2025 is set to be a very important calendar year for the Calgary Flames organization. What they decide to do over the next 12 months is going to have long term impacts on the direction of the franchise.

With that in mind, what do we think the Flames plans are for 2025? Are they going to rebuild? Are they going to try to remain competitive while re-tooling the roster? Will they make a push to become a playoff team?

There are a few different directions the team can go. Let’s take a look at those

The Flames feel like they’re in a full on rebuild when you consider the magnitude of the trades Craig Conroy has made since taking over as GM, Over the last 18 months they have traded Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, and Andrew Mangiapane.

They’ve acquired a lot of draft picks, prospects, and NHL players.

The question that needs to be answered is are they going to continue to go down the road of trading veteran players? Or are they going to hold on to their veterans to remain as competitive in the short term?

Some of the names that could potentially be involved in trade talks are Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, and Dan Vladar.

Moving three or more of those players would be an indication that the Flames are in fact in a rebuild.

Despite the fact the Flames traded veteran players over the last 18 months, they’ve been able to remain competitive. A big part of that is because of some of the re-tooling moves Conroy and the Flames have mode since taking over.

In those trades, the Flames acquired Yegor Sharangovich, Kevin Bahl, Andrei Kuzmenko, and Daniil Miromanov. All players who have made an impact on the Flames in varying degrees over the last season and a half.

Conroy has also used free agency and waivers to add Brayden Pachal, Jake Bean, Ryan Lomberg, Joel Hanley, and Tyson Barrie.

Those are all moves of a team that is in a re-tool. A rebuilding team would be acquiring nothing but draft picks and prospects in those trades.

It’s going to be interesting to see if the Flames prioritize adding roster players in trades.

Will Craig Conroy take advantage of the Flames cap space and acquire a “bad contract” along with a draft pick?

Will they move out a veteran player like a Nazem Kadri in exchange for another NHL player?

Will Conroy pull the trigger on a deal for a young centre?

There are a lot of different moves the Flames could make if they continue their re-tool.

This is something a lot of Flames fans worry about. We all know that Murray Edwards demands that the Flames be competitive every season. There is no doubt that they want to be back in the playoffs sooner than later.

We saw the Flames end their rebuild prematurely in 2015 after they made the playoffs and beat the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the playoffs.

Could we see something similar happen in 2025?

We might. Especially if this Flames team some how finds it’s way into a playoff spot in April. The Flames might view that as a sign that the rebuild is over and it’s time to “contend” again.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is a new model Flames management and ownership might copy in the future. That’s the Washington Capitals. They had a core group of young players ready to take the next step. And they supplemented that group with veterans through trades and free agency. They’ve been able to have a great season up to this point.

The Flames have a lot of cap space. They have a lot of draft picks and prospects. Will they use those to add to the NHL roster for next season and beyond?

The interesting thing about the Flames future plans is that there are legitimate cases to be made for each direction they could take in 2025.

My guess is that it’s going to be a mix of re-tooling and trying to compete. I can see this Flames management team making win now moves between now and October 2025. I don’t think we will see them go into a full on rebuild despite the fact that is what’s best for the long term future of the team.