The year of the rebuild had finally arrived, or so fans had thought. After Saturday afternoon’s shootout win against the Minnesota Wild, the Calgary Flames became the leaders of the Pacific Division.
The team has been scratching and clawing in every effort, showing the league that expectations are overrated. After a 4-0 home stand launching the Flames atop the division, we wanted to know: at what point in the standings would fans feel confident enough to support making moves at the trade deadline for a deep playoff push? We asked, and you delivered.
Want to take part in Sunday Census polls? We send them out every week on our Twitter at @wincolumnCGY. Follow along or send in ideas for the next poll!
At what point do the Flames become buyers?
We presented the below poll on Twitter/X to our readers.
If the Flames keep up their winning ways, at what position should they consider buying at the deadline?
Division Leader
Collected roughly 20% of this week’s votes, Division Leader finished second in this week’s poll. 1/5 of Flames fans think the team should go after talent at the deadline if they continue their winning ways into the new year, and maintain the divisional lead. It’s hard to argue with this faction of fans.
If the team honestly looks like they have a chance to go deep in the playoffs, I can understand wanting to invest in the short term. A lot of things would have to continue to go right and you’d hope that Craig Conroy and the management team wouldn’t be willing to give up too much unless it was for a player that fits into the plan for the next few seasons.
Playoff Spot
Around 15% of fans think the team should buy if they’re in a divisional playoff spot, finishing third in this week’s poll. Divisional spots have more security than a wildcard spot, but only 11 points separated the Pacific Division-winning Vancouver Canucks and the final playoff team in the west, the Vegas Golden Knights last year. Just because you’re in a divisional playoff spot at the start of March, doesn’t mean you’ll be there in April.
Taking a run at the playoffs is one thing, throwing away valuable assets you’ve collected over the last 18 months in hopes to realistically get knocked out in the second round at best? Probably not worth it.
Wildcard Spot
Only 8% of fans think the team should consider buying if they’re in a wildcard spot approaching the deadline. If this does happen, you’d better guarantee that whoever is “bought” is well worth their price tag or the team goes on to win a championship. I can entertain the idea of low-cost additions in this situation. However, any player capable of truly making a significant impact will come at a price that likely exceeds what Flames management is willing to spend, especially when it comes to young talent or draft capital.
Don’t buy regardless
The overwhelming champion of the week, collecting close to 60% of votes, doing absolutely nothing and seeing what happens. Finally, the realists. Maybe I’m too pessimistic, but I really don’t want to see this franchise enter yet another “dark age” because we over-invested in one season that clearly wasn’t going anywhere.
Do the Flames have something going right now? Yes!
Is it sustainable? Realistically, probably not. They’ve been saved (no pun intended) by their rookie goalie on multiple occasions, they haven’t scored more than three goals since October 13th, they’re dead last in the league for TOI with the lead, a quarter of their wins have come from the shootout, and they don’t have a single player in the top 125 of scoring.
Again, don’t want to sound like a pessimist, but do you really think they can continue to pull rabbits out of hats for another 62+ games? I’d love to see it, but I have to agree with the 60% of fans that want to do absolutely nothing and see where things go. If this group can make a playoff run, I’m all in! But if we trade a first round pick away for a rental player at the deadline, I might have to move to Edmonton.
Comments and Considerations
By far the most common comment on this weeks poll was in reference to the pedigree of player the Flames would hypothetically be adding and the level of investment in said player.
Multiple fans mention that in order to rationalize buying at the deadline in anyway, the player needs to fit the long term plan of the organization. One fan commented in reference to the Kraken making the playoffs and outperforming their rosters expectations leading them to rush the process and inevitably make poor decisions for their future.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, weaponizing the cap and selling are still very much on fans’ minds. After Conroy fleeced the Canucks last season in the Elias Lindholm trade and with the salary cap going up, now might be the best time for Conroy to try and sell high on more expiring contracts. In other words, stick to the long-term plan no matter what.
Whatever the case may be in March, we’re off to another topsy turvy season in Calgary and this group looks to keep the nay sayers quiet.
You must be logged in to post a comment.