June 2018 Season Ticket Holder events

[united]

I was at today's noon event. Everything is paraphrased from memory so use judgement as necessary. My memory is declining every year it seems so I'm hoping some others can add and correct as needed.

Ken King
- Talked about arena stuff. I find this stuff tiring so I'll leave this to other attendees as to be honest I wasn't fully paying attention.
- No mention about King's rumored departure.
- No replacement for Burke. Treliving to handle the role with Don Maloney's assistance.
*Can someone else verify what I thought I heard: Treliving's job title will be revised to Executive VP of Hockey Operations (or something similar)?
- King, in response to a fan's question, seemed to imply that members of the City violated terms of the non-disclosure agreement. This time around hopes everything remains private.

John Bean
- Salary cap next season will be $81 million.
- Fan asked a question regarding trucks in the concourse. Seems that the vehicles being on the concourse is the primary requirement of the advertising company.
- Flames added more metal detectors as they realized entry lines were getting very long.
- Happy Hour was a huge hit and they will explore expanding it to other options.
- Scotch, wine, and caesar options they added all received great feedback.
- Flames created an in-arena entertainment committee about three weeks ago; next season should be all-new and refreshed. Ken King jokes he will assassinate Cotton-Eyed Joe himself.
- Flames have been trying to work with the City and CPS to improve traffic egress for three or four years without much improvement. They are trying again this off-season for lane reversals in strategic locations. The Flames' own study shows an average time to exit the lots of 25-45 minutes, both of which are far too long.

Brad Treliving
- Flames under-performed last season, no doubt about it. Everyone's fault, including his own.
- Depth scoring completely abandoned the Flames + the right-wing issue. Noted it as a pre-season issue but despite trying, was not able to fix for the prices, resulting in the Jagr signing. As reported, Jagr did not have his normal workout routine last summer as he wasn't sure if anyone would come calling - that ultimately set him back.
- The Flames' depth will look different this coming season.
- Echoed all reported information on him and Peters' relationship with World Championships.
- Flames are still confident in the D-Core and he believes Hamonic will be better next year. In his opinion, Giordano-Hamilton is the best pairing in the League.
- That said, the Flames have one of the best farm systems in the League as it relates to defencemen. Names Andersson, Kylington, Fox, Valimaki specifically.
- Andersson is the most ready and will compete for a job out of camp. Dominated the AHL for two seasons as one of the top defencemen in the league regardless of age, and possibly the best. As per past information, the only enemy of Andersson's is his own conditioning. Andersson took two weeks off at the end of his season and went back to Sweden, but moved to Calgary at the beginning of May to work with the Flames strength & conditioning and nutritional folks.
- Valimaki will turn pro this season. No glaring weakness aside from experience. Will also push for a job in camp but is a bit behind Andersson - expects Valimaki will start in the minors but could play NHL games.
- Fox back to school, likely for one more year. Only thing lacking is strength/explosiveness. Already a high-end puck handling defenceman and powerplay quarterback.
- Fan asks a question about the "three first-round picks from 2013: Shinkaruk, Poirier, Klimchuk." Treliving chimes in that there's actually four if you include Monahan. (There is actually five if you include Lazar, who was not mentioned at all - don't make assumptions)
- Klimchuk: At this point he probably will not become the scorer he was in junior or was drafted to be. However, Klimchuk has evolved his own game and become an excellent two-way player who thinks the game real well. Will make a push for a depth role in camp.
- Shinkaruk: As an upcoming free agent, the Flames have to make a decision on him over the next month. No decision yet but will talk to the team's scouts. Shinkaruk is at the age where it's tough because younger players start passing you - this season may be his last shot at making it. Mentions Mangiapane, Lomberg, Hathaway, Foo by name as being ahead as of last season.
- Poirier: A bit different than the others due to publicized personal issues, but, like Shinkaruk, is at the age where he needs to start making some noise or he'll be left behind in favor of younger prospects. Still thinks he can be an NHL player.
- Mentions that when he was in Arizona, Klimchuk and Poirier were high on their board as well so it wasn't the Flames making poor picks necessarily.
- Bennett: Everyone, including Bennett himself, would now admit things have not gone as hoped. The nature of drafting players at the age they are drafted is development isn't linear, there are many ups and downs. The last two exit interviews with Bennett have been two of the lengthiest. In last season's exit interviews, Bennett was confident that if given a better role and more powerplay time he would perform better. In this season's exit interview, Bennett owned things and said he needs to be better and didn't perform in a way that forced the coach's hand. Treliving likes that Bennett is accountable to himself and realizes he needs to earn his spot up the lineup. The Flames still see Bennett as a top forward. Treliving says one thing that cannot be debated about Bennett is his effort and drive - some players get you to the playoffs, some players win you playoff games: Bennett is a guy you know will win you games.
- Jankowski: They thought his game matured throughout the season and they see him as a centre in the NHL for many years to come.
- In response to a fan questioning Giordano's leadership, Treliving disagrees. Giordano is a great leader and while when a team fails such as the Flames did Treliving understands every aspect is questioned, one thing that should not be questioned is Gio's leadership. Treliving further added that sometimes teams do have poor culture that needs repairing but insisted that despite the under-performance, the Flames really do have a good culture in the room and it's not a concern or priority.
- Per usual a fan says the Flames need to get bigger and Treliving responds he agrees but only if they are big players who can actually plays. Mentions that if he could assemble a team of 6'4 guys who skate like the wind he would, but it's not reality. What you can do instead is assemble a team of players who compete as though they are 6'4 regardless of their size.
- Another fan referenced the four defensive prospects Treliving signed out earlier and asked what the long-term plan is to get them in the lineup given what we already have on defence. Treliving commented that playing in the league as a 19- or 20-year-old defenceman is extremely difficult and they don't want to do damage rushing anyone too early. That said, he lets everyone know that if their play dictates it, there is always ways to make room on the roster for younger players.
- Monahan had been getting daily wrist-numbing injections since just after Christmas but played through it. When the Flames shut Monahan down, Monahan left angry and did not talk to Treliving for two days because he wanted to play and help the team so badly. Report from unnamed individual questioning Monahan's heart is BS.
- Both Tkachuk and Brodie have fully recovered from their concussions.
- Asked what the price to get into the first round is. Treliving said it is obviously very expensive. Not sure if the Flames will get into the first round as a result but trying all angles. To help make-up for lack of draft picks, the Flames signed Foo and Gawdin, and currently have offers to a couple European free agents.
- The Flames have their eye on a couple potential free agents for a right-wing spot but as they are still under contract, and for obvious reasons, would not mention names. Said they may re-sign with their current teams still. Again suggests that the biggest mistakes are made on July 1 in both salary and term.

[Roof-Daddy]

Love these updates you give us from these events United.

Thanks.

[indes]

Monahan had been getting daily wrist-numbing injections since just after Christmas but played through it. When the Flames shut Monahan down, Monahan left angry and did not talk to Treliving for two days because he wanted to play and help the team so badly. Report from unnamed individual questioning Monahan's heart is BS.

I wasn't worried about Monahan's compete but It's nice to hear stories like this!

[GranteedEV]

Hope we sign Kovalchuk

[shotinthebacklund]

Thanks United. Great of you to write this up for us non attendees.

Some great info in there.

[Rtown]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Love these updates you give us from these events United.

Thanks.

Seconded. Logged in just to post this and you stole the words right out of my mouth

[Roof-Daddy]

My comments based on the updates:

1. Sounds like he was confident in getting Fox signed next spring.
2. Love that Rasmus has moved to CGY and going hard in fitness/nutrition.
3. Sounds like they might give Poirier one more year, but I bet Shink is not qualified.
4. $81 million cap, wow.
5. If Rasmus has a great camp, I bet Stone is moved shortly after.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by united

- The Flames have their eye on a couple potential free agents for a right-wing spot but as they are still under contract, and for obvious reasons, would not mention names. Said they may re-sign with their current teams still. Again suggests that the biggest mistakes are made on July 1 in both salary and term.

Perron & Neal would be my guess. Pure speculation.

Awesome stuff United, thank you!

[GioforPM]

How did King look? I have heard rumours he has been ill.

[edn88]

Thanks for the update, I was supposed to go to this today, but didn't put it in my calendar, so didn't make it.

[MissTeeks]

I'm attending the evening session tonight and will try to post anything different that is said.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by united

I was at today's noon event. Everything is paraphrased from memory so use judgement as necessary. My memory is declining every year it seems so I'm hoping some others can add and correct as needed.

Ken King
- Talked about arena stuff. I find this stuff tiring so I'll leave this to other attendees as to be honest I wasn't fully paying attention.
- No mention about King's rumored departure.
- No replacement for Burke. Treliving to handle the role with Don Maloney's assistance.
*Can someone else verify what I thought I heard: Treliving's job title will be revised to Executive VP of Hockey Operations (or something similar)?
- King, in response to a fan's question, seemed to imply that members of the City violated terms of the non-disclosure agreement. This time around hopes everything remains private.

I take this as they are ready to formally re-engage?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

My comments based on the updates:

1. Sounds like he was confident in getting Fox signed next spring.
2. Love that Rasmus has moved to CGY and going hard in fitness/nutrition.
3. Sounds like they might give Poirier one more year, but I bet Shink is not qualified.
4. $81 million cap, wow.
5. If Rasmus has a great camp, I bet Stone is moved shortly after.

Agreed, and probably the biggest give in the summary.

Sounds like a "going to play one more year" discussion has been had, which puts Fox signing in Calgary in April and then the panic on this player can be put away until the next college player over reaction.

[GioforPM]

Interesting stuff about Bennett and Monahan and, who dared to question Gio?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Agreed, and probably the biggest give in the summary.

Sounds like a "going to play one more year" discussion has been had, which puts Fox signing in Calgary in April and then the panic on this player can be put away until the next college player over reaction.

Conversation probably went:

Connie: "You are not going to play in Calgary this season - would you rather live in Cambridge, Mass and get one year closer to a Harvard Degree, or live in Stock..."

Fox: "Harvard!"

Connie: "Ok, see you next April, I'll bring the jet."

Fox: "Roger that"

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Perron & Neal would be my guess. Pure speculation.

Awesome stuff United, thank you!

Neal being a left shot seems like a tough fit given Ferland, Tkachuk, Monahan can do most of the same things offensively.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Austin Czarnik, Perron, Derek Ryan, Riley Nash, Tyler Bozak are the guys I'd hope are high on their radar. In that order.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Neal being a left shot seems like a tough fit given Ferland, Tkachuk, Monahan can do most of the same things offensively.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Austin Czarnik, Perron, Derek Ryan, Riley Nash, Tyler Bozak are the guys I'd hope are high on their radar. In that order.

Neal has played almost exclusively as a RW for years now. Or so I had thought. Since his Pittsburgh days.

So no, not a natural RHS, but a definite RW option.

[Robbob]

I'll also be there in the evening and try to get my brain to remember some of the details.

[Cantrader]

Any mention of the renewal rate?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Neal being a left shot seems like a tough fit given Ferland, Tkachuk, Monahan can do most of the same things offensively.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Austin Czarnik, Perron, Derek Ryan, Riley Nash, Tyler Bozak are the guys I'd hope are high on their radar. In that order.

Next Marchessault possibly.