Fans must embrace and support the Calgary Flames now, more than ever

Let’s face the facts: the Calgary Flames are capital “B” bad. I know it’s only eight games into the season, but they currently boast an NHL-worst record, point percentage, goals for, and goal differential. It’s a nice cause and effect: the Flames are the worst team in the NHL right now because they’re the lowest-scoring team. Allowing the fourth-most goals against doesn’t do them any favours, either. But they need our support more than ever.

So, what now? This season is already shaping into what some fans thought last season would be. Rather than hope for improvement, let’s band together as a fanbase and support this new low the Flames find themselves in!

A stark contrast to the 2024–25 season

Last season, the Flames were a feel-good story that split the fanbase. A select portion of fans—not naming any names—wanted the team to lose and get a high draft pick to add someone like Michael Misa. A (probably larger) portion of fans hoped for the playoffs. In the end, neither group got what they wanted.

The Flames finished last season with an impressive 96 points, just one point—or one tie-breaker—out of the playoffs. They ended up with the 16th overall pick, which was transferred to the Montreal Canadiens as a result of the Sean Monahan trade. This year, they’re on pace for 30 points, which would be the worst in an 82-game season, overtaking the 1999–00 Atlanta Thrashers who finished with 39.

Flames benefited from high-level goaltending in 2024–25

Last season, the Flames benefited from excellent goaltending. Among goaltenders to play at least 30 games, Dustin Wolf tied for seventh with a 0.910 save percentage. Dan Vladar was 31st with a 0.898, which puts him in starter territory. Wolf posted a 2.64 goals against average, while Vladar was down at 2.80, good for T-15th and 27th, respectively. This year, Wolf is sporting a 0.875 SV% and a 3.61 GAA, putting him 50th and 52nd, respectively.

Let’s just focus on Wolf now, since Cooley doesn’t have a lot of ice time under his belt. Wolf had a sterling 15.1 goals saved above average over 53 games last season. His incredible play earned him a unanimous first-place on the NHL All-Rookie Team, second in Calder Trophy voting, eighth in Vezina Trophy voting, and 15th in Hart Trophy voting. So far this season, he has a -4.9 GSAA, which ranks 61st in the NHL.

Scoring is more of the same

As a team, the Flames were 27th in the NHL in goals scored last season with 225. It goes without saying that you won’t find much success if you can’t score goals. Eight games in this year, they sit at a league-worst 13 goals. Their goals per game has dropped more than a full point, from 2.74 to 1.62.

Looking at the individuals, only three skaters scored at least 20 goals last season, with Yegor Sharangovich coming in a little short at 17. Nazem Kadri paced the team with a career-best 35 goals, Jonathan Huberdeau scored 28, and Matt Coronato scored 24 in his first full season. This season, that trio has a combined three goals.

While the scoring pace the Flames are currently on is alarming, it’s not likely to keep up for the rest of the season. But I also doubt it improves much from last season, considering the team made almost no personnel changes over the summer.

Enjoy the ride this season

What I ask of fans is simple: continue to support the team. Show up to games, buy merchandise, and enjoy a low-expectations season. Show ownership that you’ll support the team through thick and thin. It might be tough most nights, but in the long run, it will be worthwhile.

We need to convince ownership that we’ll still be there through a rebuild. It will offer ownership the confidence to give General Manager Craig Conroy the green light to sell off some veterans. Not just the obvious Rasmus Andersson and Blake Coleman, either. If a team is willing to give a haul for Kadri, he shouldn’t be untouchable.

Again, it’ll be painful, but it will put the Flames in a position to do something they’ve never done, which is draft in the top three. Doing that in a year where you can pick up a player like Gavin McKenna to build around is even sweeter. With how the Flames have drafted under Conroy, I have full faith in his scouting staff. Pick up as many draft picks as possible over the next couple years!

This only works if we, the fans, show we’re on board, though. Ownership needs to know we’ll keep lining their pockets. Otherwise, it’ll be a half-hearted rebuild again. We’ll get a couple of picks in the five to 10 range and then try to build around them. Don’t get me wrong, you can find some great players in those spots, but it’s far more likely to get franchise-altering talents in the top three.

Let’s not be hasty; let’s continue to show this team our support. Seven games in, I know I’m enjoying the ride!