32 thoughts: Could the Calgary Flames look for a short-term fix or will they embrace the tank?

The Calgary Flames were one of the major talking points on the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast with Elliotte Friedman. After publicly being called out by Kevin Bieksa and Friedman on the Sportsnet panel over the weekend, the topic of tanking versus going for it in Calgary has reached the national media. Here’s what Friedman had to say on the state of the Flames.

Time to throw in the towel?

To kick off the segment, Friedman talked about the idea of the Flames throwing in the towel on the 2025–26 season, something they rarely ever do.

“I think it’s going to take some strength to go against the grain of what they normally like to do. The Flames do not like to throw in the towel. They’re trying to time it here with their new building coming in a couple years, keep some veterans, don’t go full tank, have the kids be ready.”

As we all know, in Calgary rebuilding is not a word you’re allowed to use. Friedman echoes that idea, stating the Flames simply do not like to throw in the towel, and admitting defeat and bottoming out this season is going to be tough for the organization. It goes against everything they normally do.

If even the likes of Friedman are coming out and saying it may be time to fully tank in Calgary, you know things have gotten out of hand.

The Flames need to avoid short term fixes

“The thing that I could see being a danger for Calgary is, stay away from a short-term fix. I think this is an organization that in the past would say I don’t like where this is going, let’s see if we can do something to keep our heads above water. There’s a big difference between that, and a great slam dunk trade that you have to take.

“It gonna take somebody in the organization to stand up and say, if it doesn’t get better with the group of guys we have, if they can’t dig their way out of it, we can’t do a short term fix.”

The way Friedman worded this statement, it certainly sounds like he has heard things either in the past or this season that the Flames could look to make a short-term trade to try to right the ship and fix the team. Like Friedman said, this would be a pretty big mistake. This is not a team that is one or two small trades away from fixing their issues.

It sounds like the organization is still very much in the mindset that a short-term fix is better than throwing in the towel. It’s time for the Flames to avoid what they’ve done in the past, and instead admit this team is not going anywhere this year and either let them figure it out or sink.

The Flames need to bite the bullet

Friedman then went into the notion that this organization refuses to bottom out, and it might take someone standing up and voicing why that’s not a good idea.

“The best thing they can do is if this is the year where they say, alright, do we have to feel some pain, this is a really good draft. It’s gonna take somebody in the organization standing up and saying, people aren’t going to like this, but this is what we need to do.”

Friedman is team tank confirmed. He couldn’t have said it better. The Flames need to look in the mirror and admit that this team is not going to do any damage in the playoffs, if they even get there. It’s time to admit defat and look to the future, even for just one season. It sounds like based on what Friedman has said, it might take someone in a position of power within the organization to stand up and push the team in the right direction.

The Flames need high-end talent

Lastly, Friedman touches on the Flames lack of high-end talent and why tanking for even one year would go a long way to fixing the current roster.

“If it really goes off the rails, and you get a high pick, when I look at the Flames what do I think they need? If you can get a McKenna or a high skilled player at the top of the draft, that’s what you need. You don’t think you’ll be able to sell tickets to the new building with someone like that on the roster?”

Once again, Friedman nails it. This is a team and an organization that is desperate for high-end talent, and there’s no better time to get it than after a 1–5 start in a year in which the draft class is the deepest it’s been in years. McKenna will sell tickets at Scotia Place, the current roster certainly won’t.