The 2025 Offseason thread.

[Redrum]

Obviously it's a distraction for Flamesnation.

[Toonage]

Let’s not kid ourselves. The longer this goes, and especially if they lose a bunch, the questions will be asked more and more and absolutely it will become one.

Pre season with no press asking the same questions over and over, of course its all smiles.

[PepsiFree]

Maybe the players just aren’t as easily distractible as the narrative we’ve built up in our heads would suggest.

[flambers]

Distraction won't be the player, rather getting asked the same questions over and over

Closer it gets to trade deadline, louder it will be

Its a distraction for sure,

[gilligans_off]

Who’s the fourth guy there?

[MissTeeks]

Originally Posted by gilligans_off

Who’s the fourth guy there?

Jake Bean.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Jake Bean.

Hopefully Bean ends up on waivers or at best the #8 guy.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't see this being much of a distraction. Everyone is clear on what will happen, it is just the when and what return it will end up being. This isn't a "will he re-sign?" scenario, where everything is up in the air. This isn't a guy pouting and demanding a trade like Zadorov did. To say that it won't be a distraction is not being exactly honest and correct, but it isn't the same type of distraction as 'distractions' normally are, if that makes sense. Everyone knows what is going on here, and what is going on here is business.


I also think it is less important right now. This isn't a contending team. We may have differing viewpoints on where this team sits in the "compete timeline", but have them at the 'rebuilding stage'. Distractions don't matter if they happen here, but I still don't see this as a meaningful distraction anyway. We all know what will happen with Andersson - Andersson knows, management knows, the players know, and the fans know. It is just a matter of when, that's all.

[D as in David]

How, exactly, would this distract players where it actually would matter? Are professional players these days thinking about past and future media questions during a shift on the ice? Do Rasmus' teammates second-guess passing to him because they know he won't be on the team for the full season?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by flambers

Distraction won't be the player, rather getting asked the same questions over and over

Closer it gets to trade deadline, louder it will be

Its a distraction for sure,

That’s so much different than literally every other year.

Seems weird for fans to pretend they know what’s distracting better than the players. The more outspoken ones like Kadri and Andersson have never shied away from mocking it or calling media (Francis) out when they’re relentlessly pushing a narrative.

Thankfully Calgary has some quality media members who have more than one question in their bag and can actually focus on what’s relevant.

[gvitaly]

I don't think it will be much of a distraction because there are no expectations. There isn't a rebuild looming over the Flames, and this team isn't a contender.

The players hope they make the playoffs, and I'm sure Andersson is going to do anything he can to help them achieve it. If they fall short, it won't be because it is the last year on Andersson's contract.

If the team gets to a bad start, then I could see the likes of Coleman and Kadri being more open to a trade after Andersson is dealt, but that's about it.

EDIT: pretty much what Calgary4Life said.

[Goriders]

I found the offseason rather boring. Which is probably good. But all of the extensions right at the end with Zary, Wolf and Backlund actually made it pretty solid.

Really just one big loose end now with Andersson.

I think Conroy is going to have some cleanup work soon with some of the prospect logjams in the system. Especially on D. Some of it might happen organically due to waivers after camp. Hopefully they can get something back for them though.

I still think that he’s going to go free agent hunting next offseason or the offseason after the new arena opens to help sell tickets. They will have a massive amount of cap space by then.

I really like what Conman and the rest of the management team are doing.