[News] Sportsnet interview with Maloney (2-parter)

[Cecil Terwilliger]

It’s bad enough that Maloney said all that but to see it instantly prove accurate that we’re better than our record suggests is the most infuriating part.

We were supposed to lose 10 straight to make him look stupid. Not go on a win streak to reinforce were only a couple pieces away from playoffs.

[jg13]

I've seen enough. Trade our first this year and lets push for a wildcard spot!

[Psytic]

I don't to want struggle every year to be wild card 2. I want a perennial contender that's talked about every year to challenge for the cup.

[Rhett44]

Even though it is good to beat Vancouver, we are winning way too much lately.

If this keeps up we will be back picking in the mushy middle. They really need to trade Andersson and Kadri NOW.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

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.

Which means 60% of them do.

In addition, they all have top 5 players. Where are we getting ours from? Which one of them is picking Calgary to go to as a UFA? How many times does a 23 year-old franchise-changing Matthew Tkachuk hit the trade market?

Recent Cup winners with # of top-5 players:

FLA: 6
FLA: 4
VGK:3
COL: 7
TBL: 3
TBL: 3
STL: 3

They all had numerous top-10 players too. Florida alone has an additional two 6th ovetalls.

What are you even arguing? Are you suggesting that teams don't need good players to win championships? Or just that teams don't have to draft good players to win championships? Because I can assure you, if there's a group of teams in this league that need to draft their own star players, the Calgary Flames are right near the top of that list.

I can't believe anyone even has to say this, but you need skilled talent to win in this league, and they're not coming here unless he already have a few of our own they can join.

[420since1974]

I don’t believe that any of the coaches and players will tank on purpose. That is just not the way that most of them are built. They are all coaching/playing for their next contracts.

Tanking, rebuilding, or retooling are all the sole responsibility of the GM, upper management, and the owners. So far, none of them appear to be willing use the terms “tank” or “full rebuild”.

I only judge Craig Conroy on what he does, not what he says. I do not know the level of autonomy he has or hasn’t received. He does appear to have bought into rebuilding, shown by trading away expiring veteran contracts for draft picks and prospects and I am perfectly fine with that.

What worries me is that Maloney and his ilk are outright lying to the fans and trying to gaslight us, pretending that the Flames are close to being a competitive play-off team. This approach will only ensure that Calgary stays in the “mushy middle” forever.

Calgary Flames fans are not stupid. We can see what this team is and isn’t. Calgary has only won two first-round play-off rounds during the last 25 years. As much as we like to hack on Buffalo for being poorly managed, the Sabres have won more play-off rounds than the Flames during that same number of years.

Calgary fans know that only 3 out of the last 20 teams winning the Stanley Cup DID NOT have a 1st overall draft pick on their roster. We also know that the odds of drafting first overall are only 25% even if we finish last.

That said, I firmly believe that any NHL team with even halfway decent scouting could rebuild any team with 2 Top 5 picks and 2 additional Top 10 picks in 4 years. Calgary’s scouting has looked good since 2023, and they already have the first of the two Top 10 picks in Parakh. I would like to see them bottom out for this year and next to gain two Top 5 picks, then slowly improve while grabbing another Top 10 pick on the way. That would be a 5-year re-build, and the team could be perennially competitive as soon as the 2029/2030 play-offs.

I know that 5 years is a long time for some fans and the team might be painful to watch at times, but I feel that it is infinitely better than being in the “mushy middle” for another two decades.

[dino7c]

Flames aren't gonna suck for another 5 years...Conroy is too good at his job. Hire MacT if thats what you want

[JurassicTunga12]

Just do not let go of Conroy.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1669423097123065857

This needs to be seen through.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames aren't gonna suck for another 5 years...Conroy is too good at his job. Hire MacT if thats what you want

Define suck? We have missed the playoffs the last 3 years and this will be the 4th I believe. Unless we Start trading out some vets, I don't see any quick way out of this mess.

Obviously if you trade Kadri, Coleman, Andersson, Farabee etc for picks that would speed things up if you can get some good returns there. But it will still be at least 3 years probably for playoffs minimum.

[dino7c]

They were a playoff team last year but all normal standards...I don't care what anyone says. And why would they trade 25 year old Farabee now? Trade Kuznetzov too I guess...Zary, Wolf, and Coronato too lol.

The Sharks of 2 years ago didn't have even close to the young and youngish talent the Flames have now. Wolf, Coronato, Zayne, Bahl, Kuznetzov, Klapka, Its just different. IDK I see how Conroy and co. draft and trade. The Sharks were getting their doors blown off every game not losing by one goal with advanced stats near the top of the league.

We have gone this far a high pick this year would be fine but if you are hoping for years in the basement I don't think this is the team for you.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They were a playoff team last year but all normal standards...I don't care what anyone says. And why would they trade 25 year old Farabee now? Trade Kuznetzov too I guess...Zary, Wolf, and Coronato too lol.

The Sharks of 2 years ago didn't have even close to the young and youngish talent the Flames have now. Wolf, Coronato, Zayne, Bahl, Kuznetzov, Klapka, Its just different.

We do not have a Celebrini, a Misa, or even a Will Smith. Obviously if we draft Mackinnon and get a top pick next year again we can revisit this, but this is not close to being a playoff roster.

Last year we got unreal goaltending and so many aging players had career years. That will not happen again, this team is not close.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

We do not have a Celebrini, a Misa, or even a Will Smith. Obviously if we draft Mackinnon and get a top pick next year again we can revisit this, but this is not close to being a playoff roster.

Last year we got unreal goaltending and so many aging players had career years. That will not happen again, this team is not close.

lol did you even read what I said? I was talking about the Sharks a couple years ago at the start of their rebuild and ultra tank seasons

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dino7c

lol did you even read what I said? I was talking about the Sharks a couple years ago at the start of their rebuild

You were saying we were a playoff team last year and we were not. We missed, end of story.

Kadri will be a year older, as will Backlund and Coleman etc. Age will catch up to them eventually and while the younger players get better, these vets will likely get worse.

Which is why we need to trade Kadri, Andersson, and Coleman by the deadline and get value.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

You were saying we were a playoff team last year and we were not. We missed, end of story.

Kadri will be a year older, as will Backlund and Coleman etc. Age will catch up to them eventually and while the younger players get better, these vets will likely get worse.

Which is why we need to trade Kadri, Andersson, and Coleman by the deadline and get value.

When did I say otherwise? I only mentioned young players that are far better than anything the Sharks had when they were having 50 point seasons. Conroy is too good for the Flames to be in the basement for years is my point. His drafts will be good and he will trade for young players if opportunity knocks. This isn't going to be a 5-10 year tank of incompetence.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dino7c

When did I say otherwise? I only mentioned young players that are far better than anything the Sharks had when they were having 50 point seasons. Conroy is too good for the Flames to be in the basement for years is my point. His drafts will be good and he will trade for young players if opportunity knocks. This isn't going to be a 5-10 year tank of incompetence.

I have faith in Conroy too, assuming he is still the one making decisions. That latest Maloney article with him not answering whether Conroy will get an extension was bizarre.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

Just do not let go of Conroy.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1669423097123065857

This needs to be seen through.

Dammit. I thought this was a new tweet!

(No worries, I'm sure that wasn't your intention)

[Calgary4LIfe]

This tweet gets me excited. I would assume Conroy is staying.


Edit: Damn.. I was fooled too! lol


Anyway, I am still of the mindset that Conroy will be extended. I can't imagine this franchise moving away from him at this point.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

This tweet gets me excited. I would assume Conroy is staying.

uh, who wants to tell him

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dino7c

They were a playoff team last year but all normal standards...I don't care what anyone says. And why would they trade 25 year old Farabee now? Trade Kuznetzov too I guess...Zary, Wolf, and Coronato too lol.

The Sharks of 2 years ago didn't have even close to the young and youngish talent the Flames have now. Wolf, Coronato, Zayne, Bahl, Kuznetzov, Klapka, Its just different. IDK I see how Conroy and co. draft and trade. The Sharks were getting their doors blown off every game not losing by one goal with advanced stats near the top of the league.

We have gone this far a high pick this year would be fine but if you are hoping for years in the basement I don't think this is the team for you.

“If you want to cheer for a contender, I don’t think this is the team for you.”

- Flames Management (probably)

Year after year after year, it proves out. Their actions are those of a team disinterested in being Championship caliber, and their history backs it up.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

You were saying we were a playoff team last year and we were not. We missed, end of story.

Kadri will be a year older, as will Backlund and Coleman etc. Age will catch up to them eventually and while the younger players get better, these vets will likely get worse.

Which is why we need to trade Kadri, Andersson, and Coleman by the deadline and get value.

People were crying last year because Kadri couldn't be traded and would nose dive this year, and that Andersson should have been traded before and would never be a good defenceman again. Yet here we are and Kadri is great and Andersson is way better than last season. So is Coleman for that matter.