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

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

Some people are making out Treliving to be the greatest GM that got away. All owners are involved in operations to a degree, doesn't matter what business you are in because you need to protect your investment.

The narrative that Treliving had his hands tied and was a puppet for ownership is a bit much. Ownership directed him to make playoffs and there are so many ways to do so. Treliving still had to make decisions and he's made a few poor ones. He's also made a lot of good negotiations but overall we are in the position we are today is because of Treliving, good or bad.

As a fan that believed his time was up with the Flames I can at least say he was a really good ambassador for the team and seemed like a genuinely good person. Over his time as Flames GM you can argue the Flames spent less time being a clown show than all the other Canadian organizations especially the Canucks, Oilers, Habs, Senators. This season is probably the first one where people around the league were looking at Calgary wondering what the hell was going on but that's more to do with the antics of the head coach that was hand picked for him. As I have said before if one of Sutter or Treliving had to go I'm always going to opt for the better option and to me that was Treliving by far.

Like everyone else I like Conny but I've long believed this organization has badly needed a fresh set of eyes to come in with no ties to prospects or players on the roster. Less emphasis of building out the blueline and more on adding skill throughout the forward ranks as that's what the best teams are doing. It feels like every season we are discussing the Flames having the best blue line depth in the division and it's never got the team anywhere because they always get outskilled in the playoffs and in the years they didn't make it was where the bounces didn't go their way and the offense dries up. Teams that can score goals always have a chance and I just felt Treliving spent too much assets on the blue line over his tenure while the RW was always badly neglected. Oh and hopefully someone unattached to people in the organization can do the right thing and fire everyone involved with the goaltending for the big club.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'm focused more on the actual core guys that matter. If Lucic, Lewis, and Stone like Sutter that is irrelevant to me, of course they like him based on he deploys them and that is part of the problem.

The rumors all year have been that a lot of the locker room was unhappy with Sutter.

Gaudreau and Tkachuk left already with Sutter at least playing some part of a factor based on what I've heard.

Lindy and Backs seemed to clearly be unhappy.

Huberdeau and Kadri have long term deals so can't really leave but rumors are they aren't huge Sutter fans.

I've heard Coleman, Mangiapane, Tanev, Ruzicka, and Markstrom also aren't huge Sutter fans.

So really if we are at the point that only Toffoli, Zadorov, Andersson, and Hanifin are the guys under contract that like playing for Sutter then I do think that is an issue.



100% This.

This org already seems to have an issue attracting and keeping talent at all levels of the organization at this point. Based on some things that are controllable and some things that aren't.

Having a coach that is another "Con" just is another check against the org that is already swimming upstream compared to some other markets at this point.

Especially if they're not willing to build the core of the team with high draft picks, where 80+% of elite players are found.

So you're left with needing to win trades (one of the better trading GMs just walked) and hope players don't have your market on a no-trade list, or venture into the expensive UFA waters. Odds are higher to be on a no-trade with the likes of Sutter coaching, especially after this latest debacle.

All boils down to a recipe of...exactly where we're at.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Especially if they're not willing to build the core of the team with high draft picks, where 80+% of elite players are found.

So you're left with needing to win trades (one of the better trading GMs just walked) and hope players don't have your market on a no-trade list, or venture into the expensive UFA waters. Odds are higher to be on a no-trade with the likes of Sutter coaching, especially after this latest debacle.

All boils down to a recipe of...exactly where we're at.

They got their high picks in Bennett, Monahan, and Tkachuk. Technically add in Hanifin and Lindholm as well. It shows you how fickle rebuilding is. Bennett is a disappointment for where he was drafted and Monahan looked like a #1 center until his body started breaking down.

Maybe Tkachuk thought the Flames were headed for a rebuild with Gaudreau walking and didn't want to play through one.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bonded

They got their high picks in Bennett, Monahan, and Tkachuk. Technically add in Hanifin and Lindholm as well. It shows you how fickle rebuilding is. Bennett is a disappointment for where he was drafted and Monahan looked like a #1 center until his body started breaking down.

Maybe Tkachuk thought the Flames were headed for a rebuild with Gaudreau walking and didn't want to play through one.

Last year the Flames had a #3 in Gudbranson as well

This year Huberdeau. And Kadri if you consider 7OA a high pick.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Last year the Flames had a #3 in Gudbranson as well

This year Huberdeau. And Kadri if you consider 7OA a high pick.

Man, I forgot Gudbranson was 3rd overall. Easy to forget how ugly things can be at the top of the draft.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Man, I forgot Gudbranson was 3rd overall. Easy to forget how ugly things can be at the top of the draft.

3-6 is where you can really swing and miss IMO. 1-2 are almost always no-brainers. That year it was Taylor/Tyler and then a bunch of "others". And looking at it, Gud is probably still the best Dman taken in round one aside from Cam Fowler.

Next year I bet NJ wished they had a do over on their 4OA. 2013 it went Mackinnon (yay), Barkov (yay), Drouin (boo). 2014, 4-7 are bust/near bust.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'm focused more on the actual core guys that matter. If Lucic, Lewis, and Stone like Sutter that is irrelevant to me, of course they like him based on he deploys them and that is part of the problem.

The rumors all year have been that a lot of the locker room was unhappy with Sutter.

Gaudreau and Tkachuk left already with Sutter at least playing some part of a factor based on what I've heard.

Lindy and Backs seemed to clearly be unhappy.

Huberdeau and Kadri have long term deals so can't really leave but rumors are they aren't huge Sutter fans.

I've heard Coleman, Mangiapane, Tanev, Ruzicka, and Markstrom also aren't huge Sutter fans.

So really if we are at the point that only Toffoli, Zadorov, Andersson, and Hanifin are the guys under contract that like playing for Sutter then I do think that is an issue.



100% This.

This org already seems to have an issue attracting and keeping talent at all levels of the organization at this point. Based on some things that are controllable and some things that aren't.

Having a coach that is another "Con" just is another check against the org that is already swimming upstream compared to some other markets at this point.

Does Weegar just hope between both camps on a tightrope?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Does Weegar just hope between both camps on a tightrope?

Forgot about him...and haven't really heard a rumor about him.

So let's add him to the camp that is okay with Sutter.

I do like the he plays both sides of it angle though. Talks #### about Sutter to Huberdeau, but then praises him with Andersson.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Forgot about him...and haven't really heard a rumor about him.

So let's add him to the camp that is okay with Sutter.

I do like the he plays both sides of it angle though. Talks #### about Sutter to Huberdeau, but then praises him with Andersson.

He navigates office politics like I do. Nice.

[mile]

wtf i love salim now

https://twitter.com/user/status/1648775958441377792


ok love is a little much but i hope ownership takes notice

[ComixZone]

Yeah, I think it's a good thing for the organization/ownership to get hit hard by the media right now.

I particularly enjoyed the closing line:

Based on Monday’s press conference, however, that introspection seems unlikely.

The media has not been very critical of this team over the years, and now is the time that they step up and shine a light on things. Johnny leaves, Chucky leaves, Huberdeau has problems, Kadri has problems, Markstrom has problems, Backlund indicates he's unlikely to return, Lindholm indicates he's unlikely to return, Brad then bails...

It's time the organization figures out whatever the hell is wrong and then start fixing it. I think Salim hits the actual problem nicely on the nose with this:

For far too long, Flames ownership (led by majority owner Murray Edwards) has built the team on the notion that the team could compete for the Stanley Cup if it squeaked into the playoffs. Long-term plans and blueprints have been eschewed in favour of a short-sighted, just-get-in mentality.

[taxbuster]

Meh - Valji is just jumping onto the train that Eric Duhatschek started.

As a journalist, if you're trying to punch above your class...you have to be first. Second doesn't cut it.

[Toonage]

Salim has been trying to stir up #### for a while. Now he has the Canadian sports scene's attention. People are looking for stories from Calgary. if he has any real dirt, I'd imagine its on the way.

[bax]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Meh - Valji is just jumping onto the train that Eric Duhatschek started.

As a journalist, if you're trying to punch above your class...you have to be first. Second doesn't cut it.

Salim is such a strange character. He once told me that he doesn’t plan on being a journalist forever and will eventually move into management. As in management for an NHL franchise.

[topfiverecords]

Has Francis written his article about the stuff between Kadri and Sutter yet?

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by bax

Salim is such a strange character. He once told me that he doesn’t plan on being a journalist forever and will eventually move into management. As in management for an NHL franchise.

Dream big I guess haha

[dammage79]

Wait so was Salim the one Maloney and Bean kinda jabbed at when talking about who's applying for the GM role? They chided about "some reporters" who were texting for an interview.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Wait so was Salim the one Maloney and Bean kinda jabbed at when talking about who's applying for the GM role? They chided about "some reporters" who were texting for an interview.

I thought it was a reporter asking for a media interview. Not job interview. Full of cringe if that is true.

A reporter with no cred with the team thinks the situation is so bad that he throws his hat in the ring?

And the brain trust is so tone deaf that they acknowledge this without thinking how much more of a clown show it makes it look that reporters are applying?

[curves2000]

Listening to Fan 960 right now, there is a LOT of love being sent towards Conroy and Pascal as AGM's getting the top job. It's almost a little too much about going into detail about how qualified they are for the job and how much work they have done over the years etc. It's almost like Sportsnet is conditioning the fanbase for it.

I have zero issues with anybody involved in this organization but let's get real, the Flames are not a marquee organization and are a bottom feeder club in virtually every aspect. Bottom line sports is about winning and championships and the Flames have lacked a lot of both for way too long.

I just find it hard to stomach that over the long term that guys like Burke, Tre, Maloney, Pascal and Conroy are exactly the team we need to actually win and move on and forward. Certainly some of the decisions and issues over the years have everybody's hands on it, good and bad.

I just want this team to move forward and have success and bring home some championships. I want a plan, a strategy and a execution on it from start to finish. If Conroy is the best person available and will bring in some outside thinking, a new strategy, some new people and expand on certain things hockey operations wise, great. If he is just a cheaper option, turn key style GM, stay the course style manager, than forget it. I actually like the guy and think it's important to have people who WANT to be here and WANT the job in Calgary.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by curves2000

I have zero issues with anybody involved in this organization but let's get real, the Flames are not a marquee organization and are a bottom feeder club in virtually every aspect. Bottom line sports is about winning and championships and the Flames have lacked a lot of both for way too long.

I know people are down on ownership and how things have turned out but in no way are they a bottom feeder organization. They spend to the cap, let a GM cycle through 4 coaches, and have basically been alternating between good and bad regular seasons. You make them sound like the Coyotes lol.