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

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I think it’s getting crystal clear, the Calgary Flames have no real intention to win a Stanley Cup. Their entire model is to ‘just get in’.

They just aren’t willing to accept and sacrifice a few years.

Sucks as a fan. Having a goal of a middle of the pack team is boring.

They are in last place and have made zero moves to get out of last place, despite having cap room and draft capital.

IMO some of these guys are just locked into a mindset where you ALWAYS say the goal is playoffs and to ice a winning team, because they figure that’s what fans want to hear.

[Bonded]

Francis going after Maloney is definitely interesting. Hopefully they can Maloney if it’s between him and Conroy.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Francis going after Maloney is definitely interesting. Hopefully they can Maloney if it’s between him and Conroy.

This is how I’m seeing it as well.
Media doubling down on Maloney terrible between the period interview.

[Rhett44]

What has Maloney even done in this league to get the position he is in?

Didn't he get fired for being a bad GM for the Coyotes? Has he done anything else noteworthy?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Francis going after Maloney is definitely interesting. Hopefully they can Maloney if it’s between him and Conroy.

I don’t think he’s going after him. If anything he gave him multiple chances to adjust the messaging during the interview with pretty leading questions and Maloney just doubled down every time

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I haven’t liked Maloney since his days driving phoenix into the ground with terrible drafting history and perpetual rebuilding. I’d wager that’s probably why he thinks the CGY market can’t do it and would explain his PTSD.

I’d prefer to move on from him, I personally dont see the value especially if he’s the man behind the “we can fix this” mantra, and it would make sense given he tried to fix the Coyotes his entire tenure there, which he failed miserably.

In a perfect world

- Bottom out this season/get a top pick
- Get two more additional 1sts through Kads and Andersson trades
- Maloney steps down in the offseason, replaced by Shanahan
- GMCC extended for 3 years
- Iginla officially made AGM
- Another tough season standings wise for the last season in the dome, but heading into the 2027 draft even more draft capital
- New building opens, Huska let go and somehow Jon Cooper is available and signed
- Makar never extends and becomes UFA and signs with his childhood team the Flames


Is that really so much to ask? Lol

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

They are in last place and have made zero moves to get out of last place, despite having cap room and draft capital.

IMO some of these guys are just locked into a mindset where you ALWAYS say the goal is playoffs and to ice a winning team, because they figure that’s what fans want to hear.

But given what so many posters have pointed out and believe, look at what the Flames can trade since it is their franchise modus operandi to just try to sneak in and be perpetually mediocre

2026 1st
2026 Vegas 1st
Gridin
Reschny
Potter
All other 2026 picks
Hunter B
Any of the 2025 picks not named
Any of the 2024 picks not named
2027 picks

I kinda look forward to seeing what they will trade away since they are so committed to trying to win and are not committed to a rebuild.

[Strange Brew]

Just listened to the Francis and Steinberg debrief of the interview. As usual, took them 45 minutes to maybe say 5 minutes worth of stuff.

I agree with everyone, including them, that what is far more important is the team’s actions. And they both talked about confidence that the team will ultimately “lean in” on to the bad results. But then Francis was clear that he thinks that of Kadri, Coleman and Andersson, only Andersson gets traded.

There are only so many levers Conroy can pull. Trading Andersson is automatic and even if they wanted to re-sign him, I assume his interest is gone. IF that is the only move they make, that’s a problem.

Francis even said he’d have no problem if the team decides to go for it next year. If so, what is he even suggesting they do? Trade Rasmus, make your picks and rebuild over?

I go a little brain dead listening to those guys sometimes. For the most part, fans don’t want a “one year face plant”. They want the club to take their medicine, make some sacrifices in the shorter term (not just at the trade deadline this season) and totally build around a core of players who almost entirely aren’t even drafted yet.

Steinberg stated he “knows for a fact” there are intense debates going on at the organization about the future direction. The required approach just doesn’t seem debatable to me.

Kadri - you have been a great player and a surprisingly great signing. Thank you. And we really appreciate the fact that you love the city and want to play here. It’s not an easy decision but this team needs to focus on acquiring young talent that we can build around for the future and we have decided to trade you.

The club doesn’t need to announce this. It’s just what needs to happen is all.

Fingers crossed.

[bubbsy]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

They are in last place and have made zero moves to get out of last place, despite having cap room and draft capital.

IMO some of these guys are just locked into a mindset where you ALWAYS say the goal is playoffs and to ice a winning team, because they figure that’s what fans want to hear.

I agree with you to a degree. I think a 9th place team that struggled to score last year, going out and doing absolutely nothing in the offseason, gave me a lot of hope that they are being realistic and taking a patient approach.

I understand the ‘spin’ here but if they don’t realize the market and fan base are cheering for a rebuild, they just aren’t reading the room. Treliving had a great line about ‘… taking cues from the team….’ that determines how management should proceed. That type of vague messaging would have been so much better.

That being said, I agree with the sentiment in reacting to their actions, not their words.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Just listened to the Francis and Steinberg debrief of the interview. As usual, took them 45 minutes to maybe say 5 minutes worth of stuff.

I agree with everyone, including them, that what is far more important is the team’s actions. And they both talked about confidence that the team will ultimately “lean in” on to the bad results. But then Francis was clear that he thinks that of Kadri, Coleman and Andersson, only Andersson gets traded.

There are only so many levers Conroy can pull. Trading Andersson is automatic and even if they wanted to re-sign him, I assume his interest is gone. IF that is the only move they make, that’s a problem.

Francis even said he’d have no problem if the team decides to go for it next year. If so, what is he even suggesting they do? Trade Rasmus, make your picks and rebuild over?

I go a little brain dead listening to those guys sometimes. For the most part, fans don’t want a “one year face plant”. They want the club to take their medicine, make some sacrifices in the shorter term (not just at the trade deadline this season) and totally build around a core of players who almost entirely aren’t even drafted yet.

Steinberg stated he “knows for a fact” there are intense debates going on at the organization about the future direction. The required approach just doesn’t seem debatable to me.

Kadri - you have been a great player and a surprisingly great signing. Thank you. And we really appreciate the fact that you love the city and want to play here. It’s not an easy decision but this team needs to focus on acquiring young talent that we can build around for the future and we have decided to trade you.

The club doesn’t need to announce this. It’s just what needs to happen is all.

Fingers crossed.

If the Flames were to try to make their team competitive next year through the UFA market, here are there best offensive options on the market (assuming these guys at their age want to sign in Calgary and see it as their best option to compete)

Malkin
Nick Schmaltz
Ovechkin
Panarin
Johansen
Tuch
Sherwood
Roslovic

Don’t see much there that concerns me too much about being able to turn this team around. Also doubt any of them would want to sign in Calgary

On the backend their options to sign are

John carlsson
Trouba
McDonough
Matheson
Chiarot
Oleksiak
Gudbranson

Don’t think many of those guys will be signing in Calgary either.

I am not too worried about the team actively improving this offseason, UFAs just don’t sign with ####ty teams as a general rule.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

A few weeks ago I said it would be nice to hear some honesty from the flames to the fan base. Well here’s a million dollar question, was that actual honesty? Is ownership and management really this out of touch or is it just flame flavoured gaslighting?

After I said it would be nice to hear some honesty I was told by multiple boneheads to “judge them based on what they do”. Well they did this interview, so there you go to those donkeys who bothered to reply to me.

What an ugly look.

I agree ... you came across very poorly there.

[Geeoff]

Based on the current landscape, the only way that the Flames could "go for it" is if they were able to trade for and extend Quinn Hughes. Despite being a dirty Canuck, this is a franchise changing type of player.

[GioforPM]

Imagine thinking that things said in an interview is something the Flames have “done” versus something the Flames have “said”.

When people say “watch what they do, not what they say” they mean actual steps like trades, signings, etc. Are the Flames trading for better players to try and make the POs? No. Have they already traded players who would have helped in that cause and not extended them? Yes. Will they finish last? Probably. Will they trade more veteran players away? Almost certainly.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

In a perfect world

- Bottom out this season/get a top pick
- Get two more additional 1sts through Kads and Andersson trades
- Maloney steps down in the offseason, replaced by Shanahan
- GMCC extended for 3 years
- Iginla officially made AGM
- Another tough season standings wise for the last season in the dome, but heading into the 2027 draft even more draft capital
- New building opens, Huska let go and somehow Jon Cooper is available and signed
- Makar never extends and becomes UFA and signs with his childhood team the Flames

Is that really so much to ask? Lol

Haha! It’s a lot.

Where does all the love for Shanahan come from? What has he done as an exec? Why not put Iggy in that position? If you need an inspirational leader, face of the franchise while we rebuild he’s the best we’ll find unless a 45 year old Lanny somehow becomes available.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You would pay $10,000-plus a year to watch a team throw 41 games on purpose?

Yeah I don't think the Flames are fearful of whether or not a die hard fan on a hockey website will support them in a rebuild.

They wonder how many people will put their money where their mouth is?

I've had season tickets for 27 years but I sell a lot of them because I find it a hassle more often than not and I get up too early!

If you have to sign up to spend $10K a year for 5 years and be faithful ... I'm not sure how solid that fan base is.

It's a real concern, and Calgary isn't immune to it.

You need to get bad, and then stay bad but exciting because of who you add, and then have it look like a light at the end of the tunnel early even if it takes 5 years.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by Bingo

You need to get back, and then stay bad but exciting because of who you add, and then have it look like a light at the end of the tunnel early even if it takes 5 years.

I suppose that's where I'm a bit confused with all of this. I legitimately believe they have enough young pieces in key positions already that this doesnt have to take 5 years at all. I just dont understand their reluctance when bottoming out this year may be the only time they need (or should) to do so.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I dont see it.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah I don't think the Flames are fearful of whether or not a die hard fan on a hockey website will support them in a rebuild.

They wonder how many people will put their money where their mouth is?

I've had season tickets for 27 years but I sell a lot of them because I find it a hassle more often than not and I get up too early!

If you have to sign up to spend $10K a year for 5 years and be faithful ... I'm not sure how solid that fan base is.

It's a real concern, and Calgary isn't immune to it.

You need to get bad, and then stay bad but exciting because of who you add, and then have it look like a light at the end of the tunnel early even if it takes 5 years.

But would you not rather buy season tickets to watch a team with Smith/Celebrini/Misa, even if you miss the playoffs for the next few years? I feel like I would rather spend money to watch an up and coming team with elite talent.

Right now, we have no elite talent and on top of that play the most boring low event style hockey in the league. Isn't that an even tougher sell, to convince people that these vets who will be almost at retirement age are going to keep you competitive in 2 years?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

If the Flames were to try to make their team competitive next year through the UFA market, here are there best offensive options on the market (assuming these guys at their age want to sign in Calgary and see it as their best option to compete)

Malkin
Nick Schmaltz
Ovechkin
Panarin
Johansen
Tuch
Sherwood
Roslovic

Don’t see much there that concerns me too much about being able to turn this team around. Also doubt any of them would want to sign in Calgary

On the backend their options to sign are

John carlsson
Trouba
McDonough
Matheson
Chiarot
Oleksiak
Gudbranson

Don’t think many of those guys will be signing in Calgary either.

I am not too worried about the team actively improving this offseason, UFAs just don’t sign with ####ty teams as a general rule.

I don’t disagree. I’d prefer that not be the plan though. Not saying it is either. But the whole lean into losing for one season when you’re already in dead last place isn’t exactly something worth talking about. They have zero choice.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah I don't think the Flames are fearful of whether or not a die hard fan on a hockey website will support them in a rebuild.

They wonder how many people will put their money where their mouth is?

I've had season tickets for 27 years but I sell a lot of them because I find it a hassle more often than not and I get up too early!

If you have to sign up to spend $10K a year for 5 years and be faithful ... I'm not sure how solid that fan base is.

It's a real concern, and Calgary isn't immune to it.

You need to get bad, and then stay bad but exciting because of who you add, and then have it look like a light at the end of the tunnel early even if it takes 5 years.

I guess it’s how you package it then. We’re going on 4 years now of being out of the playoffs. Is selling the current product to season ticket holders more attractive?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by MacFlame

I suppose that's where I'm a bit confused with all of this. I legitimately believe they have enough young pieces in key positions already that this doesnt have to take 5 years at all. I just dont understand their reluctance when bottoming out this year may be the only time they need (or should) to do so.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I dont see it.

You’re not naive IMO.

Personally I think they have some nice young pieces but many are supporting pieces. The talent they really need to compete for championships has not been drafted yet.

Can you turn that around in one draft? I’m skeptical.