go through and compare the Flames with other teams. The Flames were definitely not the worst, but I think they were amongst the worst.

Since 2015:
The longest consecutive playoff streak was 2 seasons. TWO!
Made the playoffs 5 times, and this is the 6th out (and third in a row).
Made the 2nd round twice. Won a grand total of 2 games in the 2nd round.
0 Conference finals.
0 Finals.

What grade would you assign this? They gave it a D+. It seemed harsh at first, but then take your time and compare this grade to other teams. See the results of the other teams. I grudgingly agree with their value now.

I think it is 100% fine to be both a fan and to be critical of the team that you are cheering for. I don't think I am being overly critical when I say that this team has been in the bottom 1/4 of the teams in the NHL when looking at their 20 years' worth of success, or 25, or 30 years.

It took the Flames 15 years to return to the Stanley Cup Finals after winning their first and only cup. It has been 21 years since the '04 run. It is an easily defensible argument to make when saying: "Since 2004, the Flames have been one of the least successful organizations in the NHL." Love the team, and there are definitely some vivid and wonderful memories since '04, but yeah, it is impossible to argue against the notion that the Flames are one of the worst teams in the NHL and have been for some time. Every 16 years, your favourite team 'should' be making the finals. That's the law of averages with their being 16 teams on each side. Some good teams take more than their fair share, and some bad teams never come close. What does that make Calgary?

So the whole "At least the Flames have never had a top 3 pick" is not something that I really care about. Had this team been a top-end team (even without winning a cup - but had multiple Stanley Cup appearances since '04, were a legitimate threat year-over-year, or were by every metric other than actually winning a Stanley Cup a 'top team', then the entire "top 3 pick" thing would be worthy of thumping your chest about. As it stands now, it may just be the underlying reason at the lack of success this team has experienced rather than something to be proud of. At any rate, there are no asterisks for crappy teams - even ones that embarrassingly tank - when they win the cup. Nobody pointed at Tampa for picking high when they won their cups. Conversely, if the Flames somehow win a cup without still drafting in the top 3, they don't get bonus points or even a mention of it anywhere.

Find a way to bring in the best players, even if you have to take a step back from trying to win. Nobility is the luxury of a winner, not a loser. The Flames are not attracting new fans because they haven't picked in the top 3 ever. Pittsburgh sure increased their fan base when they purposefully 'threw' a season to get Lemieux. No asterisk on the cups they won with him. I definitely don't want the Flames to sink so low and win at any costs - including pulling an Edmonton and sign questionable players and managers. No, winning is not worth that, and it is not 'win at all costs'.

It just would be damn nice to see the :Flames draft a number of players high and watch a young core group with superstars grow up and develop, and lift us out of our seats with excitement. It would be nice to know that your team is going to be a playoff team in the off-season, rather than 'wait and hope'. It would be nice to cheer for Calgary in the conference finals and Stanley Cup. I never expect a team I cheer for to win, but it would be nice to see them come close. This team drafts and develops so well, but is always missing enough quality at the top. Imagine there is enough quality at the top?

Either way, I will continue watching and cheering for this team win or lose. That's part of being a fan, and not just someone on and off the bandwagon. It also gives me the right to be critical of the franchise too. FWIW, I do believe that Conroy is actively planning on drafting high, and last season was unexpected. Let's see what he does this off-season. I have a lot of faith in Conroy. I also have enough faith in Edwards that he will allow Conroy the freedom implement and follow-through with his plan.

06-02-2025, 11:24 AM	#86
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	https://champsorchumps.us/team/nhl/calgary-flames For anyone who thinks that the article has a specific agenda, maybe go and click through every team's page. Look at their report cards. Judge for yourself. I liked Treliving for a number of years as a GM. However, I started wanting him removed after so much 'nothingness'. His tenure was a decade of nothingness. Not horrible and embarrassing, but definitely not good either. Sure, there were 2 great regular seasons. There were some interesting and exciting moves that he made. There was the unexpected 2015 team (that I give him credit for as he was the GM). I am not going to try and paint a darker picture than necessary here - there were lots of things to cheer for. However, simply go through and compare the Flames with other teams. The Flames were definitely not the worst, but I think they were amongst the worst. Since 2015: The longest consecutive playoff streak was 2 seasons. TWO! Made the playoffs 5 times, and this is the 6th out (and third in a row). Made the 2nd round twice. Won a grand total of 2 games in the 2nd round. 0 Conference finals. 0 Finals. What grade would you assign this? They gave it a D+. It seemed harsh at first, but then take your time and compare this grade to other teams. See the results of the other teams. I grudgingly agree with their value now. I think it is 100% fine to be both a fan and to be critical of the team that you are cheering for. I don't think I am being overly critical when I say that this team has been in the bottom 1/4 of the teams in the NHL when looking at their 20 years' worth of success, or 25, or 30 years. It took the Flames 15 years to return to the Stanley Cup Finals after winning their first and only cup. It has been 21 years since the '04 run. It is an easily defensible argument to make when saying: "Since 2004, the Flames have been one of the least successful organizations in the NHL." Love the team, and there are definitely some vivid and wonderful memories since '04, but yeah, it is impossible to argue against the notion that the Flames are one of the worst teams in the NHL and have been for some time. Every 16 years, your favourite team 'should' be making the finals. That's the law of averages with their being 16 teams on each side. Some good teams take more than their fair share, and some bad teams never come close. What does that make Calgary? So the whole "At least the Flames have never had a top 3 pick" is not something that I really care about. Had this team been a top-end team (even without winning a cup - but had multiple Stanley Cup appearances since '04, were a legitimate threat year-over-year, or were by every metric other than actually winning a Stanley Cup a 'top team', then the entire "top 3 pick" thing would be worthy of thumping your chest about. As it stands now, it may just be the underlying reason at the lack of success this team has experienced rather than something to be proud of. At any rate, there are no asterisks for crappy teams - even ones that embarrassingly tank - when they win the cup. Nobody pointed at Tampa for picking high when they won their cups. Conversely, if the Flames somehow win a cup without still drafting in the top 3, they don't get bonus points or even a mention of it anywhere. Find a way to bring in the best players, even if you have to take a step back from trying to win. Nobility is the luxury of a winner, not a loser. The Flames are not attracting new fans because they haven't picked in the top 3 ever. Pittsburgh sure increased their fan base when they purposefully 'threw' a season to get Lemieux. No asterisk on the cups they won with him. I definitely don't want the Flames to sink so low and win at any costs - including pulling an Edmonton and sign questionable players and managers. No, winning is not worth that, and it is not 'win at all costs'. It just would be damn nice to see the :Flames draft a number of players high and watch a young core group with superstars grow up and develop, and lift us out of our seats with excitement. It would be nice to know that your team is going to be a playoff team in the off-season, rather than 'wait and hope'. It would be nice to cheer for Calgary in the conference finals and Stanley Cup. I never expect a team I cheer for to win, but it would be nice to see them come close. This team drafts and develops so well, but is always missing enough quality at the top. Imagine there is enough quality at the top? Either way, I will continue watching and cheering for this team win or lose. That's part of being a fan, and not just someone on and off the bandwagon. It also gives me the right to be critical of the franchise too. FWIW, I do believe that Conroy is actively planning on drafting high, and last season was unexpected. Let's see what he does this off-season. I have a lot of faith in Conroy. I also have enough faith in Edwards that he will allow Conroy the freedom implement and follow-through with his plan.