One week ago, The Win Column’s Sunday Census question was, “How worried are you about the Calgary Flames’ slow start?”. At that point, the team had secured two points in six games with a shootout victory in their season opener. Since that poll, the Flames have played three games, tallying one more point. If the Flames’ start was labelled “slow” after six games, I think we’ve entered “Molasses in January” territory after nine.
After three more steps back this week, we wanted to know if Flames fans’ feelings have changed on the team tanking. We asked, you answered.
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!
How have your feelings about tanking changed this season?
We presented the poll below to our readers:
How have your feelings about tanking changed this season? #Flames
— The Win Column (@wincolumnCGY) October 25, 2025
Still Anti-Tank
Last week, just under 10% of fans who responded to our poll were still holding out hope the Flames could right the ship. It seems this faction of fans has learned nothing, as roughly 10% of respondents to this week’s poll are completely anti-tank.
I genuinely don’t mean to be rude here, but what has this team done to deserve an opportunity to compete for the playoffs? Do they look like a team that could compete in the playoffs? Do they even look like a team currently? This is the WORST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY AS OF TWO LOSSES AGO.
I don’t mean to defecate in anyone’s “glass half full” of Sunday morning coffee, but let’s be real. This team is not good, and trying to fix it in hopes of turning this season around will set the organization back years.
You almost got me
Roughly 25% of fans are either mostly on board or are coming around to the idea of throwing in the towel for a season. Thank you, some fans without desperate sentiment for mediocrity. If we haven’t already surpassed it, the Flames are quickly approaching the point of no return. With three points in nine games, the Flames’ 1–7–1 record is dead last in the NHL. The San Jose Sharks sit in closest reach of the Flames with four points, having played one less game and collected a regulation win, something the Flames have still failed to accomplish.
To make matters worse, the Flames have a league-worst -18 goal differential, averaging only 1.77 goals per game. They’re the only team in the NHL averaging under two goals per game. Although the Flames finally showed some offensive improvement against the Jets in their previous game, the team remains stagnant in the standings.
At this point, Moneypuck.com gives the Flames a 9.5% chance of making the playoffs. With eight straight games falling short of two points and zero regulation wins on the season, you can see the frustration on everyone’s faces in the room. For a group that was celebrated for its culture last season, it’s quickly soured in less than ten games. Conroy was right; Andersson isn’t a distraction; he has done a solid job of creating enough distraction on his own.
Team Tank
Two-thirds of fans who voted in this week’s poll are all for team tank. There’s an overwhelming majority of fans who can read the writing on the wall and know it’s only a matter of time before Craig Conroy starts adding names to the trade block. Veterans like Rasmus Andersson, Blake Coleman, and Nazem Kadri come to mind right away. There’s no question that teams in a competitive position would value these players, but the Flames need to be careful.
Waiting too long puts the Flames in a desperate position, but rushing it won’t help either. During a season in which other franchises aren’t willing to part ways with 2026 first-round picks, Craig Conroy will have to work the phones and utilize some of the abundantly available salary cap space the Flames hold.
That’s not the only valuable asset the Flames will be looking for, but it’s certainly the goal when discussing a draft class including Gavin McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff. Moving out a few pieces would help the Flames commit to next season and earn some return on said assets that are destined to have depreciating seasons if they stay in Calgary.
What to expect from the Calgary Flames?
It won’t guarantee the Flames a first overall pick if they finish last, nor if they hold two or three lottery balls in the top 10. However, being “competitive” for the Flames has included nothing but short-sighted trade and contract decisions induced by a drawn-out hunger for playoff revenue. I’ll wrap things up with a single and concise statement that should sum up this franchise’s severe need for a rebuild. If Eric Francis thinks it’s time to pull the plug, you know it’s bad.
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