[PGT] Wild defeat Flames 2-0, Nov. 9th

[Locke]

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

You can definitely open it up and play less boring hockey, but yeah it's never going to be super fun watching a team lose every night.

And 2 years is very optimistic. I see it likely as a 4 year turnaround at the minimum.

If the Flames can pick top-5 two years in a row (2026 and 2027), alongside making four 1st round picks during that stretch (meaning one more 1st round pick needs to be acquired, at minimum), a lot of what's wrong is likely to be solved from a team-building perspective.

Then? It becomes about coaching and whether or not Conroy can execute on some daring trades and get lucky in free agency. There are players coming up through the ranks that should be contributing come 2027-2028, but we just need some of those immediate-impact youthful players that you only get at the top of the draft.

A loss to St. Louis (and yeah, I think they're a better team than the Flames) on Tuesday would be absolutely magnificent. Losing 2 of the next 3 would be the chef's kiss on this season.

[Infinit47]

Originally Posted by Inferno

In past bad years I would get mad after losses even though I knew they weren't making the playoffs. Now I feel nothing and just shake my head.

My interest this year has dropped too. I used to watch every game regardless of how bad the team was because they were atleast somewhat entertaining. This year it feels like torture getting through a game so I've skipped most of them or turn it off as soon as the other team scores.

Imagine what it's like to play in such a passive, boring system.

Bad team or not, It's still an NHL team and these guys can do amazing things. Instead they are forced to play whatever abomination this is. Watch the other team skate around you zone and set up attacks to the net, then if you manage to get possession of the puck immediately skate to centre, dump it in and change.

[Savvy27]

Even if the plan was to give them 20 games before making a call on the season I don't think it even matters if they win 3 straight. They would still be bottom 5.

It was admirable last season that they were to get the guys to play a playoff style game for 30 games or whatever, but it couldn't possibly last (or everyone would do it). Since they have already extended him, I hope Huska and his staff use the rest of this season to expand their approach to the offensive game. High shot volume hockey isn't all that entertaining and I don't think it is cultivating the offence of guys like Zary and Coronato.

I'm on board with trading Kadri, Andersson, and Coleman. Make some space and let's see some more players get their shot while we endure the rest of this season.

[Bonded]

That winning streak that was going to get them into the mushy middle is going as planned

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

continued…

3) on our last power play, there was a point where the Minnesota players where positioned in their box and there were ZERO flames inside of it. Everyone was outside like there was some force field.

I don’t know what to make of it, honestly. Part of me thinks it’s because the offensive system is so counterintuitive that players are genuinely confused. Coaching says ‘do X’ but every offensive instinct says ‘do Y’ and they just short circuit.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

If the Flames can pick top-5 two years in a row (2026 and 2027), alongside making four 1st round picks during that stretch (meaning one more 1st round pick needs to be acquired, at minimum), a lot of what's wrong is likely to be solved from a team-building perspective.

Then? It becomes about coaching and whether or not Conroy can execute on some daring trades and get lucky in free agency. There are players coming up through the ranks that should be contributing come 2027-2028, but we just need some of those immediate-impact youthful players that you only get at the top of the draft.

Just pray that they get a real #1C

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

If the Flames can pick top-5 two years in a row (2026 and 2027), alongside making four 1st round picks during that stretch (meaning one more 1st round pick needs to be acquired, at minimum), a lot of what's wrong is likely to be solved from a team-building perspective.

Then? It becomes about coaching and whether or not Conroy can execute on some daring trades and get lucky in free agency. There are players coming that should be contributing come 2027-2028, but we just need some of those immediate-impact youthful players that you only get at the top of the draft.

A lot of it depends on if they fully embrace a tank. If they can get a 1st for Kadri, and maybe a 1st between Coleman and Andersson then it would really speed things up as well.

It's just I don't expect a 1st round pick to play amazing right away. Even Bedard who was touted as generational is just now becoming what his potential actually is.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

No tank team is fun to watch. I don't know what some are expecting. The Ducks had Dallas Eakins as a coach for God's sake and he didn't "ruin" all their young guys like some are projecting Huska is going to do. They will keep losing, keep drafting and when they are ready to get better they will hire a better coach. This is a couple of years away by the way.

I frankly don’t care how. This doesn’t need to be a Picasso. Just get the pick and it’s a massssive win for this season grand scheme.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

A lot of it depends on if they fully embrace a tank. If they can get a 1st for Kadri, and maybe a 1st between Coleman and Andersson then it would really speed things up as well.

It's just I don't expect a 1st round pick to play amazing right away. Even Bedard who was touted as generational is just now becoming what his potential actually is.

It all comes down to their own first round picks. Two top-5 picks in '26 and '27 is the key.

The depth picks that they'll be making (like the VGK pick, and the picks we likely see added this year in the trades you note) won't be in the NHL by that team in all likelihood, but if development goes well we'll likely have Gridin, Parekh, Brzustewicz, Mews, Reschny, Potter and then longer shots like Basha, Stromgren, Stockselius, Battaglia all pushing/contributing.

It's coming...but the top-5 picks in 2026 and 2027 are absolutely needed. Two key young top-end players would address the absolute dearth of high-end skill on this team. It doesn't come together without those top-5 picks though. Without that avenue for the top skill, I don't see any way we take notable steps.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It all comes down to their own first round picks. Two top-5 picks in '26 and '27 is the key.

The depth picks that they'll be making (like the VGK pick, and the picks we likely see added this year in the trades you note) won't be in the NHL by that team in all likelihood, but if development goes well we'll likely have Gridin, Parekh, Brzustewicz, Mews, Reschny, Potter and then longer shots like Basha, Stromgren, Stockselius, Battaglia all pushing/contributing.

It's coming...but the top-5 picks in 2026 and 2027 are absolutely needed. Two key young top-end players would address the absolute dearth of high-end skill on this team. It doesn't come together without those top-5 picks though. Without that avenue for the top skill, I don't see any way we take notable steps.

I kind of see it as we need three top picks to really turn it around. One has to be a center for sure as well.

But a lot depends on Parekh. If he suddenly becomes elite, then that speeds things up. Right now with where he was chosen, there is a lot of variability on what he will become.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It all comes down to their own first round picks. Two top-5 picks in '26 and '27 is the key.

The depth picks that they'll be making (like the VGK pick, and the picks we likely see added this year in the trades you note) won't be in the NHL by that team in all likelihood, but if development goes well we'll likely have Gridin, Parekh, Brzustewicz, Mews, Reschny, Potter and then longer shots like Basha, Stromgren, Stockselius, Battaglia all pushing/contributing.

It's coming...but the top-5 picks in 2026 and 2027 are absolutely needed. Two key young top-end players would address the absolute dearth of high-end skill on this team. It doesn't come together without those top-5 picks though. Without that avenue for the top skill, I don't see any way we take notable steps.

Incredibly Gridin, Brzustewicz, Reschny, Battaglia, Stockselius came from trades where the Flames gave up older veterans in those trades. Yet some seem to think they have not been rebuilding for the past two years.

[PaperBagger'14]

I’d love to see some honesty from management towards the fan base, it’s painfully obvious this team is in some form of rebuild. To some extent Conroys actions indicate that this team isn’t meant to compete for the playoffs, but the messaging and bag licking from management / ownership to the fans is gross.

Have the balls to say what your intent is. You don’t need to air all of the laundry or give away who is going to be shipped out, but just stop treating the fans like idiots.

I love this core.

[Vinny01]

Really tough sledding for the group this year. It just seems like they can’t get a bounce and are getting zero puck luck. Next year the vibes will change and they will be way better

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

They need ~85~ pts to make the playoffs, roughly 40-20-5, 38-18-9, or 41-21-3 from here on out.

Jesus take the wheel, or get those phones workin CC.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I’d love to see some honesty from management towards the fan base, it’s painfully obvious this team is in some form of rebuild. To some extent Conroys actions indicate that this team isn’t meant to compete for the playoffs, but the messaging and bag licking from management / ownership to the fans is gross.

Have the balls to say what your intent is. You don’t need to air all of the laundry or give away who is going to be shipped out, but just stop treating the fans like idiots.

I love this core.

Has anyone who is part of the Flames ever said they love the core?

In an unrelated note, has Dreger ever got anything right about the Flames since Nonis became an employee? I can’t remember anything but I could be forgetting something he actually got correct.

[VilleN]

I think some fans should make some “I love this core” signs for the next few games. Send a message to ownership… although, I think it’s pretty clear that we’re in a rebuild that ownership/management don’t want to admit to for some reason.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I’d love to see some honesty from management towards the fan base, it’s painfully obvious this team is in some form of rebuild. To some extent Conroys actions indicate that this team isn’t meant to compete for the playoffs, but the messaging and bag licking from management / ownership to the fans is gross.

Have the balls to say what your intent is. You don’t need to air all of the laundry or give away who is going to be shipped out, but just stop treating the fans like idiots.

I love this core.

Why does it matter? I don’t really care what they say. The vast majority of Conroy’s moves are rebuilding ones. Judge them on what he does

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Has anyone who is part of the Flames ever said they love the core?

In an unrelated note, has Dreger ever got anything right about the Flames since Nonis became an employee? I can’t remember anything but I could be forgetting something he actually got correct.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/early...s-trade-kadri/

“ But I also know that Murray Edwards, the owner of the Calgary Flames, is telling people that he has no interest in trading Nazem Kadri. In fact, he doesn’t want to trade Nazem Kadri. He loves the core of this team.”

[saillias]

The rest of the league is really in an interesting state, you have a bunch of teams that have been bad for years now looking like they're ready to exit their rebuilds, and a bunch of veteran contender teams that refuse to close their windows. Even Pittsburgh is having a resurgence. Most of the teams that are on the outskirts you could make a case could or should be playoff teams, like the Wild.

The Flames on the other hand are not participating in the league-wide battle royale. We're bucking the trend as the one true basement dweller