Flames should absolutely be in damage control mode right now. One way to right the ship is to give Conroy an extension before Christmas. If they are even entertaining the thought of not extending him I fully believe they will regret that decision. A lot of fans will gladly spend their money elsewhere and not waste money on an organization that is proven to be a perennial loser.
Conroy deserves a longer period to fully implement his plan and get this team to where it needs to be. This isn’t simply about extending him because he was a fan favourite, but rather believing in a proper rebuild to acquire some high end talent and make the team exciting again.
Again, the Maloney interview was a disaster and perhaps behind closed doors the plan is rebuilding. Could this simply been media talk and misguided PR? Sure. However, this fanbase isn’t naive to the fact that ownership is obsessed with “getting in and anything can happen” mentality.
I truly believe this timeline is pivotal for the Flames. Failure to extend Conroy will be a decision that drives fans away because the plan will then become very clear. Let’s hope there is some common sense and the fan backlash is a wake up call.
The Following User Says Thank You to Ferarri For This Useful Post:
The point is what matters: if your costs are fixed, and your revenues are down, the math goes bad.
And this tracks with Maloney's comments about them being able to use some of the players they've traded away - they look at Ws as revenues. That is wildly shortsighted, and arguably flat out wrong. But here we are.
I think that was just a whole separate statement, and really a nothing burger. Maloney was saying "if we had some of those better players, we wouldn't be in last". That's probably true, but I don't think it's deeper than that. I don't even think it's a wish that they did have those guys.
I agree Murray Edwards is likely concerned about ticket sales, especially two years from now. I would be too. But he's a sharp enough guy to know that mkaing the POs this year is an impossibility and that it's hard to predict that an expenditure this year will mean ticket sales in two years.
All that analysis could lead to is maybe the mistake of thinking this rebuild could be faster than most. You could see where thinking that you already have a stud goalie, a potnetial game break defenceman, a potential stay at home defenceman, a potential strong winger in Gridin and then adding a couple blue chippers in the next two years would short circuit a rebuild, like getting Toews and Kane did for Chicago. That would be wildly optomistic but if you told me that was the thinking, it's more plausible.
Boomer hit the nail on the head here yesterday. He starts around the 2:30 mark, but really got into it around the 4min mark.
The guys on Barn Burner essentially echoing everyone here.
Funny commentary coming from a group of guys who make their living off of the Flames team. If you are upset go cheer for the Oilers like Pinder.
I don't care how hard they try, they are in last place where you want them. What are they supposed to do, the Buffalo and Edmonton way where they are the worst team in the league for 12-14 years? Just because they don't do exactly what you want doesn't mean they are wrong.
Alright, after even I was able to perform some damage control, seems the Flames just throw on more fuel.
It's not like Murray is the only one capable of owning CSEC in town, or even 5,000 miles away, absolved from our local civic taxes. He's definitely one of the more difficult owners to co-own/partner with, in the Flames 45 years. With the new rink at hand, the club surely increased in value, but it'd be that much more attractive for a conglomerate to step up, in the event of a sale.
You could see where thinking that you already have a stud goalie, a potential game break defenceman, a potential stay at home defenceman, a potential strong winger in Gridin and then adding a couple blue chippers in the next two years would short circuit a rebuild, like getting Toews and Kane did for Chicago. That would be wildly optomistic but if you told me that was the thinking, it's more plausible.
Chicago already had Keith, Bolland, Seabrook, Brouwer, Byfuglien and Sharp at the time.
Chicago was not a short circuit rebuild, they had been rebuilding for years, but Kane and Towes were the final pieces (along with Hossa of course).
Flames should absolutely be in damage control mode right now. One way to right the ship is to give Conroy an extension before Christmas. If they are even entertaining the thought of not extending him I fully believe they will regret that decision. A lot of fans will gladly spend their money elsewhere and not waste money on an organization that is proven to be a perennial loser.
Conroy deserves a longer period to fully implement his plan and get this team to where it needs to be. This isn’t simply about extending him because he was a fan favourite, but rather believing in a proper rebuild to acquire some high end talent and make the team exciting again.
Again, the Maloney interview was a disaster and perhaps behind closed doors the plan is rebuilding. Could this simply been media talk and misguided PR? Sure. However, this fanbase isn’t naive to the fact that ownership is obsessed with “getting in and anything can happen” mentality.
I truly believe this timeline is pivotal for the Flames. Failure to extend Conroy will be a decision that drives fans away because the plan will then become very clear. Let’s hope there is some common sense and the fan backlash is a wake up call.
Extending Conroy is one thing we need to do, but that isn't enough.
I need to see Kadri and Andersson traded by the deadline. If we do not unload a bunch of vets at the deadline, it is over and we are completely cooked. It would show we are not committed to a rebuild and they would lose me as a fan. I have never considered ever cheering for another team but right now I'm close.
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Rhett44 For This Useful Post:
Boomer hit the nail on the head here yesterday. He starts around the 2:30 mark, but really got into it around the 4min mark.
The guys on Barn Burner essentially echoing everyone here.
Took me a while to get up to speed here.
Edwards, Conroy, Maloney, Nonis, Halon etc should be locked in a room and forced to listen to this clip. If they don’t get it they’re idiots. But they cannot be that stupid.
What an insult to the fan base particularly season ticket holders from day one (how ya doin’?) who are looking at laying down even more money on season tix in the new building ( again heya).
Maloney should never be allowed to do an interview again. Tell him to take his fantasy remarks and stick them. You know who lives in the real world? The STHs who pay to support these buffoons in their dream jobs running a pro hockey team.
Last edited by Manhattanboy; 11-23-2025 at 04:31 PM.
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Manhattanboy For This Useful Post:
Chicago for me is one of the best examples of rebuilds.
They were in a 'forever rebuild' that everyone is so afraid of. Headliners like Tyler Arnason were the guys they were building around, and they didn't have any hope since the owner was a bit cheap (Dollar Bill).
Then he passed away, his son took over, started spending, and their rebuild turned into 3 cups, and could have won a couple more in that time frame too.
Buffalo is a mismanaged team, so for me, they aren't the poster child for 'what could go wrong in a rebuild'. They are the poster child for "what could go wrong when you mismanage your team".
Aside from me feeling like I was personally insulted in some way by Maloney, it is a really stupid take on his part.
I hate doing this, but...
"Fact" - On average, the most talented teams are the ones who get the most success.
"Fact" - The NHL helps the least talented teams in the league improve by giving them preferential choice in the yearly talent available to join the NHL. That's one of the most important mechanisms in achieving parity.
"Fact" - arguably the greatest strength of this organization is drafting and developing.
Not exactly fact, but it SEEMS like this draft and next are better drafts, so more reason to lean-in.
Why forcefully deviate from this? A pride thing? Where is the banner at the Dome celebrating" Never Picked Top 3"? I must have missed it.
The argument between pro and anti rebuild is that "You can find stars in later rounds too!". Sure, absolutely (though not always actually - some drafts don't produce squat in the later rounds). My answer will always be - Why not both?? Find someone with a high pick, and then find someone else like Gaudreau or Brodie in the 4th round, and find someone like Wolf in the 7th round. Selecting high in the draft doesn't exclude a team from selecting a high-end talent later in the draft, but selecting later in every round gives you lower odds of finding talent, period.
I don't really like to use phrases like: "It is such a Flames thing...". There is new management - even new owners that have come and gone (often sadly), so it isn't fair to label things as a 'Flames thing". However, one theme is that this organization never rebuilds and never picks high. It isn't quite true, but the last time they rebuilt, they were in a big hurry to exit the rebuild, and they turned into a mushy-middle team. I just hope that there were lessons learned.
I am not really worried about the Flames doing something and then resulting in not drafting top 3 this season. All actions point to a rebuild, period. I just hope there isn't this push to pull the Flames up from this rebuild so prematurely. If you don't want to spend so much time rebuilding, draft well. To draft well, get yourself more tickets. I have been more than happy so far in this rebuild, really. Maloney's comments do make me worried for the future, however. Not this season or this draft, but beyond.
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Calgary4LIfe For This Useful Post:
Chicago for me is one of the best examples of rebuilds.
They were in a 'forever rebuild' that everyone is so afraid of. Headliners like Tyler Arnason were the guys they were building around, and they didn't have any hope since the owner was a bit cheap (Dollar Bill).
Then he passed away, his son took over, started spending, and their rebuild turned into 3 cups, and could have won a couple more in that time frame too.
Buffalo is a mismanaged team, so for me, they aren't the poster child for 'what could go wrong in a rebuild'. They are the poster child for "what could go wrong when you mismanage your team".
Aside from me feeling like I was personally insulted in some way by Maloney, it is a really stupid take on his part.
I hate doing this, but...
"Fact" - On average, the most talented teams are the ones who get the most success.
"Fact" - The NHL helps the least talented teams in the league improve by giving them preferential choice in the yearly talent available to join the NHL. That's one of the most important mechanisms in achieving parity.
"Fact" - arguably the greatest strength of this organization is drafting and developing.
Not exactly fact, but it SEEMS like this draft and next are better drafts, so more reason to lean-in.
Why forcefully deviate from this? A pride thing? Where is the banner at the Dome celebrating" Never Picked Top 3"? I must have missed it.
The argument between pro and anti rebuild is that "You can find stars in later rounds too!". Sure, absolutely (though not always actually - some drafts don't produce squat in the later rounds). My answer will always be - Why not both?? Find someone with a high pick, and then find someone else like Gaudreau or Brodie in the 4th round, and find someone like Wolf in the 7th round. Selecting high in the draft doesn't exclude a team from selecting a high-end talent later in the draft, but selecting later in every round gives you lower odds of finding talent, period.
I don't really like to use phrases like: "It is such a Flames thing...". There is new management - even new owners that have come and gone (often sadly), so it isn't fair to label things as a 'Flames thing". However, one theme is that this organization never rebuilds and never picks high. It isn't quite true, but the last time they rebuilt, they were in a big hurry to exit the rebuild, and they turned into a mushy-middle team. I just hope that there were lessons learned.
I am not really worried about the Flames doing something and then resulting in not drafting top 3 this season. All actions point to a rebuild, period. I just hope there isn't this push to pull the Flames up from this rebuild so prematurely. If you don't want to spend so much time rebuilding, draft well. To draft well, get yourself more tickets. I have been more than happy so far in this rebuild, really. Maloney's comments do make me worried for the future, however. Not this season or this draft, but beyond.
Agree with most of what you said but I don’t think there is an anti-rebuild group, either in the fanbase or the organization. The breakdown to me appears to be “they are already rebuilding” vs “they have not started rebuilding”. I know they have been rebuilding for 3 years. They have done almost everything to put a product on the ice that would lead to a top 3 pick while trying to ensure they don’t ruin existing prospects while doing that. The only reason they have some vets left is to try to make sure that the current prospects don’t get ruined by this process. But they have taken no steps in the last 3 years to try to put a winning product on the ice. Can’t control how much you lose though.
The Following User Says Thank You to Aarongavey For This Useful Post:
Chicago already had Keith, Bolland, Seabrook, Brouwer, Byfuglien and Sharp at the time.
Chicago was not a short circuit rebuild, they had been rebuilding for years, but Kane and Towes were the final pieces (along with Hossa of course).
Yes, and by the time they draft high in the next two drafts, the Flames will have Parekh, Wolf, Kuznetsov, Coronato, Gridin, Honzek, Frost, Zary, Farabee and maybe some of the kids they’ve drafted who have yet to have their shot (Reschny, Potter, Basha, Stromgren). Plus Huberdeau and Weegar. Your list has one elite defenceman and a bunch of guys that are good, but not top tier.
I’m not saying this will work, but it could well be what the Flames are thinking.
Chicago already had Keith, Bolland, Seabrook, Brouwer, Byfuglien and Sharp at the time.
Chicago was not a short circuit rebuild, they had been rebuilding for years, but Kane and Towes were the final pieces (along with Hossa of course).
Seabrook - 14th OA
Bolland - 32nd OA
Keith - 54th OA
Sharp - 95th OA (acquired by trade)
Brouwer - 214th OA
Byfuglien - 245th OA
They hit with a lot of their deeper picks, but it goes to show you how getting those top 3-5 picks puts you on a completely different level. You can punch above your weight finding players later in the draft, but it's not usually enough by itself.
__________________
"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
If the Flames decide to keep Maloney over Conroy, I think I'll probably be done watching hockey.
You don't keep a dinosaur over a rising executive who clearly has a better read on the future than a 67 year old man who's failed at the executive level everywhere he has gone.
At least if Conroy fails, it won't be a repeat of past mistakes.
And yeah, I have a bias against Maloney but I also believe the old guys while they provide valuable insight on the executive side, shouldn't be a viable solution for a long term solution when their shelf life has a much earlier expectation date than a GM like Conroy.
__________________ "Everybody's so desperate to look smart that nobody is having fun anymore" -Jackie Redmond
The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to dammage79 For This Useful Post:
Which he didn't even do. I've seen the original video. I've also seen dozens of still photos of politicians making the exact same gesture. But the PR fallout was still there.
*shakes head and walks away, muttering*
I seem to remember you were having some significant vision issues you mentioned before, any chance that’s affecting how you view the supposed nazi salute?
And if it isn’t a seig heil, would you mind doing a demonstration of the difference? Preferably in a very public place
I seem to remember you were having some significant vision issues you mentioned before, any chance that’s affecting how you view the supposed nazi salute?
And if it isn’t a seig heil, would you mind doing a demonstration of the difference? Preferably in a very public place
It doesn’t have to be public. How would that help anyone?
A video recording shared with everyone showing the subtle differences and nuance between the salutes should do just fine.
The Following User Says Thank You to PepsiFree For This Useful Post:
I don't care if this is a lazy take, but clearly drafting 1st overall (or having top 3 picks) helps to build a team around a core superstar player.
Just off the top of my head St. Louis, Vegas, and Boston are maybe the only three teams since 2009 to win the the cup and not have a 1st overall player they drafted.
That's 3/17 past winners if Maloney and Management want to follow suit and build something the hard way.
I don't care if this is a lazy take, but clearly drafting 1st overall (or having top 3 picks) helps to build a team around a core superstar player.
Just off the top of my head St. Louis, Vegas, and Boston are maybe the only three teams since 2009 to win the the cup and not have a 1st overall player they drafted.
That's 3/17 past winners if Maloney and Management want to follow suit and build something the hard way.
I don't care if this is a lazy take, but clearly drafting 1st overall (or having top 3 picks) helps to build a team around a core superstar player.
Just off the top of my head St. Louis, Vegas, and Boston are maybe the only three teams since 2009 to win the the cup and not have a 1st overall player they drafted.
That's 3/17 past winners if Maloney and Management want to follow suit and build something the hard way.
LA too.
It's 10 different teams in that time: 6 with a first overall pick, and 4 without.
__________________
Turn up the good, turn down the suck!
You can throw the 3 teams post lockout too that are right before the 17 year cutoff line. 40% of teams who have won the Cup since the lockout don’t meet the criteria of having a number one pick they drafted on the team.
