2023/24 No Hope Flames Rumours & Speculation Thread - Page 13 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

TrentCrimmIndependent · 10-22-2023, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

why bother buying out at this stage? Not like the Flames need the cap space. They don't have anyone in the system they have to worry about paying.

They need to buyout Kadri so that they can sign an even worse player in free agency.

TrentCrimmIndependent · 10-22-2023, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Attendance is already on the decline. Never mind playoff revenue - what about regular season revenue?

I still think this city and this fanbase has more of an appetite for a rebuild than whatever country club the Flames have created right now.

I worry however that ownership will read the declining attendance numbers the wrong way and double down (or is it triple down at this point?) on the current strategy.

Absolutely. You can sell a rebuild. You can sell 18/19 year olds playing in show earlier than they would otherwise. People will eat that up.

You can't sell this #### when you no longer have the coach or GM swap up your sleeve to use to sell false hope. Once people figure out what they'll be saddled with for the next number of years, they're going to scatter very quickly. It may have already begun.

I hope the Flames either have a surprising resurgence that sees the top players turn it around, or have them force Conroy/Edwards into a 'soft' rebuild, or whatever the owner can stomach that is the Calgary Flames version of one.

Strange Brew · 10-22-2023, 11:27 PM

I guess we could always give it a few games to see if they play better.

Redrum · 10-22-2023, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I guess we could always give it a few games to see if they play better.

We already know they will. They'll get to 5-10 games over 500.

Calgary4LIfe · 10-23-2023, 08:28 AM

I do believe it is still way too early to jump off a bridge, but it certainly seems like this is what we have seen all of last season. It does make me very nervous that Montreal holds one of the Flames 1st round picks in the near draft.

I think it was Dirk Diggler in the PGT thread that made a good point - bring someone who has never watched hockey before and get that person to pick out the superstar players. It can't be done right now. You most certainly could pick out Debrincat yesterday afternoon, however.

It is still way too early to jump off the bridge, but this team doesn't look and feel vastly improved, the hole mantra about having fun can erode real quick through losing streaks, and the gameplan to get Huberdeau back on track has (thus far) resulted in a better PPG, but at no point in time so far this season have I pointed at him and said: "What a good player!". On top of this, I look at this team as potentially too small, and are likely to get bullied by some of the bigger teams this year - I should gripe about it when it actually happens I guess, rather than assuming. Plus, again.. Montreal holds a near future 1st round pick.

Some positive views - Markstrom out and out stole that Winnipeg game. Huberdeau has a higher PPG. 4th line looks solid and I like the addition of Greer. Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman have chemistry, and that's nice to see. Coronato often looks like the most dangerous player out there (I guess this is great, but also bad?), not only with his shot, but with his vision and poise with the puck that make him look more like a player with a few seasons under his belt already. PK is awesome too.

There are really more positives. However, this team has to find chemistry somewhere else other than the bottom 6, there best players have to start looking and producing like their best players, and they have to get more consistently good goaltending, or this will be another disappointing season.

Hockey_Ninja · 10-23-2023, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

And we all know they won't blow it all up and rebuild, cause that means NO playoffs and that means no money.

Ticket sales are already down. People are losing interest in the current team that isn’t very entertaining and seems to have no direction or chemistry

PepsiFree · 10-23-2023, 09:10 AM

Bring back Bennett

TrentCrimmIndependent · 10-23-2023, 09:15 AM

There already won't be playoffs, even without a teardown.

They just saw a group of 8th-12th place teams (that are supposedly in the same tier as them) and went 1-3-1.

The best bet for ownership to get their precious 2 home playoff dates in is if the Flames lean on their one strength and cut vladar loose and run with an improved Markstrom and Wolf, since the only way they'll win most games is with above average goaltending while they eke out barely enough goals to get past their opponent.

Geeoff · 10-23-2023, 09:18 AM

waive Vladar, hope Wolf can Kipper us to the promised land?

Ashes · 10-23-2023, 09:49 AM

I think it's finally time to hand over the keys and all hockey related decision-making to Robert from the overtime call-in show.

He is the chosen one, he will bring balance.

Flame On · 10-23-2023, 09:59 AM

Surely if things get bad enough folk like Kadri and Huberdeau will naturally want out and be willing to be traded. Right?!

TrentCrimmIndependent · 10-23-2023, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geeoff

waive Vladar, hope Wolf can Kipper us to the promised land?

It's probably their only path, if he's got anywhere near that kind of upside.

Flames aren't elite nor do they have any blue chip pieces coming at any other position.

memphusk · 10-23-2023, 10:13 AM

What a mess. Knew it was coming but didn't think it would happen this quickly.

ForeverFlameFan · 10-23-2023, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Bring back Bennett

Joke or not, I would.

I think with the proper ice time and linemates he’d flourish here like he is in Florida.

Our team really started to crumble after he left. Not saying he’s the main reason, but just thought that was funny.

Cleveland Steam Whistle · 10-23-2023, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Joke or not, I would.

I think with the proper ice time and linemates he’d flourish here like he is in Florida.

Our team really started to crumble after he left. Not saying he’s the main reason, but just thought that was funny.

Flames had one of their best regular seasons in team history, finished 1st in the division, and actually won a playoff round (which as we all know if very, very rare for the Flames) after he left.

I'm actually on the page that we should have kept him and he wasn't set up for success here, but there is nothing to support that correlation.

TrentCrimmIndependent · 10-23-2023, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by memphusk

What a mess. Knew it was coming but didn't think it would happen this quickly.

It's true.

I expected them to at least look somewhat rejuvenated and definitely see a round of playoffs this year, before reality started to set in with the aging core.

I'm not sure even that's happening. There wasn't even a Sutter departure bump. Which is... yikes.

Heavy Jack · 10-23-2023, 10:55 AM

I mean we started 5-1 last year and we all know how that turned out so I’m at least gonna give this team until mid November before passing full judgment… but my god lol.

Vinny01 · 10-23-2023, 10:59 AM

It is not without the benefit of hindsight for me but the summer of Brad was an absolute death blow to this team opposed to the savior it was declared at the time. The fact this team failed in the first year and the new players underwhelm it has really allowed apathy to set in for the fanbase. We no longer have Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Monahan, Bennett as the guys who were drafted and we followed from 18 to becoming the face of the team. We have highly paid veterans (one of which shot us down on a trade years ago to only come back for that far retirement contract). Huberdeau was supposed to be Johnny but he is a poor man’s Tanguay at best. Even Weegar has been invisible to start the season.

This has been a tough team to cheer for and there are not many if any lights at the end of the tunnel. Ticket sales will suffer as fans see a team stuck on the treadmill with unmovable contracts weighing them down

Bonded · 10-23-2023, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny01

It is not without the benefit of hindsight for me but the summer of Brad was an absolute death blow to this team opposed to the savior it was declared at the time. The fact this team failed in the first year and the new players underwhelm it has really allowed apathy to set in for the fanbase. We no longer have Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Monahan, Bennett as the guys who were drafted and we followed from 18 to becoming the face of the team. We have highly paid veterans (one of which shot us down on a trade years ago to only come back for that far retirement contract). Huberdeau was supposed to be Johnny but he is a poor man’s Tanguay at best. Even Weegar has been invisible to start the season.

This has been a tough team to cheer for and there are not many if any lights at the end of the tunnel. Ticket sales will suffer as fans see a team stuck on the treadmill with unmovable contracts weighing them down

I don't really care about the current long-term contracts on the team if they don't sign Lindholm to a 9.3 x 8 contract. They can still tank with Huberdeau and Kadri on the team. Weegar and Andersson have trade value.

redmile04 · 10-23-2023, 11:34 AM

So if they choose to rebuild or stay this way ( mediocre) we are potentally looking at close to 40 years with ONE 3rd round appearance / 0 championships. Geez, this is getting really tough.

We badly need a Kipper scenario ( whether its in net or not) where a player comes in from nowhere and essentially saves the franchise.. i dont see it happening though sadly.