[ComixZone]

Francis and Steinberg on Fan 960.

Both are in alignment that it's the fanbase at large that wants a rebuild, which is why Francis' article below uses "defiant" as the title of the article.

- Maloney doesn't want a rebuild, it's direction from ownership
- Bunch of really soft talk around "culture" and how it's the important thing and what they're worried about (which is hilarious, because it's not a winning culture)
- Right now, Maloney is still hell bent on making the playoffs, and Francis says that's tone deaf
- What the Flames want to do (make the playoffs) has only been done once in 55 years considering their current position/hole
- Francis thinks they should change the message, and it doesn't have to be "we're tanking and giving up"
- Gives Maloney credit for saying things that will be wildly unpopular
- Organization is sticking to their guns

<my thoughts -> we are Buffalo West if we continue down this path>

(will keep updating as I listen)

- This horrific start has not changed the Flames plans at all

Steinberg muses "this is what they're saying publicly, but the actions better be different than what we're hearing" is what Steinberg's takeaway was

- Steinberg understands why fans are frustrated
- Steinberg believes this is what the organization is believing right now, but he knows there are big conversations happening behind closed doors right now, believes there is significant debate behind closed doors

<my thoughts -> our 5 managers aren't aligned>

- Steinberg hopes the Flames do pivot direction
- Steinberg believes Buffalo isn't really the risk, because they're the worst run organization and that it's not a good comparison (thanks for that Pat)
- Steinberg goes on to list all the success that stand in opposition of Buffalo's incomptence, really hammering that Buffalo is not what this team should be pointing at
- Steinberg says they can say whatever they want, but what needs to happen is very clear whether the organization is willing to admit it or not

- Francis says there's an exhaustion in this market of the way Flames have been doing business and what has happened here during his time covering the Flames (31 years)
- Francis says those 31 years have been nothing but rinse and repeat over those 31 years
- Francis says fans are justified in wanting a different approach
- Francis argues for embracing this year

- Francis says he knows (and Steinberg agrees) Andersson is getting traded, but downplays what we'll get in return for him
- Francis says they NEED to embrace this year, and says "if you don't adapt in life you die"

- Francis says Maloney told him that if in February we're still sitting here, things will change

<my thought -> I'm cheering for losses and justified in doing so, because this organization NEEDS this failure>

- Steinberg asks Francis if he thinks the Flames will be pragmatic and embrace this season, Francis responds "Yeah, I think they will - will they make all the right moves? No, and we'll debate that for years"
- Francis follows-up "come February, March we will be having this same conversation"
- Francis says Maloney says the GMs (the whole group) have freedom to do what they want, the direction is set by them (the GMs), not ownership
- Francis said requests for Conroy were shot down, and they were said you get Maloney
- Maloney did not receive feedback, and didn't think his last interview (with Parker) went bad/thought it was fine

- Steinberg believes the Flames will end up embracing this season

<everything being said makes me truly believe that Maloney is in fact serious about still making the playoffs - and that we won't see trades before the deadline - and that yes, this whole having 67 General Managers is in fact ridiculous and there are too many cooks in the kitchen>

- Francis says that devoid of action, all fans have is hope, and that Maloney's interviews have killed that hope
- Francis says "not a chance" they trade all of Kadri, Coleman, Andersson this season, he'd be surprised if they traded more than one
- Francis says tomorrow's interview includes Kadri talk, and that Maloney says "we need more Kadri, not less"

- Steinberg says THIS MARKET would support a rebuild, of any market anywhere, this one would do it
- Steinberg believes a rebuild would see ticket sales/jersey sales improve here, not trend down because of the excitement

- Francis adds the Flames are not a hot ticket now, with their current direction and that if they keep marching down this path, they'll suffer on that front without rebuilding
- Francis says how you fix ticket sales is bring in top draft picks
- Francis says what this team needs is what we'd get with the draft, and Maloney didn't agree and that they just need to draft well...<my thoughts -> further pushing me into straight up wanting Maloney fired right now>

- Maloney says they still haven’t closed the door on Andersson, but Francis/Steinberg both “know how this will end”
- Maloney “who knows what happens, we haven’t closed the door” (on Raz)

More coming in part 2 of the interview tomorrow.