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

[Goriders]

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 think they are shooting for the bottom due to their lack of action. Per previous comments they are going to get a good pick organically. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

[Mcgavins]

I honestly wonder if this is a calculated last hurrah for a very well respected executive known throughout the entire league. To do this in such a lightning rod fashion, they have potentially orchestrated a “ride out into the sunset” moment to ultimately assist the team to set up a next generation management structure as they move into the new building.

Having Conroy do these interviews would have turned the ire on him and candidly, what else would anyone in Flames management say at this point. It’s been well documented in this thread re: they can’t come out and say “we’re tanking, we’re terrible, etc.”, however with Maloney doing it and a subsequent parting of ways, there’s an easy and somewhat public rationale as to why he will be gone.

Apathy is setting in with the younger fan base and that is a horrible recipe as they transition into a new building with evolved amenities that should transform fan experience; I think the team knows that.

End of the day, for as much spew there is in this thread about ownership, etc., there are very intelligent business leaders at the top of the house and these chain of events (Dreger noise, Maloney interviews, random insider banter, etc) appears as a calculated corporate strategy.

And by the way, as an avid fan since the day they arrived here and a seasons ticket holder since 2001, I have never been more prepared to lean into a last place finish!

[browna]

Again, the Flames ideally expect and want the opening of the new building to go hand in hand with a good team, or at very least, rising team, on the ice. It’s really not been an option otherwise.

That’s been the end goal for Conroy (and was likely told as such when hired) since Sutter was fired and his end goal.

Now we’re less than 24 months away from that and the timeline is not looking like it will be met. Some things have not materialized for Conroy as expected, post the purge. And that has him scrambling to improve the on ice product while the organization is starting to build up momentum off the ice around the building.

On the business side, while people like us who have had season tickets for 23 years aren’t likely going to not take tickets in the new building, and the new building will be full for a couple years, but the Flames have to go through 140 more regular season games before getting there.

But all STH are waiting for that email in the next 6-12+ months telling us where we are getting moved and how much more tickets will cost. Again, even though the renewal rate will be high for season one of the shiny new toy, thats an easier conversation to have when the team is looking better on the ice short term and long term and looks to have an actionable plan.

[Bingo]

Took a while to get through all those comments.

The messaging is indefensible. They just don't get it. Must be PTSD from the 90s that has them abjectly terrified to admit that things are going to get worse before they get better.

I won't defend how poorly that comes across.

I also worry about Conroy and wonder what's going on ... hope this is the bad cop does the messaging and the good cop gets the job done, and that's all it is.

I don't blame fans for being upset with what's being said ... though I do see a lot of leaning into the things you want to hear, and maybe making a little too much out of it.

I'll be as frustrated as the most upset of you, if the actions start to align with the comments from Wednesday and the article last night. Luckily so far they don't align at all.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

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.

I think they have 1 top 3 forward. All the rest are 2nd and third line players.

Drafting a legit, elite, top forward this year leaves one more required. The flames can either draft high again in 2027 or hope that Reschny turns into one.

I think they have enough on the back end to be strong already.

I'm not seeing this as a 5 year re-build at all.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by MacFlame

I think they have 1 top 3 forward. All the rest are 2nd and third line players.

Drafting a legit, elite, top forward this year leaves one more required. The flames can either draft high again in 2027 or hope that Reschny turns into one.

I think they have enough on the back end to be strong already.

I'm not seeing this as a 5 year re-build at all.

Who do you see as a top 3 forward? I an hoping someone develops into one, but I won't think we have a 1st line forward currently.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Who do you see as a top 3 forward? I an hoping someone develops into one, but I won't think we have a 1st line forward currently.

I think Coronato ihas the potential to be a top 3 forward. He cant do it by himself, but paired with two elite top forwards, he'd be a 30 goal scorer (top line player) imo.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Took a while to get through all those comments.

The messaging is indefensible. They just don't get it. Must be PTSD from the 90s that has them abjectly terrified to admit that things are going to get worse before they get better.

I won't defend how poorly that comes across.

I also worry about Conroy and wonder what's going on ... hope this is the bad cop does the messaging and the good cop gets the job done, and that's all it is.

I don't blame fans for being upset with what's being said ... though I do see a lot of leaning into the things you want to hear, and maybe making a little too much out of it.

I'll be as frustrated as the most upset of you, if the actions start to align with the comments from Wednesday and the article last night. Luckily so far they don't align at all.

I'll be honest I wasn't worried about Conroy leaving / not being extended prior.

But these last two weeks have made me way more concerned that there is the potential he's not this teams GM after this year

[browna]

Originally Posted by Mcgavins

I honestly wonder if this is a calculated last hurrah for a very well respected executive known throughout the entire league. To do this in such a lightning rod fashion, they have potentially orchestrated a “ride out into the sunset” moment to ultimately assist the team to set up a next generation management structure as they move into the new building.

Having Conroy do these interviews would have turned the ire on him and candidly, what else would anyone in Flames management say at this point. It’s been well documented in this thread re: they can’t come out and say “we’re tanking, we’re terrible, etc.”, however with Maloney doing it and a subsequent parting of ways, there’s an easy and somewhat public rationale as to why he will be gone.

Apathy is setting in with the younger fan base and that is a horrible recipe as they transition into a new building with evolved amenities that should transform fan experience; I think the team knows that.

End of the day, for as much spew there is in this thread about ownership, etc., there are very intelligent business leaders at the top of the house and these chain of events (Dreger noise, Maloney interviews, random insider banter, etc) appears as a calculated corporate strategy.

And by the way, as an avid fan since the day they arrived here and a seasons ticket holder since 2001, I have never been more prepared to lean into a last place finish!

Agreed. This is Maloney acting as a veteran executive acting as lightening rod to shield Conroy from probably over speaking/being too honest and sticking his foot in his mouth.
His role has been to be the mentor and guide for both Trelving and Conroy an that’s what he’s doing, and he’s probably fully aware this is his last year here as they shake things up with some new energy going into the new building, which iclnudes a younger POHO incoming.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

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?

Directionally yes.

But things were still pretty miserable in Buffalo with Eichel. They didn't get better.

[rogermexico]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Directionally yes.

But things were still pretty miserable in Buffalo with Eichel. They didn't get better.

I think it's fortunate for us that this is happening this year while Celebrini and Bedard are having the seasons that they're having. If this was last year and Bedard was struggling, Anaheim was still terrible, then Buffalo would loom larger than ever and the case against rebuild skepticism is that much harder. The fact that we've got positive examples is going to help the positive case. Yes, San Jose and Chicago still haven't won anything, but it's easier this year to imagine someone beating the Buffalo trap.

[prizefighterinferno]

Originally Posted by browna

Agreed. This is Maloney acting as a veteran executive acting as lightening rod to shield Conroy from probably over speaking/being too honest and sticking his foot in his mouth.
His role has been to be the mentor and guide for both Trelving and Conroy an that’s what he’s doing, and he’s probably fully aware this is his last year here as they shake things up with some new energy going into the new building, which iclnudes a younger POHO incoming.

Wonder if it's Shanahan if it's indeed an outside hire at some point given that Murray tried to get him previously. Would be a lot more inspiring than Maloney given that the Leafs were a legitimately top team and all in on skill when he was there and you could have worse blemishes on your track record than being overly committed to a 100pt selke contender (Marner), though I'm assuming there were lessons learned in that too.

[liamenator]

It remains baffling to me that they pulled Maloney from his closet office, where by his own admission he had been withering away waiting for the phone to ring, and handed him POHO.

Most of us hoped that he was just going to face of cleaning things up -- firing Sutter, hiring Conroy -- and then be put back out to pasture. But he's still hanging around. It's been clear for a while he does not have the chops for this role, and now they have an out. They should fire him before Christmas.

They probably won't do it, but as browna mentioned Murray has surely contemplated if not outright explored Shanahan's interest in the job that he almost took in 2013. I'm not sure it's going to appeal to him but maybe he's keen to get back in the game. If those conversations have been fruitful then it would make sense to wait on Conroy's contract. You let the new POHO make the call on the GM role.

The other scenario is that you "transition" Maloney into an advisory role and Conroy takes over as POHO with Pascall (or, God help us, Nonis) promoted to GM.

In either case, a change at POHO would signal to fans that Murray has signed off on granting full autonomy to Hockey Ops to tear this thing down as deep as they need to. They could message it however they want, but the actions would make it clear.

If, on the other hand, it's February and Maloney is still hanging around, Conroy remains unsigned, then we really are in nightmare scenario so many of us fear.

[Reggie Dunlop]

HOT TAKE:
I generally see Maloney's comments as a nothingburger. Brendan Parker needed to kill an intermission time slot so a team executive was pressed into duty. Maloney rambled on with stream-of-conciousness. The organization has a set plan and I hope they are not swayed by the public reaction into making rash moves.

[Enoch Root]

I've said it before but I'll say it again. A 'one year face plant', a 'retool on the fly', is a perfectly fine strategy, if you have a team that is just missing a couple pieces, if you already have several good pieces to build on (like Dallas and Colorado)

The problem that the Flames face, is their core is too old to try and supplement. A one year face plant does not get them anywhere, because there are only two years left on the current core. Current Core:

Huberdeau (32) - Kadri (35)
Backlund (36) - Coleman (33)
Weegar (31) Andersson (29)

The only guys young enough to consider part of the rebuild, of the next core, are Weegar and Andersson, and Andersson is gone.

If there were a solid group of guys in the 25-30 range, then that's who you could build around with a quick retool. But the Flames have purposely left that age group empty. Any professional that looks at Sharangovich, Frost, Farabee, Pospisil, and Klapka, and sees the makings of a core, needs to be fired immediately. Nothing wrong with any of those guys as supplemental pieces, but there isn't a single core piece in the group. The Flames HAVE to know this.

The talent on the roster is all young: Coronato, Parekh, Wolf, Gridin. EVERYONE can see that.

These are guys that can become core pieces. These are guys that if you add a couple elite players to, you have a core that you can work with, and be competitive with, for YEARS.

The Flames are in a perfect position to have a fast rebuild - they have a few young pieces already, with multiple other young assets that will provide depth and maybe one or two more core pieces, and they have valuable aging players that they can trade for even more young assets.

All they need is 2 or 3 elite young pieces, along with the stockpile of draft picks that will come along with it. It's a perfect situation, and they could be in really good shape (not yet competitive, but young and upcoming) in time for the new building. They can do what Montreal has done, and there is little risk of being Buffalo or Detroit.

But there is NO CHANCE that this team, as it is structured, can build a competitive team on the fly. And if management can't see that, then management needs to be replaced.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I've said it before but I'll say it again. A 'one year face plant', a 'retool on the fly', is a perfectly fine strategy, if you have a team that is just missing a couple pieces, if you already have several good pieces to build on (like Dallas and Colorado)

The problem that the Flames face, is their core is too old to try and supplement. A one year face plant does not get them anywhere, because there are only two years left on the current core. Current Core:

Huberdeau (32) - Kadri (35)
Backlund (36) - Coleman (33)
Weegar (31) Andersson (29)

The only guys young enough to consider part of the rebuild, of the next core, are Weegar and Andersson, and Andersson is gone.

If there were a solid group of guys in the 25-30 range, then that's who you could build around with a quick retool. But the Flames have purposely left that age group empty. Any professional that looks at Sharangovich, Frost, Farabee, Pospisil, and Klapka, and sees the makings of a core, needs to be fired immediately. Nothing wrong with any of those guys as supplemental pieces, but there isn't a single core piece in the group. The Flames HAVE to know this.

The talent on the roster is all young: Coronato, Parekh, Wolf, Gridin. EVERYONE can see that.

These are guys that can become core pieces. These are guys that if you add a couple elite players to, you have a core that you can work with, and be competitive with, for YEARS.

The Flames are in a perfect position to have a fast rebuild - they have a few young pieces already, with multiple other young assets that will provide depth and maybe one or two more core pieces, and they have valuable aging players that they can trade for even more young assets.

All they need is 2 or 3 elite young pieces, along with the stockpile of draft picks that will come along with it. It's a perfect situation, and they could be in really good shape (not yet competitive, but young and upcoming) in time for the new building. They can do what Montreal has done, and there is little risk of being Buffalo or Detroit.

But there is NO CHANCE that this team, as it is structured, can build a competitive team on the fly. And if management can't see that, then management needs to be replaced.

Agreed with all of this. I do, however, hold out hope for Frost to be a second line centre. His point totals project to one, but I'm concerned he's 2 years too old. He may end up being a transitional second line centre for a couple of years until they trade for another one when they have a legit 1st line.

[SutterBrother]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Another thing for people to completely overreact to but in context I didn’t really mind any of his responses, and literally none of it is new information and the same stuff they’ve been saying for 2 years.

I really mind this response:

DM: Well, Matthew Tkachuk was a pretty big difference-maker and he was drafted sixth. There's good players at the top of the draft. You don't have to be at the very bottom to get difference makers.

Don Maloney is a dottering fool.

He is wrong. There are no winning teams without top 3 picks in contributing roles. Most posters on this site know this, so why doesn’t the PHO?

This statement is the epitome of the Flames “head in the sand” managment.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by MacFlame

Agreed with all of this. I do, however, hold out hope for Frost to be a second line centre. His point totals project to one, but I'm concerned he's 2 years too old. He may end up being a transitional second line centre for a couple of years until they trade for another one when they have a legit 1st line.

Sure, as do I. But of that group, he's the best player. And his ceiling is 2C.

There are going to be guys that become more than what people expect, there always are. But not enough to save this team - they need to continue to stockpile.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

I really mind this response:



Don Maloney is a dottering fool.

He is wrong. There are no winning teams without top 3 picks in contributing roles. Most posters on this site know this, so why doesn’t the PHO?

This statement is the epitome of the Flames “head in the sand” managment.

Yeah if you lean into it that strongly.

That's a good example of people looking for reasons to be upset.

If the Flames finish 4th worst, and slide back two spots in the lottery (very possible and still a season where you are at the bottom) it wouldn't look very good to the fan base if was on record agreeing that the only way you can turn things around is to finish bottom three.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Who do you see as a top 3 forward? I an hoping someone develops into one, but I won't think we have a 1st line forward currently.

Gridin is the only guy I see. I would say Coronato as well but I don’t think he skates well enough.