Nostalgia is a powerful feeling. Virtually every fan has the best moments of their team that they lock into their minds to re-live over and over again. For fans of the Calgary Flames, it’s certainly no different…
It’s been a rough last few years for the Flames and their fans. It started when the Edmonton Oilers eliminated them from the Stanley Cup playoffs in five games in 2022. Then, franchise player Johnny Gaudreau would leave the team in free agency, followed by Matthew Tkachuk also wanting out. More events would follow that only amplified the pain for Flames fans, with the team now missing the playoffs for three straight seasons.
The Flames as a whole haven’t had much success as a franchise. As a result, their fans have often had to re-live good moments over and over again through nostalgia. However, it’s safe to say that people are now wanting more recent success to reminisce about. It’s why the Flames’ current rebuild is vital, as their entire future depends on Craig Conroy’s vision on how to build a Stanley Cup contender.
Flames fans are tired of re-living the same nostalgic moments
Whether it’s the Cup win in 1989, the 2004 run, or Johnny Gaudreau’s Game 7 overtime winner, nostalgia within the Flames’ fanbase often revolves around these three events. Sure, there have been other great moments as well, but these seem like the big three right now.
The issue is that for two of these moments, the younger portion of the fanbase isn’t even able to reminisce about them. I wasn’t even alive when the Flames won their only Stanley Cup, and I was only a year old in 2004. For younger fans, these moments won’t apply to them when it comes to memories about the team. You can watch videos and tapes about these events, but it isn’t the same as being there in person.
Watching the 2021-22 team was my highest moment of being a Flames fan. The team was among the best rosters ever constructed in the franchise’s history, and nothing will beat Gaudreau’s Game 7 snipe (may he rest in peace). It was also the first time the Flames won a playoff series since 2015.
GAME 7 PHOTO DUMP! pic.twitter.com/oxbi8rTyXd
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) May 16, 2022
With the lack of success the Flames have had, these moments are all that fans have to talk about. It’s fun to look back at these times, but bringing up playoffs runs from 21 years ago isn’t exactly sustainable…
Nostalgia is amplified due to the Flames never having consistent success
It’s simple: if you have a successful hockey team, you’re bound to attract new fans. I’m sure the Flames drew in many fans during their times of success. As of right now, not so much.
The Flames have a bright future ahead. However, what’s killing the fanbase is the lack of certainty year in and year out. In the past, Flames fans could never be certain whether their team would make the playoffs or not. The Flames were never truly a regular playoff team, unlike other franchises. Hopefully, Conroy can pave a clear direction, which I think he has in some ways.
It’s why big moments are celebrated so much by this fanbase, because in a way, it’s all we have. Without these moments to reminisce about, the pain would only be that much worse. Unfortunately for a large portion of the younger fanbase, these moments didn’t exist or occurred very early during their lifetimes.
Lack of success is why Flames fans demand a rebuild. Nostalgia won’t cure it
For the longest time, the Flames have never really had a concrete direction. It’s always been about sneaking into the playoffs and seeing what happens. The result has been mediocrity: a word that at this point is pretty much a curse word in the market.
It’s why you’ll see a majority of the fanbase demand that the Flames engage in a rebuild. The only way this team truly gets back into contention is if they draft elite players to build a team around. The Flames have attempted to rebuild before, but they never did so patiently, rushing the process.
It’s hard for fans to want their team to take a step back, but for Flames fans, it’s a reality. The only true way we see progress with this team is if they sell off players to bring in assets for the future. The Flames have been doing that for the last year and a half, but the fear of them rushing the process will always remain.
Calgary’s fanbase is just tired
To put it bluntly, we’re always looking to the past for high moments. The Flames are a franchise in desperate need of more recent success.
As of right now, the fanbase trusts Conroy in hopes that soon this team can have its time in glory. At the end of the day, the Flames only have two series wins in the last 20 years. There hasn’t been much to cheer about with this team, but we’re hoping that all changes in the near future.
As for nostalgia, frankly I’m tired of always looking back at the same events over and over again. It makes you feel like a broken record every year. It’s time for us fans to have the chance to experience real success with this team. I dream that one day I can talk about a Flames’ Stanley Cup win during my lifetime, just like certain folks did with ’89. Calgary is a passionate market whose fans deserve to see a successful product. Enough of the mediocrity and “just getting in” mentality. It’s seriously killing this franchise.
