How Should the Calgary Flames Rebuild Be Carried Out?

TSN: Mike Johnson and Craig Button discuss the Calgary Flames rebuild, questioning how much further changes should go as they prepare to open their new arena in 2027. Changes were initiated last season and should continue into this one.
**NHLRumors.com transcription “The Calgary Flames are in transition; having fielded an excellent team with talented players that had their chance at becoming dominant but ultimately didn’t meet its full potential in that short window, leading them into rebuilding mode.
Last season they let go of several high-performing players and this season is being spent contemplating future building plans, draft picks and prospects – with Craig as being their key question about rebuilding.
NHL Preseason Rosters Should Be More Compelling Button: “Now let me look to 2027 when they move into their new building; when this begins they want their rosters to be competitive at that time as soon as the new season begins.”
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Mike, this year is no different; four truly excellent players standout – Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, Rasmus Andersson and MacKenzie Weegar are four names you should keep an eye out for this season and can present Calgary with an opportunity to acquire prospects, draft picks and future players of importance to them all.
Johnson: “That is exactly correct. How deep should it go? As far as their owners can tolerate financially having an extremely bad team for an extended period.
That doesn’t mean there’s nothing else there: ticket sales or interest could play into it as you reach near the bottom of the league.
But you are absolutely correct; being stuck between 25th and 26th places doesn’t bode well; 32nd or 31st ranks would be more ideal for rebuilding efforts – which the flames currently are undertaking.
And as soon as we mention those players, it becomes easy to visualize that if your team were trying to win the Stanley Cup. Wouldn’t you want Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman on your roster? Absolutely – right-shot defensemen like MacKenzie Weegar or Rasmus Andersson would become invaluable assets and bargaining chips within any system, flourishing particularly well during playoff play – something we know from other NHL leagues around them? They possess incredible bargaining power when trying to sign players.
They may need to negotiate some contractual stipulations or trade provisions first; but those players understand where their team stands right now; at this stage in their careers they likely would consider going elsewhere that offers greater competition at this moment than what the Flames might present them with.
So I think there would be considerable flexibility and working with all those players to find new homes for them while adding future assets would allow you to remain at a competitive advantage for some years down the line. As mentioned by you earlier.
At first blush, rebuilding is never an easy process but with so much excitement surrounding Calgary’s forthcoming arena, this seems like the appropriate moment to dive in deep on this rebuild, taking it apart piecemeal until eventually we become competitive once more.
Button: Craig Conroy showed last season his ability to get maximum value from players he traded away, and that trend continues this year with four contracts mentioned here that offer good compensation with increasing cap space. These four players all possess strong skillsets and would enhance any team they join.”
At first, it may have seemed as though Jacob Markstrom wanted out of Calgary; but in truth he simply saw where things were heading and desired something different from their career and team at this time. And this same sentiment applies for Calgary Flames as a whole – they want something new as do we.
As for 2027’s move into its own building, they already possess many talented young players that are beginning to show their abilities; their debuts should coincide with yours as opposed to beginning now and playing into 2029 – as you point out. The timing is ideal.
Johnson: “And Craig Conroy has both patience and vision to undertake such an initiative successfully. Furthermore, I think the market understands what would be happening and is willing to support an organization through what could potentially be several difficult years on the standings before seeing better days ahead.”
NHL Rumors: Boston Bruins and Winnipeg Jets
While Calgary Flames may start off competitive, I expect they won’t remain so by season’s end as some key players leave in favor of younger prospects/picks that may provide better long-term stability to Calgary Flames fans.