The Calgary Flames organization finds itself at a critical crossroads, grappling with how to build a championship-contending team while navigating the longest playoff drought the franchise has experienced in recent years.
The Playoff Drought Reality
Calgary Flames president Don Maloney recently addressed the team's direction in a revealing interview with Sportsnet's Eric Francis on November 22, 2025. While Maloney expressed reluctance to "throw in the towel," the team's performance tells a different story. The Flames haven't made the postseason since 2022, and their historical playoff success has been minimal with only two series wins in the last 20 years.
The situation reached a concerning point when the team sat dead-last in the entire NHL with a .341 winning percentage as of Saturday afternoon. This statistical reality contrasts sharply with management's stated goal of maintaining competitiveness and pushing for playoff contention.
The Case for Embracing the Draft
Around the NHL, evidence continues to mount that teams embracing short-term struggles for high draft picks are reaping long-term benefits. The San Jose Sharks, who bottomed out to select Macklin Celebrini in 2024, have already climbed back into playoff contention. Similarly, the Chicago Blackhawks landed franchise player Connor Bedard in 2023 and were competing for a Western Conference wild card spot.
Perhaps most telling is the success of the Anaheim Ducks, who despite not having a first-overall pick, built through high selections including Beckett Sennecke, Leo Carlsson, and Mason McTavish - all drafted in the top-three over the last four years. The Ducks were leading the Pacific Division, demonstrating how strategic rebuilding through the draft can yield rapid results.
Cultural Shift Required
The fundamental challenge facing the Flames involves reconciling the desire for a winning culture with the practical reality of their current situation. As Maloney noted in his interview, some teams remain stuck in rebuilding cycles for "decades," but the Flames risk falling into that exact pattern if they don't strategically leverage their current position.
The NHL remains a superstar-driven league where franchise-altering talent typically comes through high draft picks. While the Flames celebrated moments like Kevin Bahl's goal against the Winnipeg Jets on November 15, 2025, sustained success requires foundational stars that often only come through premium draft positions.
With teams that embraced the draft process clearly ascending while the Flames struggle, the argument for Calgary to fully commit to building through the draft has never been more compelling. The organization must decide whether short-term competitiveness outweighs the opportunity to secure the game-changing talent needed for long-term championship contention.
