Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Calgary Flames Fans Better BUCKLE UP For This Rebuild 😬 | BB Clips

Episode Date: October 16, 2026

Bobby, Pinder and Rhett have an HONEST conversation about the reality of the Calgary Flames rebuild following another ugly blowout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. And here's the thing... THIS IS WHAT A REBUILD LOOKS LIKE! The Flames simply aren't a very good hockey team right now. They have one of the weakest forward groups in the NHL, lack legitimate high-end offensive talent, and the goaltending hasn't been good enough to cover up those weaknesses. But it's not like the players aren't trying! The effort is there, they're working hard, and they're competing, but sometimes that just isn't enough when you're facing teams with significantly more talent. The boys discuss why Flames fans need to adjust their expectations, why blowout losses are going to be part of this process, and why there aren't going to be many easy nights ahead. It's frustrating, it's ugly, and it's going to test everyone's patience, but this is the reality of rebuilding an NHL team. Calgary isn't going to turn things around overnight, and fans might need to buckle up because this could be a LONG season! Video Link: https://youtu.be/DcUbbKVEFRk#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #calgaryflames Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Vegas Gold Knights were collecting goals. This again kind of fell into a familiar pattern. You work hard. You're in the game. You get to the third. And it's like, well, they got to three. So can we fuel the charter? Shucks. Let's get out of here. Like, I didn't mind a lot of what you saw. You just, as we've been saying all year, there's going to be a talent gap.

And when the Vegas power play gets to rock and roll with those weapons, that many times was it? Six power plays? Something like that. Yeah. Did you have to take the power plays because you were out overpowered? You know what I mean? Sometimes if a team can't keep up, you're like, well, that was kind of the case last night.

I mean, Vegas was just skating all over them. And when you get Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, like that forward group humming, which they were last night against the team with as little talent as the flames. Like it's just, it's game over from the start. Yeah, we were saying it. It's like it's not about what do the flames have to do to the win. is Vegas going to take Calgary seriously? If you match the flames effort,

you're going to win nine times out of ten, unless Dustin Wolf goes full, like, domina cacic mode. And we haven't quite seen that this year. It's asking a lot because you're just, there's a skill deficit. There just is. Like, how many guys are going to go

to the World Cup next winter for Calgary? Nemets? Like, they can buy tickets. Yeah, like maybe some Slovakians. I don't know what they're going to do with the European teams, but the four nations, they were, they're not on that.

But like, you look. at that Vegas Power Play Unit. Like I can name four Olympians and a couple others waiting on the bench. Like Hanif is not even on the ice. It's, it's one of those things where you look at the Vegas roster and I think you probably go seven or eight deep before you sign the best player on the flames. Like a hundred percent combined the two rosters. Generally, maybe even the top 10 Golden Knights would be better than the top flame. Let's play the game. Let's play the game. Jack Eichle, Mitch Marner, Olympian, Olympian, Mark Stone, Olympia. Like, there's a guy. Yep, of course. Theodore. Theodore on the point. Thomas Hurdle.

Yep. Like Anderson. Rasmus. Hanifan's was there. Like we're at seven. And like there's some other guys that are all right there. It's a bad matchup for them. You can even maybe throwin Brett Howden.

I mean, he had a really good playoff last year. Not for Olympics, but he would fit on the flames top line. And that's what I'm saying. He's saying for the top. When do you finally say, okay,

I'll put a flame on that? Yeah. And I think honestly, you know, probably the second goalie and none of the top six forwards are top 2D, 3D. I like ball

this year but it's like very early and this is not a sexy defenseman, it's a functional, it's of the Ret. Warner ilk. Good player. Legit, top four guy. Underrated, needs a raise. Legit four. Needs more minutes. Yeah.

Legit four. Ryan Huska said he thinks he's a legit top pairing guy. And I don't know if he's just saying that the media to boost the confidence or if he's just saying that. Good. And if you, like, here's the thing. I don't think Mitya Sackholm is a top pair guy anymore. I don't know that Ryan Shea is,

but someone's going to play with Bouchard. He could be that guy. Yeah, right? Just to use the Oilers example, like, and again, you could make the case that Matt Coronado's a top one-winger if he gets to go play with Leon and Connor, because you're going to get 40 back to our top. But they're like six or seven goals already.

I was chase on in snow boots nearly a 20. Patrick Arun, I think, at 30. The wrong side. Right. Yeah. And so it's. it's kind of like you have all these pieces that individually aren't that great and then also the pieces around them you're like well no one's boosting anyone else up here

this is as bad as any of these guys can look yeah and like the the flames Vegas matchup particularly in Vegas is is awful for the flames I mean we looked yesterday they got outscored 12 so now so the updated number is over over updated numbers on that the flames in 16 games in Vegas have won twice they're 212 and 2 they've been outscored 6. 6831 in those games. They don't just go to Vegas and lose. They go to Vegas and get destroyed every single time. I'm going to get destroyed.

I hope the boys were out right until there's a drop of the puck. I hope they partied all night when they got in and just lived it up. I'm with you. I mean, some bonding, have some fun, get your asses kicked and go home. Totally.

This is going to be a long year. Like, if you have the chance to go out a night in Vegas, like take advantage of that. Watch Metallica. Who cares if you lose 6-2 the next night? Go have a time. they would have go back on the point well yeah the coach my care

poor house this is such a tough spot for us good because like I'll tell you one like you were trying to make chicken salad and it is a lot of and that's not like these are bad players they're not they're all probably very good third and fourth line players second and third pair guys but how in the world do you go into that building against that roster and be like ABC we win this game like what's on the list It's like, don't take penalties. Perfect defense.

Everyone's got to be 100%. Goal is going to be great. We're going to need some bounces. I mean, if you look at Anaheim, like a lot of that list hit. Totally. My big thing so far this year. You got their starter last night, too. You didn't even get the backup.

You can just tell this team, like, so yes, from a Huska perspective, what can you do? But also, like, from the team perspective, you look around the locker room. Say you're down 3-1 heading into third period. You look around the locker room and you're like, who's going to score a goal? At least in the past, like, the last few years, you could look at Nazim Cadry, who's a 60-70 point guy. You know, when Hubert O was on his game in 24, 25, he could do stuff.

But then you had Coleman and Anderson and Weiger. Like, you can look around the room and see some good vets and be like, okay, we're kind of in this. Now you're looking at like Ryan Strom and Zach Whitecloud and Jake Middleton. It's like, who's going to score tonight? Like, this is tough. Strom's true. Strom?

Yeah. And it's fine. Yeah. And they moved under the wing on the Paws. The line I've actually liked that a lot a bit. But, I mean, there's talk about resigning. I'm like, I guess.

I don't know. I mean, if you trade for us, you signed to a one-year deal, maybe. Sure, you got him for a seventh. It's not like you're going to turn him into a second. I'll wait and find out. I'm in no rush to be handing out extensions. I'm Craig Conrad.

I want to see the kids. And to be fair, there's like, I have in mind the new guys. What else do you have in the A? Like, where are we at on Basha by the time you're in the new year? Or a Tyson Gross who can play down the middle in theories. Quad-A guy, will be playing the league? I don't know. When do these college guys sign?

This is good. We could find out. Got to learn. It's the whole point of this year. Right. And so it's easy as Craig Conor to be like, hey, we're just going to, we're going to learn about what we have and what we don't have. And along the way, we're definitely going to amass some draft capital. And we're going to be picking really high. But if you're Ryan Huska, it's like, okay, like we can trade chances with teams. But do you want like an 11-4 instead of the 6-2? But you also want to keep it light. So it's like, how do you, balance those things. I'm telling you, I've said it from the start. Wolf has to stop the puck if it's not 6-1. And I'm not saying he's sieved out. But if it's 3-1 again, you're like, that's fine. Like I look at that backdoor one that felt like the back-breaker.

Was that 4-1 or 3-1? And it's like the third period. It's like, you can't put that on the goalie. It's a perfect play. Jake Middleton lies down and the puck goes like two feet past him. Like it was like, what is the Chris Russell water slide musician? He was just right in the sloths. And I feel for these guys, they're all, it's not like these guys are working, they're not trying.

It's not like, they're work effort. Yes. And it's just, that's what a rebuild looks like. And that's hard for people because you, like you were saying it, Jack, you go on the, on Twitter after the game. And it's everyone just wants to throw everyone into the sun. You're like, you can't ask for a rebuild and then expect this to be a competitive team all the time. Yeah, well, you shouldn't go on the internet and look at what people say. It's a bad.

Unless it's a barn burner clip. It's a bad. That's starting point right there. If you're a player, though, I mean, that's the last thing you should do this year is check out social media. I mean, that's the case in every single energy market.

But this year in particular. The thing is, though, like, when it comes to covering this team, we can't just go back to the same conversation every single day and just be like, well, they're a rebuilding team. Like, we can move on. Like, we still have to kind of break down the games. We still have to kind of approach it from a team. We did a good job not doing it.

That's what we brought you here. It's just hard to cover an 84-game season and not look at the day-by-day results. You know, yes, we can keep the big picture in mind, but at the same time, when you're covering the team every day, it's kind of hard not to have those conversations. Like I see people online saying, well, this is what you wanted, right? Like, you wanted the rebuild.

You wanted to get destroyed. And they're kind of saying that on comments when you're breaking down people's performances and people's game-by-game breakdown. So it's, in terms of covering the team this year, it's actually kind of difficult, right? Yeah, it is. In that perspective.

And again, if you go slot these guys on other teams, They're not there. Or they're way down the lineup. Like, I think Matt May Gridden is probably about to break into the NHL on a contender. He only is here because the opportunity. You're going to play him with because if he doesn't have to do the driving of the plays, not that he can't, but like last night he's trying to do too much. But that's part of the learning curve.

Yeah. That's fine. And that doesn't mean he's a boss. It's just, it's going to learn that shit, this does not work here. Yeah. I got to say. Correct. Yeah.

Like, preck all year. you're like flashes of the genius and figuring out that half of his toolkit ain't going to work in terms of the plays that he could pull off in the OHL. And it doesn't have to be coached even. It's circumstantial in this circumstance.

This didn't work. He'll learn. Like Tuesday night, or I think it was Tuesday, Nemich gets stripped of the blue line, breakaway ducks, backhand shelf, Seneca, I think it was, scores. And you're like, the coach doesn't have to go over and tell him. Like, hey, Simone. Like, I know. I'm not going to do that again. I'm going to

remember, you know, that the rookie that got 30s, okay, get it deep. I don't know. It's like, so as a coach, it's like, are you really going to break down to do an hour of video today? That's why it's hard because you're going alone. Because you're like, I got to do my job. You lost six to one last night. Like, fellows, should we get in early and watch the tape?

Somebody should say, no, throw that. They could burn the tape sometime. He's in kind of a lose-lose situation because we're talking about like, okay, what if he opens it up and they trade chances and they lose? 6-3 and 6-4. I'd be fine with that, but we've seen the online reaction to that so far this year, and people have not liked it. And again, don't care about Don.

But then he tightens things up defensively, and then it's like, well, then we play way too boring and the kids aren't getting played enough. It's just like, no matter what this coach does right now, he's kind of in a lose-lose situation. I will say this would be much more miserable if he didn't have that extension, because at least he knows that this organization had enough faith in him. Conroy has his back. Totally.

And if there's other situations that aren't like that. And it's like, holy crap. Like, am I coaching for my livelihood to like stay in this league? I don't worry about that with Ryan Huska. Everyone knows the roster has massive deficiencies. And you listen to people around the league. They just speak nothing but like great things about Ryan Huska. Like I even remember last year, John Cooper was in town.

And he went out of his way to compliment Ryan Huska. And you just, you listen to interviews across the league from people in the hockey world. They only have good things to say about him. So his reputation, I think, is going to be fine. Yeah. And no matter what happens this year or next year, like, he's going to be able to find probably another coaching job. He freaks out. Unless he does something crazy.

He could oversteer it. I don't worry too much about that in the sense that, like, he's got his standards of work ethic and structure. And I think that's what costs Zeri a spot. He just couldn't meet the minimum standard of, like, how much structure I need. Like, you need a puck deep at the end of your shift. Don't go one-on-one. I've been telling you this for a year and a half. I can't do this anymore.

That kind of thing. but like I just see so many people complaining they're not playing the kids and not playing the kids I'm like who's your own of power play one? It's a guy that's played less than 30 games in the NHTSL like who else is out there? Okay well there's a 20 year old

that played in the Q 16 months ago there's another kid that like court like who'd have is out there like it's in college 60 like a Stania's playing center yes we've been getting a lot of minutes too like he is

tough spot to the coach I think he is playing the kids I think some of the kids I think some of the criticism is a little overblown in my opinion. Yeah, I agree. He doesn't get it here. Would never. We're not here to critique. We're just pumped up to the time.

Love this team guys. They're awesome. Go get a boy. No, but it's true. Yes, there's, there's, but people were calling for his head last year and the year before. Oh, the year before he had 96. That was not the year to call for his head. But I get what you're saying.

It's like it's, it is absolutely a hard checking structure, work ethic. That's how we win. And with the roster, it's been. given, what else you're going to do? That's what was necessary. Right. And so the question is... You have to allow for some. I don't think there is a structure that allows this team to make the playoffs.

Like, a stop. Right? Like, it's just no matter... Five. So it's like... You want to trade chances and let the horses run? You want to play airtight? I don't think it matters.

No matter what, you're going to see L's. You're going to pick your highest pick in franchise history. I could say that with quite a bit of certainty. Like, what are the odds of them getting a top three picks? Like, well, okay, maybe the Flyers bet. Maybe the Kingsman. Like, go look at the rosters compared to the flames. This is arguably one of the worst rosters in the franchise history.

Yeah, the forward group's miserable. And that's not to say there aren't guys that aren't good players. It's just they're all not ready for bottom half vets. Kind of reminds me like the mid to late 90s after they traded that Cup Corps and they went with the young guns. Like this kind of feels like a sort of similar situation. Hopefully it turns out better than that. hope and pray that happens but in terms of the roster right now it's kind of similar

yeah we're already how many years into not making the playoffs I think this is four so this would be five is that right and it was seven then so we're I guess we're right there so Jerome McGinlop made his debut in the 96th playoffs games three and four were back in Calgary

they came back from Chicago down two oh scores in one assist in the other they get swept Trent Yanni coughs it up in front they don't make the playoffs again until Rhett Savily took out Thank you, Rhett. Turek to get Kipersoft. It's not hard.

So that's a long while, like 96 to 04. We're in for a very similar trajectory. Honestly, it might even be more. And you know what the answer is? How quickly are the kids ready? Yeah. Because I'm looking right now and I'm like, Coronado looks like he's like, that's the one guy.

I'm like, legit top six guy. I think so. Yeah. And then everyone else is like, not ready yet or is beyond, he's past that in his career now because he's a vet. And so does Carl step in and look like a top pair guy right away like Matthew Schaefer did? Does he take three or four years to become a top 40? We don't know.

Does Cole Roshney look like a top six centerman right away? Does it take him two years? We don't know. Is Wittenback a guy that's going to light up the A and can't crack an NHShall roster? Or does he step in and immediately produce at the NHL level? We don't know. The guy they're going to pick in the top 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3. Is that guy step in next year of play?

Do they need another year of seasoning? We don't know. So people that ask for these timelines on the rebuild, It's like, how in the world could you know? Like best case scenario, it's a couple of years. Worst, it could be way longer. Philly is a good example of this. Yeah.

I was thinking about Philly and how they're struggling. And then they went after Carlson. And I'm like, why did they have to go after Carlson? Like they, they know. They eat a center bad. Okay. They haven't drafted a guy. Draft second overall.

Yeah. Nolan Patrick. That was supposed to be the guy. That's a killer. That's a second overall pick. This guy is supposed to be a 75 to 100 point play. That could have been Heisken and her macar. I mean, that's a big game changer for that organization.

Yeah. And I'm not, he was widely regarded as going number one for most of the year. And maybe they're fine with Leo there because he's looked excellent in the first three weeks of the year. But they just don't, they don't have centers. And they know they're not going to be bad enough. Well, after the playoffs last year. I know. I'm just saying that even you're saying, we don't know.

Yeah. Even if you draft second overall, it might not work. You don't know. Yes, especially this year. This person still has to come in and could. So I don't have you to look at this red. Like one of the guys that a lot of people have is the top forward of this class has like a four-year deal in the K. Can you imagine picking the best forward in your class and having to wait until 2030?

2031. Like, that's tough. What? It might fit right into our timeline. And so if you're Connie, you're like, shit, how do I balance this? And the owner's like, well, we got new building and we're asking a lot more for the same beer. maybe we take you hope that they have the patience to follow this through and you hope you look at a team like minnesota who waited for carol caprisov yeah you know i think they waited three or four years for him and that's turned out damadov you had to make michikov you had to wait a little less than you thought his dad passed away they let him go a year early but

you don't know if in iran in chicago like they waited for him i think he was i don't even know if he was draft or was he a free agent you might have been undrafted but either way it's like it's not as easy as secure your top three pick and would start planning a cup route. And just hit a lot of look at a lot of these kids in the system and certainly. You wouldn't be in this situation if Sam Bennett had played up to his potential.

I agree. Because you wouldn't have dismantled. And of course, there's all these other things, COVID and everything. But if Bennett is a number two center when he's here, you're not messing with that corn.

The guys that are here are probably going to, that we're here, would probably have stayed because you were going to be more successful. 100%. So everything changed. And you think you went

Monaghan, Bennett, Backlin, one, two, three. And that's back on like five years ago. That's a really good like getting Selkie votes three C. You slide Linholm to the wing. You've still got Kachuk, you still got Kedro, you've still got Madge Band. You're at it. Yeah. Well, and speaking of Vegas last

night, of course, the flames, they, there were runners up in the Mark Stone sweepstakes. There are no runners up, but I know what you're saying. Even like the Jack Eichel one, it was down to Vegas and Calgary. That's what the reports were. Like, even imagine if they make one of those moves. Yeah. All of a sudden, it's a completely different

conversation. Johnny's like, I want to stay and play with these. Totally. I think Chuck wants to stay. And the COVID thing, too. Like, Americans in Canada are like, why am I not allowed to go to the grocery store? It was a terrible experience for them. Well, we have our elbows up too much.

Maybe. Gordy specials. What your elbows? How can't keep our players. Oh. Lots there. It's, I just. Lots there. Same conversation on Monday.

So number two in the Pinda Report, Jack. This is what, Bobby, you might have done this because I know you do a lot of socials for the network. Like the caption that from last night's final was literally 77 to go. Yeah. Like, what else can you say?

Yeah. A terrible year to add two games. Oh, I know. I don't do it, Gary. Smart enough. I would have tried these for more preseason games where they look like they could play.

Ozzy heading? I am, I am, actually, we're being cheeky about it. I don't give it F. This is what it's supposed to be? Because I want to see if Gross can play.

Yeah. And I don't want to see him if he can play for one game like Bill Stromgren a couple years ago where it was like well you played him eight minutes and I don't think Bill was going to turn it but play him him run play him who cares up down there's a hallway it should get tread a lot with guys going up and down and chances and opportunities let's see what you got let's find out what this guy has

go get it you don't need Yeager in the lineup every night you don't need Cyplikov in the lineup every no he's the first on my list well 100% Because Igor at least has been moving. He's skating a lot better this year than in years past. And you know he can shoot it. You can do some special teams work. I don't know what to say. To play his ass off, he'd be a good asset to move.

Yeah. And you know what? That salary when that you're like, oh boy. In today's universe, it's not that bad. No, it really is. Cheap as chips. Yeah. Love chips.

Chips are good. I got this new casso dip, Bobby. Should have you over. I know you'd be a casso fan. Homemade? No. Too lazy for that. Thank you.