The Calgary Flames have jumped from 31st in the NHL to 18th in the NHL’s fan front office rankings, according to a recent article in The Athletic (subscription required). Only the Vancouver Canucks (30th to 5th) and San Jose Sharks (29th to 13th) jumped up more.
This turnaround is thanks to the team’s commitment to a rebuild and a focus on player development under the guidance of new general manager Craig Conroy. Dom Luszczyszyn compiled the list and explained the survey and graded teams based on six categories: roster building, cap management, drafting and development, trading, free agency, and vision.
One of the key factors has been the Flames’ ability to accumulate future assets through a series of trades. The deal that saw Elias Lindholm go to Vancouver was widely praised. Others, like the deal to move Chris Tanev to Dallas, received mixed reviews.
The Jacob Markstrom trade, although not managed perfectly, also provided the team with valuable assets.
Related: Inside the Trade: What Went Wrong Between Markstrom and the Flames
Overall, Flames fans seem optimistic about the direction of the franchise.
Conroy oversaw a successful 2024 draft that also has fans hopeful about the future. With the team finally committed to a solid plan, they can eventually work their way back to being contenders.
The article notes that there is some debate about the uneven returns from trades, but Calgary has effectively targeted underrated NHL assets like Yegor Sharangovich, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Daniil Miromanov, who have added value to the roster. Conroy could have done a whole lot worse.
The teardown phase and a rebuild will be painful, but it’s part of the process. Fans appear to be taking into account that this team will need to be worse before it’s a whole lot better and the previous management’s missteps contributed to where things are at today.
With a renewed focus and a clear direction, the Flames seem poised to build on this momentum. That was enough to boost the Flames up to the middle of the pack from a team that was almost dead last just a year ago.
