Francis: It's time for the Flames to get serious about bottoming out

[TheScorpion]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1981243924980371703

It says a lot to me that Francis is putting this out after this game

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames are on the cusp of what almost certainly looks like a lost season.

And the latest team to help put them there is a perfect example of how the Flames should proceed from here.

...

It’s time to get serious about bottoming out like the Habs did in 2022, just one year after a surprise run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

That was the year they drafted Juraj Slafkovsky first overall, followed by Lane Hutson in the second round as part of two straight seasons of pain, patience, and pruning.

And now? Despite being the youngest team in the league, they’re on the cusp of something real. Something sustainable. Something the Flames desperately need to emulate.

...

The Flames have long been stuck in hockey purgatory — not bad enough to bottom out, not good enough to contend.

It needs to end, meaning this early faceplant could be a blessing.

It’s time for Calgary to stop chasing the final playoff spot and start building something meaningful. That means embracing a lost season or two leading up to the new building.

[ComixZone]

Perfect. Mission McKenna can use all the help it can get, and some public spotlight on it will only boost the momentum.

[dino7c]

His example is to draft Lane Hutson in the 2nd round lol

Juraj Slafkovsky I get

[GranteedEV]

The first Eric Francis statement in my 21 years of Flames fandom that I... agree with

[Dion]

I guess the question is how long do we wait before we pull the plug on some trades. Yeah I know, easier said than done. Right now it would take a massive reversal in play to get us into the playoffs. We're not scoring and on defence we're turning the puck over too many times. Wolf, right now is the only bright spot to this season so far.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Dion

I guess the question is how long do we wait before we pull the plug on some trades. Yeah I know, easier said than done. Right now it would take a massive reversal in play to get us into the playoffs. We're not scoring and on defence we're turning the puck over too many times. Wolf, right now is the only bright spot to this season so far.

Late November to mid-December usually sees some activity. I'd say Late November/Early December could make sense...unless Conroy gets aggressive and the right deal comes forward.

At the end of the October, the Flames likely 'call it' internally (it may be before that). Then Conroy spends a couple weeks negotiating.

[Goriders]

So he thinks the Flames have to get serious about it? I don’t think they actually have to change a thing and it will just happen.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Dion

I guess the question is how long do we wait before we pull the plug on some trades. Yeah I know, easier said than done. Right now it would take a massive reversal in play to get us into the playoffs. We're not scoring and on defence we're turning the puck over too many times. Wolf, right now is the only bright spot to this season so far.

Unless some of those veterans start finding the back of the net, trading them is going to be hard.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Goriders

So he thinks the Flames have to get serious about it? I don’t think they actually have to change a thing and it will just happen.

I hope that vets can find their scoring before a season is lost.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Unless some of those veterans start finding the back of the net, trading them is going to be hard.

We still have Ras as a decent trade chip but his value is diminishing daily. There may or not be a good fit at the deadline but I say trade Andersson before the best available return is a third and middling prospect.

[jg13]

The most Flames thing to happen would be to draft McKenna and him bust

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by jg13

The most Flames thing to happen would be to draft McKenna and him bust

Ya, just someth8ng about him dosen't scream nail yakupov 2.0.

[Sandman]

Team NEEDS this. Let's aim for a top pick, for once.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by jg13

The most Flames thing to happen would be to draft McKenna and him bust

We'll lose the draft lottery anyway.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

We still have Ras as a decent trade chip but his value is diminishing daily. There may or not be a good fit at the deadline but I say trade Andersson before the best available return is a third and middling prospect.

Why is his value diminishing daily?
I think he has been one of the better Flames

[Canada 02]

Did Carlo and Frederic’s value diminish last year because the Bruins sucked? Did Brock Nelson’s value diminish?

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

We still have Ras as a decent trade chip but his value is diminishing daily. There may or not be a good fit at the deadline but I say trade Andersson before the best available return is a third and middling prospect.

How do people think trade value works in the NHL?

Dropping daily? How? Why?

The league knows what Andersson is and what he can provide. He’s a top 4 RHS D that can be relied upon to eat mins and contribute offense who, if salary is retained, could cost as little as $2.275M, prorated.

If you’re a team who wants/needs to add this type of player, what are the other available trade options, and what is the assumed cost of those options?

I think these reactionary/castastorsizing comments don’t make much sense. If Andersson was worth a 1st at the beginning of the season, what is he worth now? A third? If the Flames keep losing will he only be worth future considerations at the deadline? Does the same logic apply to Kadri and Coleman? Hell, does it apply to Wolf, Coronato and Parekh?

[Erick Estrada]

Not exactly newsworthy as he's just repeating what plenty of us have been saying for years but I suppose the media getting in on the tank can't hurt. That said I kind of feel Conny is in on it already as he didn't make a single move in the summer to improve the team and a lot of key contributors are one year further into their 30's as Backlund and Coleman certainly are starting to look their age and Kadri is not likely going to replicate last season. Feels to me like everything is going to plan for the GM as it's not something he can probably ever let out of the bag in this market under this owner but I'm sure even Edwards has been briefed on what's the best approach to ensure that there's a bit of excitement when the team opens up the new arena. It's the perfect time to take on some hopefully short term pain for long term gains. If a market like Montreal can handle a rebuild, surely Calgary can.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dino7c

His example is to draft Lane Hutson in the 2nd round lol

Juraj Slafkovsky I get

I think the point is Montreal had 2 1sts, 2 2nds, 2 3rds, 2 7ths that year and a pick in every round. Odds are you can hit on a pick like that with that many extra picks.

Flames have been doing well with these picks too. We are up a 1st and a 3rd already, but if we sold 3-5 players, we could be up several picks in many rounds for the next 3 years.

We need the top 5 pick more than anything though.

[CliffFletcher]

Every veteran on the team worth something in a trade has trade protection. So the real impact of being out of it by November would be those vets reconsidering where they want to play out the rest of their contract. It’s not so much that sucking will change Conroy’s mind, as it will change Coleman and Kadri’s minds.

As for Andersson, there was always a chance he would circle back to an extension with the Flames if he thought the UFA market for him was soft. But that probably changes too if the Flames are going to be a bottom-dwellers for at least a couple seasons.