It can chill ticket sales for some people who realize they are paying $16K to watch a team that's not trying to win.
It does no real good except to give lip service to fans who need lip service.
Well I guess you think they aren’t trying to win. I disagree, they are rebuilding but they are trying to win every night. Conroy may not have done anything in the offseason but this team is better than the one that started last season.
It’s not keeping me up at night. But the lip service message that you imagine in your mind doesn’t have to be what they say either.
edit: I thought Conroy was quite candid in his media availability the last few days. I don’t think he torpedoed ticket sales by doing so.
Last edited by Strange Brew; 11-30-2025 at 01:29 PM.
95% of the rebuild type moves have been forced on them. UFAs and trade requests. Any of the slightly tougher decisions have been avoided. Last year's deadline they preferred going for it than actually trying to make moves for the future. They're still holding onto guys that could be traded. They've made moves for roster guys like Sharangovich, Frost, Farabee, Miromanov. Those are retool moves. They likely haven't said anything about a rebuild because a true rebuild isn't their priority and will only happen if it's forced on them due to the performance of the team.
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I think they have already done that many times, they are not going to let assets go for free, they are working to get younger and they want to accumulate draft picks and they feel like you have to build through the draft. I feel like Conroy has said those things many times since he was made the GM.
These people don't read the full context though. They just read the headlines and the headlines haven't used the word rebuild. So outrage we must!
Why are you posting that gif? He made a lot of good points. The only move the Flames have made in the last year and a half has been the Farabee trade. Which definitely isn't a rebuilding type trade.
they traded a pending UFA, a tweener and a 2nd for a pair of 24 and 25 year old forwards. It's much more of a "rebuild" type trade than a "go for it" type trade.
Which other notable pending UFAs were there to make a "rebuild" type trade? Vladar? Sure, I guess.
they traded a pending UFA, a tweener and a 2nd for a pair of 24 and 25 year old forwards. It's much more of a "rebuild" type trade than a "go for it" type trade.
Which other notable pending UFAs were there to make a "rebuild" type trade? Vladar? Sure, I guess.
I mean in a rebuild you aren't just trading pending UFAs. You are actively looking to trade vets who have value and making your roster younger.
Until the Flames trade players like Kadri and Coleman, you can't really say we have been doing that. Every single team in the league makes trades for pending UFAs if they say no to re signing, those are just moves you make.
I mean in a rebuild you aren't just trading pending UFAs. You are actively looking to trade vets who have value and making your roster younger.
Until the Flames trade players like Kadri and Coleman, you can't really say we have been doing that. Every single team in the league makes trades for pending UFAs if they say no to re signing, those are just moves you make.
this literally describes every other trade Conroy has made.
I get that people want them to trade Kadri and Coleman for a ransom, but this isn't a video game. The value has to be there, the buyers have to be there. NHL GMs across the board have unfortunately been sitting on their hands for a very long time now (remember when the argument for a decentralized draft was "more trades"? Hahaha, good times). We just don't know what offers are out there, and given that Conroy has pulled the trigger whenever he felt the price was met (moving Toffoli a year early, moving Lindholm before the deadline, moving Markstrom with two years left), I doubt the offers have been all that good so far.
this literally describes every other trade Conroy has made.
I get that people want them to trade Kadri and Coleman for a ransom, but this isn't a video game. The value has to be there, the buyers have to be there. NHL GMs across the board have unfortunately been sitting on their hands for a very long time now (remember when the argument for a decentralized draft was "more trades"? Hahaha, good times). We just don't know what offers are out there, and given that Conroy has pulled the trigger whenever he felt the price was met (moving Toffoli a year early, moving Lindholm before the deadline, moving Markstrom with two years left), I doubt the offers have been all that good so far.
Who knows what the offers will be this year. But it was reported we had really good offers for Andersson and Kadri at least years deadline. But we said no to these deals, because we wanted to try to make a playoff run.
That is something a rebuilding team wouldn't do. So it is kind of tough to make an argument they have been rebuilding when events like that happened.
Who knows what the offers will be this year. But it was reported we had really good offers for Andersson and Kadri at least years deadline. But we said no to these deals, because we wanted to try to make a playoff run.
That is something a rebuilding team wouldn't do. So it is kind of tough to make an argument they have been rebuilding when events like that happened.
Kadri had a full NMC last season. Andersson still had a year left (and wasn't yet eligible to re-sign with his new team at the time) and will be moved this season.
We are a rebuilding team, and have been since Conroy took over. The trades speak for themselves.
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I agree that Edwards is the biggest, if not only, problem. The team has been mediocre since 1994. Edwards has been owner since 1994.
And it almost seems like he's getting worse with age.
If you don't care about winning cups and want to pursue annual relevance, that's one thing.
But the refusal to get franchise/superstar players is losing him tons of money over the long term.
He'll probably own the team for the next 30 years. Not exactly the most hopeful prospect.
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For those who don't think the OP is one of the worst takes on this board, what exactly is expected of a pro-sports ownership group?
I don't there is a credible argument that he is unwilling to spend. Based on recent history.
I don't think there is a credit argument that he is unwilling to let the team take a step back and develop talent based on even more recent history.
And I don't think any of us should aspire for Edmonton, Buffalo, San Jose levels of public and purposeful tanking that is so embarrassing it leaves scars on the organization and returning players for years and years. For those who say it's the only way, I'd also encourage you to check where Edm, SJ, Buf, and Chi are sitting in the standings. I'm sure you could credibly make the argument that the Flames should be telling everyone they are trying to lose and get McKenna, but I wouldn't want you managing my team, even if that is the direction things are moving.
I still think it's possible that there is a % of fans that will not renew tickets if it's a rebuild.
They could even have a focus group that says "35% of our fan base isn't supportive"
A very involved hockey fan that would follow the team regardless of what they do or what they call it, may not be who they are speaking too.
Imagine operating your business on eggshells out of a paralyzing fear that a portion of current STHs will disagree with that message.
How are they STHs generating that level of disposable income if they can't read between the lines. They must recognize what's actually going on vs what's being said, no?
As for casual fans, I dont think the level of engagement around the city has been anything to write home about in recent years given the state of the team. I somehow doubt Huberdeau jerseys are flying off of shelves right now.
I doubt there is much to lose in that department with an admission of the rebuild.
The problem is the messaging. Defensive old men in front of microphones isnt helping to sell anything to prospective fans. Talk about high end players. Hammer on names like McKenna and Verhoeff! As well as current prospects having success.
The varying comments on the direction of the team just comes across like incompetence. If they remind people of the upside of filling the cupboards instead of just playing the denial game in the face of conflicting evidence, they'll instill confidence in people watching.
Trying to please literally every segment of the fanbase by not committing to any official narrative just seems like a pathetic way to run an organization that we supposedly want players and locals to feel pride about.
Last edited by TrentCrimmIndependent; 11-30-2025 at 02:59 PM.
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Imagine operating your business on eggshells out of a paralyzing fear that a portion of current STHs will disagree with that message.
How are they STHs generating that level of disposable income if they can't read between the lines. They must recognize what's actually going on vs what's being said, no?
As for casual fans, I dont think the level of engagement around the city has been anything to write home about in recent years given the state of the team. I somehow doubt Huberdeau jerseys are flying off of shelves right now.
I doubt there is much to lose in that department with an admission of the rebuild.
The problem is the messaging. Defensive old men in front of microphones isnt helping to sell anything to prospective fans. Talk about high end players. Hammer on names like McKenna and Verhoeff! As well as current prospects having success.
The varying comments on the direction of the team just comes across like incompetence. If they remind people of the upside of filling the cupboards instead of just playing the denial game in the face of conflicting evidence, they'll instill confidence in people watching.
Trying to please literally every segment of the fanbase by not committing to any official narrative just seems like a pathetic way to run an organization that we supposedly want players and locals to feel pride about.
Of course a portion of the fan base would not renew their season tickets. The organization has been giving the fans the message that they will never rebuild for years, so that they don't miss playoffs for a decade.
A lot of these fans have been brainwashed into thinking a rebuild is bad. And that we might even turn into Buffalo! When in reality we basically are Buffalo west already with the lack of success we have had.
They have not made what would have to be a minimum of 20 moves for that percentage to be at all accurate, leaving aside the questionable validity of the rest of the statement.
Trading a top four NHL defenceman for a 1st, a 3rd, and an AHL defenceman that might have NHL upside: a classic retool move.
And that we might even turn into Buffalo! When in reality we basically are Buffalo west already with the lack of success we have had.
Wind the clock back far enough and you can argue that there have only been anywhere from 9 to 14 successful NHL franchises.
So sure, go back 25 years or however long to make the Flames essentially Buffalo west. Go back 14 years ago and make the same comparison. Ask yourself if Flames fans would come out for a team with a 14 year playoff drought. Ask Sabres fans if they preferred the mediocrity of 25-15 years ago to their current 14 year drought situation.
And the Sabres current situation might even be palatable if there was any hope or optimism for improvement on the horizon. There is not. Making it pretty obvious why no one wants a team to turn into a Buffalo over a "short" 14 year span.
Last edited by Finger Cookin; 11-30-2025 at 04:22 PM.
Trading a top four NHL defenceman for a 1st, a 3rd, and an AHL defenceman that might have NHL upside: a classic retool move.
That is when I knew we would never get a rebuild when Conroy traded a top 60 dman in the league for an AHL stud who could play in the NHL maybe. I knew then that this franchise would never change and they would always be retooling instead of actually rebuilding.
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Who knows what the offers will be this year. But it was reported we had really good offers for Andersson and Kadri at least years deadline. But we said no to these deals, because we wanted to try to make a playoff run.
That is something a rebuilding team wouldn't do. So it is kind of tough to make an argument they have been rebuilding when events like that happened.
LOL...you really have a one-track mind. If the Flames don't do what you think they should do (or have done) they're wrong, terrible and awful and are neither rebuilding nor running the team correctly.
Annoying at a minimum. And hopelessly unrealistic.
The team (really ANY NHL team) is composed of highly energetic, highly competitive and (likely) highly testosterone-driven men. This is not your office around-the-water-cooler loose-at-the-waist group. They may not be the smartest in the room, but I'm willing to bet that in ANY form of competition, physical or otherwise, they would drive most people into the dirt.With ease.
It is simply silly to suggest that a team...as close to a playoff position as Flames (unexpectedly) were last year...trade off its prime players at the time. NO TEAM is going to do that. I'm willing to bet that no team HAS done that in the same position as it would be tantamount to saying to the players "We don't care about being competitive now...we think it's way better to be competitive in 4 years when none of you are around. And, oh, by the way...thanks for the fun year, but we don't care."
Not. Happening.
They chose to take a beat...didn't do anything drastic and let the players play out their fate. This year they are not in the same position and will - most likely - take a tack more appropriate to their overall place.
I'm willing to wait and see. If something happens, then we can evaluate the moves. If nothing happens, that's a different thing.
Who knows what the offers will be this year. But it was reported we had really good offers for Andersson and Kadri at least years deadline. But we said no to these deals, because we wanted to try to make a playoff run.
That is something a rebuilding team wouldn't do. So it is kind of tough to make an argument they have been rebuilding when events like that happened.
