Flames need more then one bold move this summer

One shoe has fallen regarding the Calgary Flames.

Are we really certain another will drop this summer? Or before the 2024 trade deadline? Or will it not happen until at least the summer of 2024?

The Calgary Flames announced on Monday that general manager Brad Treliving has left after nine seasons at the helm, with his contract officially expiring on June 30. Don Maloney takes the reins as president of hockey operations and interim GM, and has been tasked to review the organization and put a new person in place.

What we know is that Treliving made the decision to walk and was not pushed out the door. Also, he offered a contract extension last fall and even during the season. We also know Maloney, who was the Arizona Coyotes GM for nine seasons, won’t take the job.

“Really, I thought for sure Brad would re-sign. And I’m as close to him as anybody. Up until he told me Wednesday he couldn’t do it, that was the first time that reality was he needed to take some time,” an emotional Maloney told the assembled media in Calgary.

We also know there is another obvious candidate in the wings in Craig Conroy.

As well, it’s a fact head coach Darryl Sutter holds a two-year contract extension that kicks in next season. They have a veteran-laden team with essentially everyone in place for the 2023-24 campaign.

In short, status quo regarding the coach and the bulk of the roster for another 12 months is the easiest path to follow, and don't be shocked if that's the route taken.

Broach the dreaded subject of a rebuild and see the reaction. Salim Valji of TSN pointed out the team has failed to reach the conference final since 2004 and there are fans wanting a legitimate rebuild.

“We’re all dying for a deeper playoff run, there’s no doubt about it,” president and CEO John Bean said. “But we need to take a deep breath here. That’s what Don’s gonna do. … You don’t want to under-react but you don’t want to over-react. You know what we have? We have a Vezina-nominated goalie. I would keep him next year and I can’t wait to see Jacob (Markstrom) come back and play next year. We have a really strong defense. … We’ve got a great lineup that under-performed, so before we start— you used the word, not me, I’m not allowed ever to use the word rebuild — we’re not going to over-react here.”

Bean even admitted among the trade offers last summer for Matthew Tkachuk was one that would follow the lines desired by a rebuilding team, but the decision was to take the deal that brought in Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, along with prospect Cole Schwindt and a first-round draft choice.

So, what does the future hold for the Flames? It will come as no surprise if they see this year’s failure as a case of everything going wrong that could possibly, remain relatively status quo heading into next season, end up reaching the playoffs because the likes of Markstrom, Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri rebound, get bounced in the second round and then lose four or five of those veteran free agents for nothing.

The end result would be more time in the mushy middle of the league, not good enough to actually win a Stanley Cup, nowhere near deep enough to contend year after year and definitely not weak enough to draft high enough to select a franchise player.

There are myriad reasons the Flames struggled this past season — too little offense — especially in the clutch, sub-standard goaltending, too much reliance on veterans past their prime instead of inserting young talent.

Ultimately, though, it appears the Flames will simply make one manoeuvre by putting a new person in the GM chair.

A truly bold move will have to wait.