Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - TSN's Darren Dreger Explains Why A Flames Rebuild Might NOT Fly 😬 | BB Clips

Episode Date: November 21, 2025

Boomer, Pinder and Rhett are joined by TSN’s Darren Dreger for a deep dive into Don Maloney’s recent comments and what they reveal about the true direction of the Calgary Flames. Dreger offers his insight on where the organization is headed, while Rhett presses him on whether fans would actually support a full rebuild — and Dreger’s answer is a firm “no.”VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/EROPwCQzNF4#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal #calgaryflames CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I don't know if you caught the broadcast here a couple nights ago. Flames and Sabres, probably not appointment television for common NHL fans, but Don Maloney, the president of hockey ops, was on at the intermission on the Flames broadcast, and said the word rebuild, looked like he remembered. He shouldn't say the word reburbed, then said re-biggle, which I don't think is a word, and then said retool, but really didn't inspire any confidence in the fan base

or any sense that the team is acknowledging that they're in last place with potential franchise altering players at the top of the draft. Did that get out of the local scene? Like nationally, did that get any buzz? Because the fan base is up in arms here. It felt like they were talked down to or just that the front office is incompetent and maybe not true, but it did not go well.

Well, the sense that I get from my sources there, the only way ownership is going to embrace a rebuild. I'll use any of those R words, but effectively they mean the same thing. You know, they've tried to transition on the fly, It worked last year for parts. It hasn't worked at all, even close this year. But in order to reconstruct, retool, rebuild,

I think that Edwards and company would be okay with it, provided there is a plan from Craig Conroy that doesn't show this is going to be a seven to nine-year ordeal. And who's getting who? If you're talking rebuild, that's really what you're talking about. And you just look at all the other markets that have gone through it. Detroit is finally coming out of it. But it took the majority of a decade for the Detroit Red Wings to claw out of that.

And with a new building on the horizon, how sustainable is that financially for everyone around the Calgary Flames organization? And I'm sure that's a question that Edwards and company will ask of Conroy and what is your plan? A full rebuild? that's tough to do with the contracts that you have, the pieces that you have. And they've got some good young players that are coming too, right? My understanding is I don't dive deep into the American Hockey League, but it sounds like they've got a couple of players there,

maybe more that are on the cusp should be good NHL players. You know, you look what you've got, you know, at the NHL level, Coronado and Dustin Lolf and some other elements. You know, so again, what are we talking about when we use one of those words, retool or renovate. Yeah, that makes sense because you can envision moving Goddrey and Rasmus Anderson, maybe some other pieces, but a full rebuild, that's a tough one. They might be forced into it anyway, though.

I think that's the annoying part from the fan base is that they can pretend that they're not going to have to. They're in 32nd. They're in last place. And if you don't embrace it, you're only making it worse. That's how you end up with a seven or eight or 10 year rebuild. Yeah, right made a good point yesterday. You said it's going to take longer. You can speed this up.

If murder doesn't want seven to ten years, Rhett, like, chew on some money for some of these guys and get returns for them. Like, that's where they need to recognize the trouble is going to be. We all think last year was a success. Boom, in what way?

They didn't make the playoffs. There was no playoff revenue. There was success because you got to enjoy the guys competing, and absolutely you give them credit for that. But there's no success. ass. That's not winning. That's losing well. And they've done a lot of that over the last 40 years. The last time, there's been twice in the history of the Calgary Flames where they've put together builds. The one time they won the Cup in 89. And that's so far ago, and I love making fun of the

89 team because they wear their rings around town and they're all braggy and it's great. But they're Hall of Famers. It was amazing time to be a Flamesman. And the other time they did it was not long go. Godrow, Monaghan, Bennett, Kachuk. All high end, I mean, Godroll was a fourth round, but it was an absolute steel in the fourth round. And the other guys were top six picks. And they made the team good and consistently good. They're not, if you think you can piss that away and just buy a guy here or sign a guy there, it ain't going to happen. I think that the annoyance for the fans comes from the fact that they're trying to pretend that they aren't to rebuild and you're 32nd.

Is there any other teams that finish 32nd that don't go, geez, we better. Nashville, what are they doing? Well, probably everyone's for sale. St. Louis is in the tough spot. What are they saying in St. Louis? You want someone? Call us. Why are the flames refusing to say this stuff?

That's what I don't understand. You can try it, and it only feels like it, I'm speaking from the fans' point of view. It feels like you're trying to fool us. It truly, truly comes across as. they're not what they don't know what they're doing. Let's pull one over on them. Is it too early, though? Is it too early for this?

No, because good hot, well, I don't know if you consider any of the three of us, idiots, good hockey minds. But we have been saying for a long time, this team is not designed to compete with top end teams. They just aren't. Without wolf. And I said this. Drinks, now I'm babbling away and we have you on to talk.

who's made the turn this year the most? The sharks, the Blackhawks, Anaheim. What are those three found in the last year? Spencer Knight, Askerov, and I can't say the guy's name in Anaheim. No stop. Yeah. We have Wolf. So let's add the other pieces and just admit what we are.

Yeah. Well, the reason I say is it too early is because to do that and be successful at it, They should have made that determination if that's the case last year and in the off season, right? Because, yeah, I'm sure you did multiple times because, look, we're always reminded every single year that if you're trying to meaningfully change your organization in season, you're going to get disappointed. You're going to make a dumb trade at the trade deadline where you overpay for a player. Maybe he's a rental guy that doesn't help you, right? And I'm not looking at it from Calgary's perspective. because I'm looking at it from the buyers.

The one thing, and this tells me that Conroy hasn't made this determination yet, I talk to teams every single day, and there are no shortage of general managers looking to buy. Can't use of the Montreal Canadians. I mean, I know that St. Louis was all over that Havs game last night. So maybe there's something going on between the Blues and the Montreal Canadians, but they have a stockpile of good young talent in Montreal, and he's ready to pay.

Within reason, don't know, but we always know there's flexibility in the system in the offseason to make bolder deals. Trying to do it now, it feels a little bit early. In season, perhaps, but 22, 20 games in is a little bit early. Because I'm hot about this right now. I'll bring up two things. Why in the F weren't the Calgary Flames at that game then? Because if they're not recognizing and St. Louis is and you miss out an opportunity, shame on you. They may have been.

And secondly, you mentioned Conroy, and I brought this up yesterday, and I have no insight. Are they split? There seems to be a lot of chefs in the kitchen or the Flames front office. Are they split in what direction to go, or are they on the same page? I don't get the sense that they're split, but I don't, you know, I always find it's challenging when you've got a decent rapport with the general manager. I think it can be a little disrespectful to go above or around him for information. And that's not to say that I don't talk to other people in the Flames organization.

Of course I do. I mean, people know my history with Dave Nones. I mean, I've known them for 100 years, so we have conversations. But I don't get the sense that there's a split or a disconnect in that management group. I historically have heard that, you know, I don't know how involved Jerome. McGinley is now, but we know that, you know, he and Connie have history together. They're very good friends. And why wouldn't you lean on the experience, the eye of Jerome McGilley? What do you see? What do you think? But I don't, I honestly, I, that there are a number of organizations around

the league where you do have that sort of, not everybody's on the same page. I don't, I don't get that Fioletic Calgary yet. I don't. So can I rephrase the question? Do you think that this management team wants to do something and now the task is to convince the owner? It might be early for that. It might be. This season, like generally speaking, if things continue, if they're 30 second and things continue. How can they not, though? Exactly.

That's the point, right? How can you not? I mean, you know, you're not getting the same level of offense by a long shot. So how can you not go? Okay, we have pieces that other teams want. Murray Edwards doesn't want to trade Nazim Kadri. But if you're a non-playoff team, maybe Nazim Kadri who loves Calgary, you know, gets into the second half and goes, all right, well, I mean,

here are the three teams that I'm willing to go to or whatever it is. Because I do at this stage my life and career want to vie for another Stanley Cup. Well, that's changing, right? And then if that presents, well, what choice does Conroy have? You know, you go to the owner and go, look, I can get great value for these guys. And my professional opinion is we have to do this. Why? I don't disagree with you.

But if they think it's early, I have a hard, like, I don't think it's early. I've watched enough. No, no, no, no. Only early in the sense here, guys, that you've got to maximize your return. Okay. You got to maximize your return. Like, you know, I keep talking about Kent Hughes. or keep talking like, you know, Brad Trill Living, you guys know Tree.

I mean, he's in every conversation. But the one critical thing that always flies back at him is, but he doesn't pull the trigger. You know, so, I mean, you've got teams who want to be buyers to a point, but okay, step up. You know, I mean, I watched that Montreal game last night. People keep pointing fingers at the goaltender. I mean, Sam Montable was no good, but defensively, they look lost. out there, right? And they're dinged up. They need help up front. So

is there top six forward that the Calgary Flames would consider parting with? Maybe. But then that's on Ken Hughes to go, well, I'm going to make it a difficult decision for you to make at this point of the year because I'm probably going to overpay. Jimmy Rutherford did that forever

and still tries to do it in Vancouver. Did it with Lindholm two years ago here. Yeah, why not? Like, get ahead of the curve, because we know what happens when you get after U.S. Thanksgiving. You know, it feels like that 20 game line is pushing now. We're probably looking at 30 games, but somebody's going to make a move. Somebody is going to overpay for a player that matters. And I feel like that's what maybe is needed in Calgary. Somebody's got to call Connie and go, okay, I want player X, and here's what I'm willing to give you for that player

and make him think about it. And if he declines, then we find out after the fact that he turned down this, this and that for a piece, well, then he'll have to live with the wrath and sure to follow. Yeah, it's funny though. What I'm hearing is two things. One is that, yeah, if they had the haul they want for these guys, they're open to moving them. But I'm also hearing like, well, if Nazim wants to leave, then I guess, you know, well, we're obliged. And it's like, why can't the plan just be if we're in this spot, we can turn older assets into younger players? They won't say it. They will not acknowledge that they have a plan for this.

And that's insulting. Do you think it could be somewhat financially motivated? Certainly. You know, in the Canadian market again with a new building, because as soon as fans hear one of those R words, guess what they're not doing, buying tickets. Yeah, but you know what else they're not doing right now? They're not going to the games to watch a 30-serving older team

that's going to miss the playoffs. Right. And look, maybe maybe you hurt some. revenues for spring but god if you have vera from a mechanic coming and that will sell tickets in a new building do you truly believe that drags you mean you would know more about it does in the city like calgary do you think the fan base let's play funzies and they dump a few guys and they stay in 30 second or the bottom couple teams do you think that that is going to affect the i do the the bottom line because i feel like the i feel like most of the

people that buy season tickets here have bought them for 40 years. Yeah. And we'll continue to buy them for 40 years. And they're not going to fool anyone unless they look like they're going to be really good. It's not going to make it easier for these people to cough up the money for the new arena. Right. If they're middling or worse. Right.

But if the fans, if the fans can see, oh, they've got some core pieces, I think ticket sales are easier. Yeah. Well, maybe. I just reminded of the conversation I had with Mark Chippman last October, so 13, 14 months ago. When they went through that similar, you know, they were in a similar predicament. And they're facing the hellabook and the Shifley extensions. And Chipman did his due diligence. Talk to the people in Detroit. Talk to the teams I went through a rebuild and just made the educated financial call as owner of the Winnipeg Jets that they could not sustain.

a seven, eight, nine-year rebuild. The fans would turn. That's Winnipeg. So I, you know, and so they, they were fortunate enough to get those two guys to sign on. And now they've just continued to figure out and to lock down their core. So I guess we'll never know. But that was the view of one Canadian owner.

And it could be shared by Murray Edwards in Calgary. It might be.