TSN’s Noodles On The State Of The Calgary Flames: Trades, Rebuild & Leadership | The Insider Hotline

TSN’s Noodles On The State Of The Calgary Flames: Trades, Rebuild & Leadership | The Insider Hotline

Jamie Mcclennen of TSN joins us. Uh, I know you would have enjoyed that. Well, I was watching it, believe me. I I was calling a game and I had it on the screen right next to me and I I texted a buddy and said Anderson and Weaguer should have taken their gear off long before that because like that’s the type of stuff like it it’s all right for rookies to make mistakes, but like I come back to it. There’s no urgency in and and this isn’t just restricted to the Calgary Flames. No, I watched it last night in Chicago, Ottawa. I see it throughout the league. There’s just there’s no Spidey sense as to danger zones anymore. It’s just go play and god forbid you knock somebody on the rear end in an area like you were you guys had slowed down the weaguer situation there where he muffed it up the middle and then decided to take it from forehand to backhand. Is anybody knocking anybody down? No. No. No. And and the thing is is nobody reads the clock and goes we’re in the twominut zone. We got you, we got a point in our pocket and we can go get it in overtime. And you know, these are self-inflicted gun gunshot wounds. That’s what they are. These aren’t Yeah. And and credit to the Leafs for forchecking. Credit to them for for stripping pucks. And but that’s the thing like they there’s there’s no danger. Yeah. I saw you know, you pointed out backs like backs got to make it just a simple safe play. Safe isn’t death sometimes. Safe is just let’s let’s kick the can down the road and go get that puck in the neutral zone. And there there again, these aren’t that’s not uh Perk doing that. No, that’s Weaguer. That’s Anderson. Like penalty kill. I get you want to go through the middle, fire it. It Austin Matthews is going to knock that puck down. You should hit him in the head with it with a slap. Like he’s got to pay a price for that. not just grab his grab it out of the air. Well, and if he does, accept it and don’t go crazy running around with your head chopped off. That’s the other thing. So, Anderson fires it up the middle, goes for a two pad stack, then ball runs over the goalender. The goalender ends up face down in the corner because I don’t, you know, he’s he’s made two huge saves already. Forced it outside. Coleman loses a battle behind the net. And then Anderson actually has it in this in he’s now playing goal and the puck is he’s swatting at it and and him and N just N is like, “Okay, you’re gonna give me an open net. I’ll just shoot it in.” Like it it’s it’s dog park defense. What’s going on? Dog park is it? Uh is it you know what dog park defense is? Tell me more. You ever seen You ever seen You ever I don’t animals don’t like me so I don’t have a dog. If you ever go, you ever go to a dog park or walk by one, there’s just dogs running everywhere. It’s it’s there’s no semblance. There’s one ball, everyone’s chasing. Chaos. That’s dog park defense right there. There’s no semblance of structure. There’s no, “Hey, I just handed my partner a pile of steaming crap, but I’m going to get back into position and support him and let him battle out of it.” It’s like, I’m going to chase it down. I’m going to make up for my mistake and then everyone else is going to watch. We’re going to blow the zone with two minutes left. Trust that Weaguer is going to get that puck to Coleman over there. He doesn’t. Dvaris strips it. Now it’s like, you know, Doi is like, “Okay, twoon-one close in. I’ll I’ll pick my corner.” You’re right. The goalie should be going crazy going, “What is going on in like when you have the puck on your own stick in your own zone, you control your own destiny?” twice and on your forehand too, fellas. This is a tough play. It’s disappointing because you played I I thought they played solid. I thought they played well. I thought they at least deserved a point and then you can have a coin flip in in overtime to see if skill will take over. But at the end of the day, these are these are mistakes that are not that’s not Toronto going, you know, we’ve been all over you and forcing you to make mistakes. These are mental errors. These are lack of dedic not lack of lack lack of lack of game awareness. Lack of awareness of and reading the clock. Desperation. I know it’s October. I know it’s a what was it? A Tuesday night in October. I get it. But like have some semblance of bearing down. Like I I don’t if Daryl Sutter was coaching the team, I don’t know if those guys would have been able to walk back in the dress room. they would have had to dress out in the parking lot. I don’t know. Rightfully so. That’s part of the problem is that it’s it it it was disappointing to watch. Obviously, I was watching it live and you know there’s there’s a two beside the wins category and one was a gift noodles. One was a gift in Edmonton and that the gift was given last night. I don’t know Steuart Skinner was handing goals out again last night. He was doing his Mike Smith impression. He’s getting ready for Halloween. Edmonton just decided that you we’re going to put up sticks and and not deal with that. But but at the end of the day, like it was disappointing if you’re a Flames fan because you’re sitting there going you you you know, listen, you you played at home, you’ve gone out to out east. It is, you know, a little bit of a tough transition. No, usually going Sorry, I got to interrupt say I disagree. I know that going out east can be, but not to Toronto. Toronto still for for love it or hate it, Toronto is a major center where typically when you only play there once in a blue moon, you’re excited. Well, I I I agree. I would be excited. I would be excited to take my passport and go down to Buffalo the night before the game. I would be excited to do that type of stuff that we did. But the point being is the night before. Wow. Don’t worry about it. Okay. Yeah. There was not an off day. There’s not an extra day. What you don’t do, you don’t go out with Douggee G. Yes. The night before a game in in Toronto. So anyways, the point being the Leafs and you go to Buffalo the night before a game against the Sorry, I keep There’s a guy that we know that that used to play there and has friends there. So anyway, hookups. I’m sorry, Jamie. Back to you. I just I I look at it. You’re right. It’s not a tough transition, but the time zone, the game started early. you there’s lots of built-in excuses to go, okay, like, hey, we we can get our minds wrapped around this, but as the game went on, you settled in. These are just these are poor errors by veteran players that should know better. Put it that way. That’s what I’ll end on. That does not look like a cohesive unit. Well, and and to Jamie’s point, like mistakes happen. You were not under siege for five minutes. Like this is a team that has one regulation win in 10 games. Did you sense the desperation of getting another win when it mattered? How much of it is though? Because the guys that we’ve brought up, those are the veterans and their best players and a lot is expected of those guys. It’s not a young team by any means, but certainly on the back end, and we’ve defended, I’ve defended Weaguer a little bit. Who’s he playing with? It’s Bean or it’s Mir Manov. It’s just it’s a it’s a revolving door of guys who maybe should or shouldn’t be in the National Hockey League. I just feel like those are the guys success failure is going to be on their stick on their back trying to do too much trying to make the smart play 20 22 25 minutes a night. I just wonder it it all kind of came home to roost on the same night, but those are the guys that have to feel like if this if we’re going to pull out of this, we’re the guys that are going to be doing it. Well, you you have to have some semblance of like I guarantee you they woke up today, they they see the same things we see. And you know, the coaches have clipped that and say, “What are we doing here?” The other day like Weaggguers had some real Rhett, you could speak to it because you know the position better than anybody. Weaguer’s had some real gap. Some He’s going north when they’re going south. He’s had too hard. Yeah, he’s pushing too hard, which I I I as a player I respect that somebody pushing hard because they care and they want they’re almost it’s counterproductive. You want to you want it so bad you’re trying so hard you actually, you know, pull yourself out of out of um position. I The guy up north, Darnell Nurse, does it all the time. Darnell Nurse, less is more with him. But he you make a mistake and then he chases it because a mistake I got to go make up for it. And and I get that. And the only thing I can say as a goalender, the harder you try, the counterproductive it is. You can’t you you can’t stop the puck harder because what happens? You stiffen up. You you open holes chasing it because you care. You want to show that you’re I I’m not questioning his desire. I’m not questioning his effort. I’m just questioning that, you know, sometimes less is more. Like Rhett, you were laying it out and I was sitting there watching, taking notes. Yeah. Simple play is sometimes the best play. That’s and that’s what we see now. It’s ingrained in these players minds to make a defenseman make a play. Get the forwards. Sometimes it’s just fine to have a 5050 battle. Fight live to fight another day. Yeah. Let the fight another day, kick the can down the road and go, “Hey, I’m going to chip it to a safe space and we’re going to go get that puck back.” Maybe the forwards come to the bench and go, “Hey, I was a I was available. I would like a direct pass there.” Yes. Okay. We’ll come back and support the play next time and we’ll get you that puck. That’s you know, we the banter between forwards and D are always I’ve heard it from Iggy a lot about that. Yes. Iggy Iggy and Robin would yell at each other. Rhett, you would join in too because Iggy would say, “Did you not see me there?” and Robin say there were six people in between you because you were at the far blue line and this is when the red line was still in play. So, um you know the the point being is I I I don’t know if you’re Huska, you show these mistakes. These guys are veterans. They know what they’re doing. But there has to be some semblance of urgency. This isn’t a team like Utah that’s won seven in a row and they’re going to have an off night and you go, “Okay, like we we got ahead of ourselves here.” or Ottawa last night. They put up a touchdown two nights in a row and they they’re gonna show up in Chicago and go, “Yeah, we’re just going to beat this team and they give up seven.” Like Calgary is in a unique position because when they look at the standings, San Jose is ahead of them. They’re last in the league, I believe. Correct me if I’m wrong. Yeah, that’s correct. Right. So, when you’re last in the league and it’s posted on the white board that Rhett uses and it’s whites, it’s everywhere. You’re How are you getting out? Well, we need points like that that the desperation wasn’t there. I’m worried that that that the balloon is very deflated already and there’s a lot of holes in it. And I I don’t disagree with you and it should be that way. Right. A couple years ago, there was a whole whack of guys in Calgary s basically admitting, “Get me the f out of here.” Yeah. I think there’s a lot of guys sitting in that room already. And I’m breeding tea leaves. I see a lot of guys sitting in that room going, “This is going to be a long year and maybe a long couple years and we can play real good and still end up.” No, yeah, they’re they’re calling the agents saying I think at this point if you told the veteran leadership group that this team would not be in a position to be close to the playoffs in December, they’d believe it now. We’re out of camp. They were talking about 97 points. We lost the tie break. Mission 97. Like I think now the seed of doubt has been planted. And that’s sort of what you’re talking about. You start looking around be like, “Well, who actually is in this for the long haul?” Yeah. Who who am I running with? You’re right, Rhett. It it might shave a layer off of it. Even if it’s subliminal, you’re looking at it going, I’m still trying hard. I’m still going to commit. though. But in the end, you know, if I’m here and pot committed, it is going to be a long couple years. Now, I the counterbalance of that is Rasmus Anderson, there’s teams that would cover him. You’re watching that going, “Am I going to give up a King’s ransom for that? He’s not helping the cause. He has not been great.” You know, and they put him a ball the whole season. Like, at least with Weaguer, you’re saying he’s playing with waiver claim caliber guys. Like Anderson doesn’t have an excuse. You’re with a steady big stay-at-home guy that defends one. The only c and it’s not a catch. What what Anderson needs to realize cuz he pouted about oh everyone told me I sucked all year last. No one said that. We’ve never said that. Were you as good as normal last year? Were you hurt and we said you were No one has ever really criticized. We’ve actually really enjoyed you as a Calgary flame. Blah blah blah. He’s taking money out of his pocket. You said it the other day. He’s driving down the QE2 throwing hundos out like this. This guy is costing himself a lot of dough with his play. Whether you want out or not, I don’t give a That’s your prerogative. But be smart enough to realize you need to play better if you want that big money. If the Kings actually put seven time or eight time on the table, which was the rumored ask, which was, I believe, the Cherin deal, which the Flames weren’t willing to do, like I don’t know that he’s a maxim player if he’s going to play like this. like it really feels like it’s dropped off a bit. The the only you you’re right. The only caveat I I think there are teams that might be desperate enough to go, okay, we want a right shot defenseman that can play that. And and you know how the arrogance of organizations are, we’ll make that’s in Calgary. But with us, we will get the most out of this player, you know. Uh um and we’ve seen it Seth Jones last year. Like you go to a different environment, a winning team, the sun’s out. Yeah. But it took Pierre Luke Dwis two stops, right? LA it didn’t work. But then Pier Luke Dais is 25 or 26 as well. Right. Right. Not not 29. What is Anderson? 29. Rasmus just turned 29 two days ago. Okay. So So you’re one of his new deal. He’ll be 30. He ain’t old, but So, are you really going to go to 38 or 37 or 36 with him? That’s the question. If you’ve already seen what I think is a significant drop from 27 to 29, I I I think teams will, but I I guess my my point is if you’re Connie and you’re trying to maximize the return for that, is the return going to be as high if he continues to not we’ll just call it inconsistent? Because I I believe he’s a good player. I believe he has tremendous upside, but the inconsistencies. So, you know, you’re on a big stage regardless of want people want to admit it or not. Last night is a big stage. You’re in Toronto. It’s there’s a lot of media coverage, all of that. People wake up today going and believe me, I would I would without knowing I would argue that Toronto would be a team that would covet Rasmus Anderson. They need they need a puck moving defenseman, right? I don’t know if he’d want to go. He controls. Does he have a full neut full no six teams? I think that’s it. Yeah. So maybe maybe Canadian teams are on it. Who knows? I I don’t know who’s on his list, but I would argue if I’m the Toronto Maple Leafs, there’s a couple players I’d be looking at in in Calgary. One has played there before. It’s Nazam. And the other one is is a guy like Anderson or Weaguer. One of the two that can move the puck. And because they don’t, if you look at that Leaf team, they don’t have puck movers. Morgan Riley’s their their be best puck mover who which he can but he’s limited in certain areas. They need more guys. Love Chris Tannon but he’s not a puck mover. Jake McCabe’s not a puck mover. Brandon Carlos not a puck mover. Simone Benwis is not a puck mover. Uh Philip Meyer’s not a puck mover. That’s their deal. Oh, and all for Ecman Larson used to be a puck mover, but he’s now 34 years old and falls into that, you know, hey, we want him to play on the third pairing, second pairing if we have an injury. So, those 2D would be coveted like and and I’m not just talking Toronto, I’m throughout the league. Is Weaguer available? And do you think that he’s want I’m not I think Calgary keeps Weaguer. I mean, I I I don’t think he’s I don’t I’ve met him several times. I think he’s a wonderful person. I think he’s a good player. I I don’t know if he wants to be there for the long haul. This is the question I’m starting to have. Sorry, I’m cutting you off because I’m leading the witness. I said it last year when we were talking about trading Anderson. I actually said, well, I said, well, if we’re going down another path, why is we not he’s locked up. Is he not more attractive for I don’t know what his no trade clause is. I have no none of that. But the point was if I’m a te trading for one of the Flames defenseman, I’m interested in weaguer as much as Anderson and Wager’s got the full move this year and next and then it drops to and it’s but at some point if you are weaguer and you were like I’m trying to get in his head and I’m like well I played in Florida and that was fun and then they won some cups and now I’m in Calgary. I don’t. The problem is when you’re not winning, it’s not that people, the players dislike your city or your organization. They’re just looking at their careers going, “Where can I win? Where can I win? And am I going to ride it out here?” We said it earlier over the next couple years. Am I riding this out? Well, you just talked about a deflated balloon. Maybe that’s a scenario where we looks at it and goes, “Am I do I want this for the long haul for my career?” Yeah. Again, that’s he controls that and I’m not starting a rumor. I’m not putting words in his mouth. You know, this is a guy that that has been a good soldier, committed to the Calgary Flames, for the most part, been a good player. Didn’t have a great night last night. We all have them. Um, but at the end of the day, there has to be from Conniey’s perspective probably a couple nofly zones as far as, you know, Wol’s not available. you know, name me a couple players that you feel might correct, not might, you know, not available. I don’t know. Is Coronado, guys like that? So, yeah. Yeah. But but at the end of the day, everybody else, I’m listening. Well, and I just think like they have so few NHL top four defensemen. You already I think we’re all in the camp that it’s 95% Rasmus is gone at some point, right? like it would be stunning for him to be on this roster beyond the trade deadline extension or not. What are you left with? Like cuz I don’t know that this management group nor this owner want to strip it back at that far. You need to keep an actual top pair guy. Well, you don’t have to trade weaguer now. No. And you can’t for two years anyway because he controls all process. But my point is is that I think the owner wants to it’s more of the the retool than the like strip it to the studs trade anyone. this it whether he wants it or not he doesn’t have to do anything and they might still win the mission McKenna like the way they’re going it is a it’s a deflated balloon like they’re going to have a very hard time what are they climbing up to yeah if they get on a really good run where are they 25th in the league like what are we talking about that the other thing too is it comes back you’re right you you still need players around you know veteran players on term around these young guys to help them grow, you know, like that’s that’s part of the process if it’s a retool and not a scorched earth. The other thing is though is at some point what does the it comes back to Rhett’s point. At some point or at what point does we go I’m looking at myself in and go I I’m not sure I can endure this or I want this. Yeah. You know, there there might be I think Coleman is a guy that people would would covet too. He’s a winner, you know, two cups, third liner, good checker, good good par, all of that type of stuff. He checks a lot of boxes for teams that would want, you know, depth to go for on a deep deep run. So, you have to look at players that make sense, but then it comes back to the conversation, is is there somebody there that we expect to be there that all of a sudden might not want to be? and and you know now Conniey’s got to make a decision because if you’re making a decision going Rasmus is out and then Waguer puts his hand up and goes well hold on a second I’m thinking of you know of thinking of my career to try and win now you know do you look at Anderson to keep like do you you keep one or the other like that’s the that’s I say no but I I don’t think we type of guy to just put his hand up and say I I I want I don’t either I think you’re a couple years away from that and I But again, it’s like you’re already married to Hubo. You gave back on an extension. He’s going to be one of your veterans that’s going to surround all these young kids that are going to join this team between, you know, Christmas and the next three years and whoever you draft, wherever you draft. Balls locked in long term. It’s really what we’re talking about is Nasam and Coleman. The guys that are close to the end of a contract that all of a sudden have some options in terms of saying, “Okay, I’m I’m on the back nine. This I might be on my last contract. Am I better suited elsewhere? Let me ask you this. I I wanted to ask Jamie about this one because you’re in Toronto and Nauseam and that whole thing and he has three years left at 7 million. That doesn’t feel like the end of the contract to me, right? That’s three more years for a guy who’s 35 and who right now is playing well, but it’s a $7 million hit for a 35year-old guy with three left. I just wonder he will be a major asset to a team. he’s going to step on the ice, be very good for them. I just wonder what’s the what’s a fair asking price. Depends on if you make him a $5 million player or $4 million player for teams that are pressed up against it. You can get more. They’re less worried about that term. If it’s four or five, I’d agree. You’re going to get a lot more. Like that’s the thing you That’s something you have to do, right? Sure. So do it. might have under the cap if you’re asking you know if it’s not a lot of teams have seven million and they might have depth down the middle of the ice if he’s your number three right that’s the biggest thing and and you know Nas has had a decent start I do father time is chasing him there has been some nights where he doesn’t have that pop he doesn’t have that speed he’s he’s he’s not a he’s not a burner he’s a darter like he darts He reminds me of Ray Whitney speed. Ray Whitney was a darter, but he wasn’t a blast out speed guy, but he’s skilled and he’s got bite and he would have value. But is it at 7 million value for the next three years or is it really attractive? He’s if he’s a four million or $5 million player. Yeah. And then you got to retain for three years, which is something that owners and GMs are lured to do. That’s one of your three retention slots. They had lots of money and space last year to use. And what did they do with it? Nothing. Yeah. They didn’t they didn’t ask at what clearly feels like the peak of his I asked just before this is the Russian in play the uh where’s the sharing? I just don’t know that like who wants that guy that money sell immediately. If you could get him to a spot where he is a commodity, I think they’d happily I think Joel Farb is a guy that with two years left at five or whatever it is. It’s like could ye eat some and get him like they got too many bottom nine wingers. They’re they’re putting guys that should be playing in the press box. Not because this team is so good, but because most of this roster is second, third, and fourth line wingers. They don’t have topline wingers, right? But I, you know, you look at it if you can get out from out underneath it and it’s almost like trade for somebody else’s bad you know new fresh start you know give me a give me a look at at somebody else that makes a defenseman maybe if you if you feel like you’re losing Anderson who will be moving on is there a defenseman out there that would that mid late 20s potentially bad contract somebody else and they clear out enough space here’s the best case scenario I see for this team if they want to do a quick retool is to clear out as much space as they can, get the best draft pick they can, and hopefully the number one, and do you think with the Caps, can you offer a top end guy enough in free agency? And does it make sense? Well, if you get you can sell hope if you get a Golden Goose. Yeah. If you get McKenna, it’s like, hey, we got now I was in Chicago last night. It’s taken a bit a bit for this Bedard to arrive. obviously hattrick last night, but he’s a he’s a hell of a player early on. I didn’t like his his last year. He had a attitude. Well, I just didn’t like I I thought he got pushed off pucks. I didn’t love his pace and he wasn’t good away from the puck. But I forget that at 18 years old, not everybody just hits the ground running. You have to learn how to play in the league. Yeah. The light’s gone on. So, I I talked to a few people that like this guy is a really dedicated professional. He’s in great shape. Like really good shape. Works hard at his craft. Um yeah, looks like you minus the Zmpic. And uh Pender told me that to say I didn’t say anything, Noodles. I didn’t say I was talking to him. I did not say Noodles the point. But this kid works hard and and the light has gone on and he’s starting to realize, okay, what’s my spacing look like on the ice? where do I need to go to get that shot away? Because to me last the last couple years he’s been too stagnant just standing there waiting for the puck and then to shoot it away and good de are closing on him and he wasn’t getting that shot away. Now he’s putting himself in positions. He’s creating some space for himself. He’s he’s pushing back. Uh he’s absorbing hits. I I outside of a hat-tick yesterday, I really liked his game just the way he went about his process. So, my point being is Chicago, you can see the growth there. They’ve got a couple other good young players that that that Nazar is a nice player. Uh they’ve got some young D there. They got Spencer Knight, who’s I think is a fantastic goalender. Um, you know, well documented his struggles off the ice with OCD, all of that type of stuff. He’s gotten help with it. He’s he’s a he’s a really talented goalender. They got him, I think, at 5.8 for the next five years. He’s 24 years old. So, they got a goalie. They got some young D there and they’ve got Baddard, they’ve got Nazar, they’ve got some players and and now you’re starting to add they picked up Burkovoski, you know, these mid-level players that are helping kind of shape around. So coming back, how I would apply it to the Flames if if the year continues in this pace and you end up getting McKenna and then you’ve created cap space by trading Anderson for picks or prospects. Maybe it’s Coleman, maybe it’s Cry, and you’re retooling, but you’ve got a golden goose. All of a sudden, somebody who’s available in the off season and you’re going to overpay. you just it’s the market, it’s all of that, but you go, hey, we might have some flexibility to to land a top tier unrestricted free agent or you can acquire somebody with that term that is willing to go there uh with the currency that you’ve gotten, Conniey’s gotten with Anderson Trade or Cadri Trade or you know, all of that. So I I think there’s flexibility, but with that flexibility, the the pain to get there is going to be it’s going to be a long year. Can I give another example? It wouldn’t be any more painful than it already is. This is epic failure. It’s it’ll speed it up in a way, wouldn’t it? Like just so I think it has just to be the acceptance. I look at San Jose Cabbrini, I don’t think we thought was going to be the player he is. We thought he was going to be real good. He’s already astounding. Like he’s got 15 points or something insane. He’s right there amongst the league leaders. They weren’t able to go get top top top UFAs with cap space despite having this guy and Will Smith and then they had Misa this year. But they did go get Tyler Tofoley on a deal that’s probably too rich for a contender because they had cap space. They did get Dmitri Orlov who’s a big stabilizing left shot D. They did get John Clinberg who built some value back up with Edmonton last year that can move the puck. That’s kind of the aisle you’re shopping in. It’s not going to be Eel. It’s not going to be Marner like the theoretical free agents of this summer or next summer, but you can probably find those second tier guys and overpay a bit. Look what Anaheim did. Chris Prder Trouba. Yeah, sure. you start to add these around these young players and go, “Yeah, I’ll go there and play with those young guys and and you know, make some good money and like I I agree what you but you need that piece to go, we see we’ve got a a golden goose. We’ve got a special player here that now we need to build out.” And Chicago did it. It took them in phases. They gave Nick Felino too much money. They gave Cory Perry too much money. didn’t work out there for Perry, but you know, they went that was phase one to help Adard. Now it’s phase two with them and they’re getting some better players and you can see it. Calgary already has the incumbent. They’ve got the goalender. They got him on term, right? Y so you’ve got some players that you think are going to be good if you can add in now a star around them and then shape the you got back who’s going to be a great leader and we all love backs and you know that type of stuff but there is going to be some moving of the deck chairs around Conniey’s got some work to do he probably thought he was done after two years ago when he comes in takes the job I got Lindholm and Zidorov and Tanv and Hannifan I got all this okay well I got that taken care of and all right we’ll move on. It’s Yeah, like I they’re not all UFAS. It’s the same but different, I guess. But yeah, but I you know what like now the cycle is it’s it’s turn downturned, right? So when is the somebody asked me this yesterday, I didn’t have the answer. When is the rank going to be avail seasons from now? Not next season. The following season they’re supposed to start there. That’s where I’d be really shooting for to be a good team is go new building, generating revenue, excitement, all of that type of stuff. So good meaning exciting not ranked top two in the league with odds to win the cup, right? Like two an upand cominging team with brand new building. Like there’s nothing wrong with that. Like I just I look at it and you get this you all the excitement would be around the team. Hey, we got this great shiny toy and we got these we got this, you know, like there can’t be anything worse I than if you still if Coleman and B like Anderson go like there would be I candy man like trying to sell a seat there like you’re going to ask more for the same beer and more for the same seat. You’d better have a marquee young player to sell tickets to if you’re not a contender. And Lord knows you’re not going to be a contender. And you we’re so far into the like it’s it’s feels early, but this years we’re we’re deep enough into it. This is what you are. Well, is it Are we 11 games in? Yeah. Okay. It’s 11 games. Like I always say, give 20. The problem is it’s been a painful 11. Yeah. Yeah. But you’re Yeah. You’re not even middle of the pack at at 11. So, even if you go if you rattled off what nine more wins, what? Okay. So, now you’re kind of okay. Those are the eight teams that are below 500 in the NHL. Who are you reeling in? Maybe San Jose. I I would say that’s all. And you’ve got a steady diet of Colorado, Vegas, Dallas, Winnipeg. I mean, if we Let me ask you guys this objectively. Keep that list up there. What of those teams is the Calgary? If we do the whiteboard and put the Flames roster on the left and you put any one of those teams on the right, what what team is the Flames better on paper than any of those teams we’re looking at on I just say San Jose. That’s it because they’re just young. They’ll be better in next year, but I don’t think they’re better than San Jose. I don’t know. They just can’t defend. That’s all. Like San Jose cannot keep the puck out of their net. So, yeah. Yeah. But but like you like you’d rather switch rosters at San Jose because you’re going to be good for the next decade. But that’s what I what I’m saying is like I always say, do the whiteboard, do the math, do the you know, do the comparison, lay the rosters on top of each other. There are certain components I like about the Flames because I think that I like the goalie and I would take I would take the goalie over a lot of, you know, half of those teams. Half because I I like Shurken, I like Demco, I like Sorrowos. Um, you know, but outside of that, like I I but I I’m thinking like lay those rosters side by side, pretty much every team on that list that’s above them is either farther ahead or probably better than them. It’s got more talent. Yeah, you are where you belong. I think got your answer right there. I see it from like I we’re all unfortunately we all kind of see it the same way. So there’s not a whole lot of I I see from the other side when you talk about and we got to let you go. Gosh, you got a show to get ready for. Um I know you got to bail extra for this one. You you could do what what they’re doing and you may or may not make the playoffs and that if once you strip it down, you know that you’re going to be losing a lot of hockey games. That’s you’re you’re accepting that. You’re buying in for that. And when you talk about I mean in Anaheim well okay it’s it’s been a long slog in Anaheim it’s been a long it was a long they had a great time but in Chicago it’s it’s been a long time there of watching some uninspired hockey. I I get why there would be some trepidation to say yeah we we may win the draft lottery and we may draft high and let’s hope the kid turns out but how far is that kid from being really helping us? Do is it celebrating of good enough? It’s good enough. It’s a couple years. Like Bard looks like he’s helping Chicago right now. This is year three. Correct. Oh, listen. If you get McKenna, then then sure. But not often does the last place team win the draft lottery. Yeah. The problem with I I understand what you’re saying, but the other side of it is there’s no argument. You are what you are. You’re in last place. You have two wins. What are you trying to sell me? There’s no other path. What are you trying to sell me? Well, we’re going to be good when. Why are we better next year with the same plan? No. Like, are they are they a threat to real off seven in a row? Sorry. I I the disappointing part is we could be talking about a a nice win last night. And that that’s that’s the disappointing part. And in watching some of these games, you’re like, okay, they were close there, close there. like you know you’ve been uninspired though noodles like the games haven’t been fast and full of passion and it is what it is but the there has not been aside from the gift in Edmonton flat in Vancouver they had a period or two here some stretches of decent hockey have they been bad no but have they been really good and invested absolutely not the teams that they’ve beat it was the Rangers they looked like dog were Leafs good last night. Like I don’t think the Leafs were good last night. They don’t look like they’re firing on all and it’s it’s a it’s 82 games and everyone’s going to play them and there’s peaks and values for everyone. This team is flat. Yeah, this team is flat. Who is it that drags you? I would ask you this. Who’s the the player that drags this team into the war into the fight? Yeah, it’s a great question. You know, uh like it’s the goalie, but it’s hard to see that, right? He’s the guy that would have the literally have that and it’s the other guy’s Nasm cuz you can see it. He wears it. When he’s mad you see it. Some guys will kind of steam and boil under, you know, undercover. Not not Nasm. Nas looks like he’s got a bit of a lip on though. Like that’s that’s what I think. I think he’s looking at it going, “Who am I playing with?” All of that type of stuff. Which I get it. Guy’s competitor a couple years ago wins a cup. like, you know, he’s been in different environments now. Um, but I do respect him. He loves, you know, seems to love Calgary. Seems to embrace, you know, what’s going on here. But, you know, it’s business now. Yes. It’s a transaction. Hubardo coming back, I think, helped Naz because there’s a little creativity there. Veteran guy to play with. I think now that Naz is a veteran guy probably some of the younger guys probably frustrate him a little bit here or there with the lack of experience or you know and it’s probably like looking in the mirror because that’s what he was like in in Toronto. He was a young, you know, upand cominging kid. And but that’s that’s where like is there a guy I know Ottawa’s found a formula without Brady Kachchuck, but Brady Kachchuck is their is the guy that puts fear into teams. Like he’s their emotional and physical leader. I I look at the Flames. You’re right. It’s the goalie. Like it’s the goalie who’s their leader. He’s their best player. And if he’s average on a night, it doesn’t look good. That’s the thing. He’s He’s that good. You guys have both been in because we’ll we’ll get you out of here, but just just a couple things. You guys have both been in team meetings. It’s like today or before the next game against the Senators. Are they watching that tape together? I wonder if I’m coaching. I would say this if I’m going to show it at all because I don’t know if I It’s embarrassing. Yeah. Because it’s And you don’t need to embarrass veteran guys, but if I was to show it, I would. This would be my message. See these plays? These are not Toronto Maple Leafs plays. These are our mistakes. We had I’m not criticizing. We played well enough to win that game. Let’s not make these mistakes. This is our undoing, not their doing. We’re good enough to beat the Leafs. We didn’t only because again and and the message isn’t a you suck. How could you do that? It’s a look at this because there’s some learning to be done from it, but it’s hard not to make it look like you’re showing up your veteran guys, which is fair. And I think there also is these conversations that, you know, you get the assistant coach on the plane that walks over with an iPad, these clip two or three things and said, “Here, here’s your spacing here. You thought you had more time. They closed on you quick. You know, make your play decision. Make your decision quicker. Here you’re on your forehand. Why are you taking to your backhand again?” That type of stuff. I I I will say this, Rhett. You I don’t know how you were. I I was my own worst critic. I I knew the minute I allowed a goal or made a mistake what the mistake was. These guys will see it on the news. They they you know, it was on Sports Center. I just worked out and I was watching I watched the highlights. You know, they they pointed it out here. Mackenzie Weaguer with it on his stick and it’s off his stick and Max Doy scores, you know. So, he’s watched the replay. He’s already assessed it of what he could do better. Um, sometimes guys are self-motivating, but you do need the coach to point things out and just go, “Hey, we we need a little bit better more determination in tough areas.” That’s that’s the way I would frame it and and we could leave it at that. But that that was not good enough last night from veteran players. Put it that way. You said it out of the gate, like shooting yourself in the leg. It’s they’ve gone plco burus. They’ve gone to the bar and shot themselves in their own leg. They did not get beat by the Leafs. They did it to themselves last night. Yeah, they did. They they went to Buffalo and they uh Yeah, went to Buffalo the night before. Good dog park defense. That was good, too. I like that. How have you never Your kids don’t want a dog. You’re a great dad. Your kids have never said, “Dad, we should get a dog.” They They asked me every day. My daughter asked me for a dog every day. And I said, “You’ve got a little brother.” And I told them, I said, “When I retire, I’ll look at a dog.” But I Dogs have dirty faces. They always look dirty face. germaphobe like rats. Similarities here. Dogs are like kids. They’re And you know what the problem in in my household is? Who’s going to walk the thing? You. Exactly. What’s happening in my house? I’m getting the same thing. And Peg Bundy who sleeps on the couch eating bond. Jeez. Peg. Take it straight. What a deep pull. Holy. That’s a moldy reference there. Noodles. Great set though. My wife works it more than I do. So, put it that way. We just We don’t have time. And the dog, I’m too big of a neat freak. Can you imagine hair everywhere and just a slobbering dog? It just Yeah, I can’t do it. I’m sorry. And and animals don’t like me. That’s the thing. They don’t like my face. So, well, they’re the only ones. Humans love you. They’re the only ones. Get out of here. See you. All right. Have a good day. Sands and Sands and Flames tomorrow. Yeah. There you go. Can’t wait. Yeah, we didn’t talk. No, we can’t. We’ll talk to him tomorrow. Yeah, we’ll bring him back on tomorrow. Talk twice. Bring him back. Oh, we didn’t talk baseball yet. Hey buddies, thanks for watching. We appreciate it. Also, if you could throw in a like and subscribe, it does help us out with what it is we are doing. And check out more at flamesnation.ca. CA.

Noodles joins Boomer, Pinder, and Rhett on the Insider Hotline presented by Crystal Waters for a full-on Calgary Flames segment. The guys dive into the Flames’ tough loss in Toronto and discuss the team’s lack of urgency, disappointing effort, and the play of MacKenzie Weegar. They get into whether Weegar could be available, Rasmus Andersson’s situation, and if players are already looking to get out of Calgary. The crew also debates a potential Nazem Kadri trade, the Flames crowded winger situation, and what a true rebuild might look like.

#calgaryflames #nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal

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