Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Why Did The Calgary Flames FINALLY Change Their Rebuild Messaging?? | BB Clips

Episode Date: September 16, 2026

Boomer, Pinder and Rhett are joined by Pat Steinberg to discuss how much of a role Flames fans may have played in the organization finally changing its messaging around the rebuild. Pat points back to the intense backlash following Don Maloney’s infamous “rebiggle” comments, along with the very vocal frustration surrounding how Zayne Parekh was being used early last season, as examples of the fanbase making its feelings impossible to ignore. The organization’s public tone now looks very different, with the focus firmly on rebuilding and developing the next generation. The guys debate whether that pressure from the C of Red actually helped force some honesty out of the organization. Turns out complaining might work — Flames fans have a voice, and maybe the organization really is listening.Video Link: https://youtu.be/j7ymfjko778#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.

it's different because even at the start of last year, we really were unsure. What does Conroy want to do? Even if we know what he wants to do, is he going to be allowed to do it? We're still very much in that. Don't say the R word. We can't say rebuild.

All this bullshit. It just drove us crazy. And then, of course, you know, Don Maloney comes on TV and then sends everybody over the edge. But then by the time it was all said and done, all of the moves that you really felt like should have happened. And I put Weger almost as a bonus. But Anderson,

Cadry, Weger, you got draft picks, you got young guys. Everything that you felt for so many years should be the path and should be the way to do it. It finally, it feels like for the first time in our lifetime, actually took place. So the whole tone feels different this year.

It's a, that's probably not going to be a good year. You were saying, just don't win too many games. And everyone's okay with it. because now they've adopted and have accepted where they're at. Does it feel different to you as well? Is it a different around the building as well?

Oh, absolutely. I mean, that picture that you were referencing when I got an opportunity on, I guess it was Thursday last week and I was sitting down. I think we talked to four players kind of to pre-tape some stuff for the first week of the show. And, you know, a few of the guys were very like, hey, we understand what the expectations are. We understand what's going on. and we want to be a part of something. So it feels like the whole messaging is changed inside the locker room.

We've heard them use the R word. Like they've used the word rebuild now, which for the longest time, you never heard that with the organization. And I don't know, it was that Don Maloney interview. I really think, and we talked a lot about this on the show last year, as everything was going for, I think that changed a lot. Like I think the outcry and the outrage. Like people were so upset and it gave everybody so much to talk about for so long.

And people were so upset about the way that that kind of was received and the message that was being delivered. And I think that coupled with how bad the team was through October and November. And they got to that kind of magical U.S. Thanksgiving date and they said to themselves, you know what? Like maybe people are willing to accept that, you know, we can be bad for a little bit and it will be good. And it was all happening while the Zane Porecht discourse is going on. Like should he play? Should he not play?

And he was getting healthy scratched and then he got hurt. And so it all just kind of it was it was almost like a perfect storm that needed to happen because I don't know if the, if Don doesn't go on TV and talk to Francis and deliver those interviews. And if they don't have the awful start and if the Porectis course isn't as loud as it is, like if And at the same time, you've got Rasmus Anderson who clearly wanted to be elsewhere. And Nazim Kodry started to talk about being elsewhere. Like, it finally kind of just all came together and something that the team had flirted with,

the organization had flirted with forever. And they said, let's lean in and do this. And I think, look, there's some people who don't want it. But I think there's a pretty overwhelming group of people that do that see how you build teams in 2026. And you do it by drafting high, getting core players and they're actually doing it. And I feel like if they finish 30th, 31st, 32nd this year, it's going to feel a whole lot different internally.

And certainly the way we're talking about it's going to feel a whole lot different too. Is this the first time in franchise history they've chosen to rebuild? Because there's being inept and just hanging on to old guys too long. Oh, we sucked, shoot. But to actually choose this path, can you recall it happening before where it's a decision, not a reality that they were just given? Well, you guys check me if I'm, if I'm wrong. The only other time I can remember it covering the team was like 20.

When they, when they, they kind of, they kind of were forced into moving Jerome because Jerome had requested a trade. But when they moved Jerome in 2012 or whatever it was and then also traded Kippersoff and Boeaster. Sorry, I didn't trade Kippersop, but Kipper, Kipper decided to leave and they traded Jay Bomeister like a week later. like when they decided to do that, I felt like under Jay Feister, they drafted Monaghan sixth. I felt like they maybe were actively trying to do that then, but then they had that 2014-15 season.

And I know for a fact in 1415, when they had the year they did and they get to round two of the playoffs, like I know for a fact that internally they pivoted. Like it wasn't like, oh, well, this is great, but this was always the plan. It was like, oh, no, we were planning to refurb. build and now we think we're ahead of schedule. So we're going to go acquire Dougie Hamilton

and we're going to make other moves. We're going to sign Troy Brower and so on and so forth. And so I think I think that for the first time that I can ever remember, they actually are committing to it. And I think that they committed to it, you know, 13 years ago, but they got away from it way too quickly. And that's one thing Craig Conroy's been adamant about is that he's got a plan and he's not going to deviate from it. And I give him a lot of credit, even two seasons ago, he didn't he didn't lean in at the trade deadline when they were right there for a playoff spot they exceeded everybody's expectations and that was one of the messages was like hey this is good we're going to let it play out but we're not going to deviate from the plan

and he carried that through into last off season when they literally didn't acquire anybody so i i think in terms of like actually sticking to a vision it's the first time i can remember them honestly doing it