Calgary Flames fan survey results: Should they rebuild? Rating GM, coach hires and more

The Calgary Flames offseason has already had its fair share of twists and turns and we haven’t even gotten to the draft or free agency yet. This is a lot for our readers to follow, but we appreciate your readers just the same.

It’s time to reveal the results of our offseason survey. Hundreds of you made your voice heard about grading the Flames’ front-office decisions and identifying which pending free agents you’d like to see kept on the team.

For those wondering, we closed the results of our survey on Wednesday. So, these numbers are not influenced by the increased potential of some Flames players who want out.

Was firing Darryl Sutter the right decision?

This is not a complete surprise, despite the large numbers that support it. Many readers have questioned Sutter’s tactics, and job security, in our comment section throughout the season. At the end of the year of disappointment, the writing was on the wall for the dog named “Jolly Rancher” and he was eventually given his walking papers.

How did a once promising Calgary Flames season go off the rails?

A deeper look at the Darryl Sutter season, and what’s next in Calgary

Story w/ @hailey_salvian and @KatieJStranghttps://t.co/MC3CgflHy6

– Julian McKenzie (@jkamckenzie) June 16, 2023

Should the Flames have kept Brad Treliving as general manager?

Readers were somewhat divided on Treliving’s departure from the GM position, but most said letting him go was the right choice. Treliving’s long tenure has not been short on highlights and lowlights. Nine years at the helm with just two playoff series wins. A franchise-bending sign-and-trade after the departure of another franchise player. Let’s not forget about the various levels of asset management, some coaching hires and fires, and whatever back-and-forth he had with Sutter. Some felt that maybe he was worth extending and seeing a new season, while others were ready to stop riding.

Rate the Flames’ decision to hire Ryan Huska as head coach

We asked fans to rate the hirings of Huska and Craig Conroy on a scale of 1 (bad) to 10 (good). We start with Huska, the first time head coach whose coaching staff was formally announced on Friday. Fans seem to like Huska as Sutter’s replacement, and he is now tasked with getting the best out of the group he coaches.

Rate the Flames’ decision to hire Craig Conroy as general manager

The fans were more in favor of Conroy being hired as GM. But, again, these results were taken before Thursday’s reports. Even if Conroy is forced to trade some players from next year’s UFA class, fans can still get on board with his vision if he lands quality assets. But if it’s not Conroy, how will the fans feel? Will they give him a period of grace, having worked for more than a month? Or is it possible for anger and other feelings to override those feelings?

If you are not in favor of hiring Ryan Huska as head coach, write in your choice and explain why

Several names were suggested as alternatives for Huska, but former Wranglers head coach Mitch Love was the most common answer. Some respondents also liked a voice from outside the organization, mentioning names like Andrew Brunette, Alex Tanguay and Gerard Gallant. At least one person is fighting to keep Sutter and another is talking about Jarome Iginla.

But Love conquers all.

“Mitch Love probably provides a bigger change in culture/perspective a new voice in the room. But there is more risk with less experience/no experience in the NHL”

“I think Mitch Love should get the job. I think we’re going to regret not hiring him.”

“Love. The only coach to win back-to-back Coach of the Year in his first two seasons in AHL history.

If you are not in favor of hiring Craig Conroy as general manager, write in your choice and explain why

Although the majority of respondents were in favor of the Conroy-Huska tandem, some used this prompt to express concerns about the Flames using two internal employees from the previous regime. In terms of actual substitutes, Eric Tulsky appeared a few times.

“Nothing against Craig Conroy, there’s no reason to think he won’t do an amazing job, but he’s unproven. If it’s possible (it doesn’t seem like it), I’d prefer the Flames to held by Treliving.

“The Flames have seven UFAs next year, are getting old and have a bad prospect group overall. In a rebuilding season, the fact that Conroy wants to keep most of the team together is telling. to me he’s the wrong GM. He’s saying what the owners want to hear.”

“The team needs a shakeup – promoting internal candidates may bring some change, but it’s just the same people in the same room – it doesn’t seem like enough.”

“… with the addition of throwing away the old guard of guys like (Dave) Nonis, it feels like identifying the next chapter of Flames hockey is still the status quo.”

Troy Stecher (Sergei Belski / USA Today)

Which of this year’s free agents would you like to see the Flames keep?

The Flames have $1.25 million in salary cap space this offseason, thanks to the extensions that started for Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar. So, it will always be difficult for the Flames to bring back all these players. But most fans want to see Troy Stecher come back. There is support for Michael Stone to return as a depth defenseman. But some fans would also like to see the Flames let all of these pieces walk.

Which of next year’s free agents would you like to see the Flames keep?

For this question, we allow fans to check multiple players. So, if you see that the numbers don’t add up to 100 percent, that’s why. We just want to see what the percentage is for each player while not putting a limit on how much they want to keep.

Yes, there are seven NHLers with expiring contracts. But we also added Dennis Gilbert and Kevin Rooney because they both saw a decent amount of NHL time last season. Can we add defenseman Nick De Simone, who also played a few NHL games? Maybe. But we didn’t. Sorry about that!

Not surprisingly, survey respondents gave the most checkmarks to No. 1 center Elias Lindholm. Oliver Kylington. Noah Hanifin and Mikael Backlund were the only ones to receive votes from more than 50 percent of the participants. Fans seem closer to saying goodbye to Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov and even Chris Tanev.

Mikael Backlund (Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today)

Who will be the next Flames captain?

With Backlund potentially on the way out, it will be very interesting to see how the numbers look. In the meantime, all we have are the numbers in front of us. As fans did in our survey before the start of last season, Backlund is still the player Flames fans want to see as their captain. There’s a good chance he might be the favorite to be the captain of Flames management, but he’ll have to stay in Flames colors to get the “C.”

If it can’t be Backlund, Rasmus Andersson could be a worthy captain. Weegar finished in third place.

What should the Flames do at No. 16 picks?

I’m not going to lie, I’m a little confused by the next two results I’m going to show you, including this one. In isolation, the numbers for this poll make sense. The draft class is loaded with first-round talent, especially at the forward position. But then…

Who would you choose to have the No. 16 selection of these players available?

As close as the numbers are, why did Axel Sandin-Pellikka win here? He’s a small, puck-moving defenseman who fills a need in the Flames prospect pool and he beats forward Brayden Yager by 0.3 percent.

But for many of you who want to see Calgary pick a forward, is there something about the players available that has changed your mind? I’m really curious here.

If you chose “another”, write down a player you think would be available at age 16. (Yes, we’d all pick Connor Bedard if we could)

Very few of you mentioned the choices that were not mentioned in the question above. Dmitri Simashev, Gabriel Perreault and Zach Benson are among the write-ins. Even David Reinbacher, who could be a top-10 pick, is an option.

Fortunately, no one wrote on Connor Bedard. You saved us all from rolling our eyes. But maybe those who voted “Someone” for the previous question thought so? I hope you are scared of us.

Are you in favor of rebuilding the Flames?

Finally, the question of reconstruction. Most fans are in favor. Again, we repeat that these results were taken before Thursday. However, many Flames fans were long on that train before some players reportedly expressed interest in leaving Calgary.

(Top photo: Sergei Belski / USA Today)