[News] Flames and Treliving agree to part ways. Maloney promoted to PoHO and interim GM

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Jiffy Loob

Another disappointing thing to highlight: Don Maloney admitted in his "exclusive" interview with Steinberg that ownership originally asked if he would be the GM. That's pretty crazy.

Having enough self-awareness, Maloney scoffed at the idea and suggested they look at more progressive, "younger" candidates.

He said this in the press conference as well fwiw

[Erick Estrada]

If Maloney was Edwards first choice as GM I'm not sure what that says about his feelings about Conroy given he's been part of the management team longer. Not so sure it's a slam dunk that he gets the gig.

[tvp2003]

Maloney was probably Sutter’s first choice

[traptor]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Man, watching that presser, it just looks like an organization that's reeling.

I think they have to accept the stars have aligned, and this team needs to be razed almost to the ground over the summer and rebuilt - along with its confidence and identity - from the foundation up.

Huberdeau and Kadri have to be wondering if they're going to be playing out their days on a team that has a winning horizon that coincides with the end of their currently untradeable contracts.

Yup, that presser defintely didn't leave me with alot of confidence.

The franchise is rudderless, lost and filled with holes right now.
The org needs to do the right thing and reset.
However, seeing Bean talk as a proxy for the ownership group doesn't leave me with much hope in that regards.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Jiffy Loob

Another disappointing thing to highlight: Don Maloney admitted in his "exclusive" interview with Steinberg that ownership originally asked if he would be the GM. That's pretty crazy.

Having enough self-awareness, Maloney scoffed at the idea and suggested they look at more progressive, "younger" candidates.

Yeah not impressed with ownership. They weren’t going to do an extensive gm search. Just keep the status quo . It’s laughable that ownerships second option also turned them down.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by traptor

The franchise is rudderless, lost and filled with holes right now.

If you think Brad Treliving was the key cog to franchise and being the rudder that would guide us to the promised land, you haven't been paying attention over the past decade. Treliving was as much of the problem as the rest of the people involved. There never was a plan and it was evident. This was a group that flew by the seat of their pants and shifted whichever way the playoff winds blew. Whatever could "just get them in" was all that counted.

Organizational rot does not happen on the back of one individual, it is cultural and develops organically. The franchise is a mess because they do everything poorly and don't bring in competent people that are great at their jobs. The franchise is mediocre because they hire mediocre people, and that is because the fan base is accepting of mediocrity, continuing to fill the dump that is the Saddledome and not applying the pressure for a better product. Losing Treliving is blip on the radar. An overhaul is needed and it won't start until the fans exercise their influence by negatively impacting revenues.

[VilleN]

I don't think Tre had anything against the organization. I think this was purely a career move. He knows it's either a rebuild or mediocrity. He's been here for one rebuild, so I can see why he doesn't want to go through that again - and being a bubble team for the next few years isn't going to do anything for his reputation as a GM. He made the right call to leave.

[Erick Estrada]

I think the one thing fans should realize that if Treliving stayed on and got to fire Sutter, it would mean he would once again be picking the next head coach and that's probably one of the things he was worst at as Flames GM.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I don't think Tre had anything against the organization. I think this was purely a career move. He knows it's either a rebuild or mediocrity. He's been here for one rebuild, so I can see why he doesn't want to go through that again - and being a bubble team for the next few years isn't going to do anything for his reputation as a GM. He made the right call to leave.

And he's also the one who created this mess, putting the team into a position where they need to rebuild, or at least retool.

Again, his overall work isn't that impressive, and it's not a huge loss for the organization since the franchise didn't string as much success as it should've during his tenure. Two of his most successful seasons were with coaches that he didn't even pick.

Things could've been A LOT different if he was better at hiring coaches. And having a reliable enough goaltender season-by-season.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Joborule

And he's also the one who created this mess, putting the team into a position where they need to rebuild, or at least retool.

Again, his overall work isn't that impressive, and it's not a huge loss for the organization since the franchise didn't string as much success as it should've during his tenure. Two of his most successful seasons were with coaches that he didn't even pick.

Things could've been A LOT different if he was better at hiring coaches. And having a reliable enough goaltender season-by-season.

I don't really hold him responsible for Tkachuk and Gaudreau leaving - had they stayed I suspect this season would still be going and Tre likely signs an extension. Although I do agree, his coaching hires really held this team back - it was his biggest weakness as a GM. He did a lot of good, I think the best thing he did for the franchise was to improve it's scouting, drafting, and development... hopefully that legacy doesn't leave with him.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I don't think Tre had anything against the organization. I think this was purely a career move. He knows it's either a rebuild or mediocrity. He's been here for one rebuild, so I can see why he doesn't want to go through that again - and being a bubble team for the next few years isn't going to do anything for his reputation as a GM. He made the right call to leave.

We're about to feel the impact of Treliving's "work" which is probably why he's bouncing. Treliving is the manager who built a house of cards and is smart enough to read the tea leaves to see where this is going and bail before the house collapses. He's leaving behind a ####ed salary structure, a number of key players coming to UFA status and no room to negotiate, a development system with few long-term pieces, and no real plan on how to address the health of the organization. This isn't the captain going down with the ship he guided into the iceberg field, this is the captain taking the first and only life boat and skedaddling before the ship has the hull ripped open.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

If you think Brad Treliving was the key cog to franchise and being the rudder that would guide us to the promised land, you haven't been paying attention over the past decade. Treliving was as much of the problem as the rest of the people involved. There never was a plan and it was evident. This was a group that flew by the seat of their pants and shifted whichever way the playoff winds blew. Whatever could "just get them in" was all that counted.

Organizational rot does not happen on the back of one individual, it is cultural and develops organically. The franchise is a mess because they do everything poorly and don't bring in competent people that are great at their jobs. The franchise is mediocre because they hire mediocre people, and that is because the fan base is accepting of mediocrity, continuing to fill the dump that is the Saddledome and not applying the pressure for a better product. Losing Treliving is blip on the radar. An overhaul is needed and it won't start until the fans exercise their influence by negatively impacting revenues.

Yeah I never said he was the key piece. He's just the latest to jump off the sinking ship, adding to the growing list.
They obviously had a clear direction with gaudreau, monahan, chukcy, bennett, lindholm, andersson and hanifin. This has slowly been eroding away and it's obvious this franchise needs to reset.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

We're about to feel the impact of Treliving's "work" which is probably why he's bouncing. Treliving is the manager who built a house of cards and is smart enough to read the tea leaves to see where this is going and bail before the house collapses. He's leaving behind a ####ed salary structure, a number of key players coming to UFA status and no room to negotiate, a development system with few long-term pieces, and no real plan on how to address the health of the organization. This isn't the captain going down with the ship he guided into the iceberg field, this is the captain taking the first and only life boat and skedaddling before the ship has the hull ripped open.

The frustrating thing is that they could move a decent number of assets for young pieces and draft picks and give a decent jolt to the quality and quantity of young pieces 24 or younger in the organization. I thought BT went for it too early (Hamonic trade was awful) but he went for it and it did not work out.

But this off-season, if they are truly looking at their roster objectively, they should ask if they think they can truly compete with the following teams over the next two years

LA
Colorado
Dallas
Vegas
Edmonton
Minnesota

If the answer is objectively no to that list of teams and you are left fighting it out with Winnipeg, Seattle, Vancouver, Nashville for one of the two wild card positions what is the point? Make the playoffs and maybe hope to win one round. Nevermind the East where there are probably another 6-7 teams objectively better.

Trade all or most of your upcoming UFA’s over the summer or at the deadline. Set an organizational objective that you want draft picks or young impact players 24 or younger. Accept 24 months of being a bottom 10 team in the league and hope for a better, more sustainable team in 25/26 and beyond.

I am still convinced that moving Lindholm, Backlund, Tanev, Toffoli and Hanifin brings you back probably a combined 4-5 top 50 picks and 4-5 decent prospects 24 or younger. Add on the better picks you get over the next two years and you have the makings of a strong, young core in 25/26.

Since it seems so obvious to me it will never happen.

[Lanny_McDonald]

The time to start making those moves was two years ago. They should have been prepping for this draft as it is considered the best in decades. Instead they will be forced into making those moves with the 2024 and 2025 drafts in mind, both of which are purported to be weaker draft classes. It would be so Calgary Flames to have it play out this way because it means they are not focused on the bigger picture and thinking about moves for five years out.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

The frustrating thing is that they could move a decent number of assets for young pieces and draft picks and give a decent jolt to the quality and quantity of young pieces 24 or younger in the organization. I thought BT went for it too early (Hamonic trade was awful) but he went for it and it did not work out.

But this off-season, if they are truly looking at their roster objectively, they should ask if they think they can truly compete with the following teams over the next two years

LA
Colorado
Dallas
Vegas
Edmonton
Minnesota

If the answer is objectively no to that list of teams and you are left fighting it out with Winnipeg, Seattle, Vancouver, Nashville for one of the two wild card positions what is the point? Make the playoffs and maybe hope to win one round. Nevermind the East where there are probably another 6-7 teams objectively better.

Trade all or most of your upcoming UFA’s over the summer or at the deadline. Set an organizational objective that you want draft picks or young impact players 24 or younger. Accept 24 months of being a bottom 10 team in the league and hope for a better, more sustainable team in 25/26 and beyond.

I am still convinced that moving Lindholm, Backlund, Tanev, Toffoli and Hanifin brings you back probably a combined 4-5 top 50 picks and 4-5 decent prospects 24 or younger. Add on the better picks you get over the next two years and you have the makings of a strong, young core in 25/26.

Since it seems so obvious to me it will never happen.

I think wether they can compete with those teams over the next 2 years is subjective. Many think this is a good team as it's built.

The probelm is that it might not even be an option. The talking heads are saying there's a large group of the 2024 UFAs that are good as gone.
This team definitely can't compete without a lindholm, backlund, tanev and hanifin.

I agree it seems obvious. You have the opporttunity to kick off a reset in a major way. They need to take it. What Bean had to say doesn't give me much optimism though "wE hAvE a vEzINa GoAlIE"

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Joborule

Things could've been A LOT different if he was better at hiring coaches. And having a reliable enough goaltender season-by-season.

If he was better at hiring head coaches he wouldn't have ended up working with Darryl Sutter so it's fair to say that some of the reasons he is leaving is of his own doing.

[Toonage]

Treliving would have been handcuffed when it came to hiring another coach mainly because they'd be firing a guy owed $8M. Therefore he'd likely just promote Mitch Love, but I guess it could be as worse as promoting Muller. We'll never know.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I don't think Tre had anything against the organization. I think this was purely a career move. He knows it's either a rebuild or mediocrity. He's been here for one rebuild, so I can see why he doesn't want to go through that again - and being a bubble team for the next few years isn't going to do anything for his reputation as a GM. He made the right call to leave.

Though Tre never did a rebuild in Calgary, he inherited Gaudreau and Monahan. Gio and Backlund were just hitting their primes when he came in. Only notable draft pick he made was Tkachuk.

This is mostly where my criticism towards him lies, he held on to the same core almost a decade even though the team never went anywhere in the playoffs (if they happened to make it). He kept tinkering with the team like they were close by signing expensive and mediocre UFA vets when the top end talent was lacking, this seemed clear to me especially when Monahan's injuries started racking up and with that his decline, this happened years ago.

I guess if it's true that he had a mandate from the ownership to simply make the playoffs no matter what making him a puppet GM then he gets a pass for not rebuilding earlier. But still doesn't excuse him for the lack of vision.

[Drunk Uncle]

Sad that Brad left. When you look at the aggregate body of work of signings, trades and drafting, I think he is one of the best GMs in the league and I think we are going to really miss him.

Assuming Lindholm leaves I think we are on a certain path to rebuild regardless of who the GM is. I can't see Tanev, Backlund or Hanifin signing up for a worse roster year after next.

Those guys leaving leads to rebuilding whether Ownership's mandate is to compete year after year or not. The only way to compete is to patch the roster in free agency and that only works for so long, especially as the roster becomes less competitive year-over-year and less attractive to older free agents who want to win.

My gut tells me we are in for a 10+ year rebuild. For the first 3-5 years the roster will be patchworked via free agency to compete by mandate. The next 3 will be drafting at the top of the first round. The 3-4 after that will be waiting for those picks to grow up in the NHL.

At this point, I think bad coaching and a bad GM can get us to the bottom faster so I'm not going to really worry about who those folks are.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

The time to start making those moves was two years ago. They should have been prepping for this draft as it is considered the best in decades. Instead they will be forced into making those moves with the 2024 and 2025 drafts in mind, both of which are purported to be weaker draft classes. It would be so Calgary Flames to have it play out this way because it means they are not focused on the bigger picture and thinking about moves for five years out.

Once the Bedard sweepstakes is over, I think you can accumulate plenty of 2023 draft capital by moving Lindholm, Backlund, and others at the draft.

In a deep class, this would be the year to do it.