Top 5 moves Calgary fans want for the Flames this offseason

Building a good NHL team is hard work. I know it, you know it, Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving knows it. Treliving has his work cut out for him this offseason, but Flames fans are more than willing to give him a hand.

Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald reported the results of a local fan poll regarding Calgary’s offseason options, here are the top things Flames fans want to see happen before next season:

1. Bring in Ben Bishop 
That last goal that snuck under the pad of Brian Elliott in Game 4 against Anaheim sealed his fate in the eyes of Flames fans. Only 12% of respondents said they wanted to resign Elliott, with 34% wanting to bring in big boy Ben Bishop via free agency. Trading something for Marc Andre Fluery was the second most popular option (20%), while a good number of fans have faith in prospect Jon Gillies abilities at the NHL level (19%).

2. Resign Kris Versteeg
Kris Versteeg received a 42% vote as the Flames pending UFA that needs to be resigned. Michael Stone came in second with 34% of the vote. Fans seem okay with letting goalies Elliott and Johnson walk into free agency, securing only 5% and 4% respectively.

3. Get rid of Wideman
Across the board the overwhelming majority of Flames fans (94%) agree that infamous defenseman Dennis Wideman has to go. He’ll be a UFA if the Flames opt not to retain his services, and fans would very much like that to be the case. The combination of his $5.25 million-per-season salary, increasing time in the press box as a health scratch, and of course, the $10.25-million lawsuit against him for assaulting an NHL referee have soured the Flames fanbase against him.

4. Keep Treliving
Despite their eagerness to give advice to Flames General Manager Brad Treliving, 72% of fans want to keep him around. Trevliving’s contract as GM is up for renewal right now, and as long as he follows the fans’ advice, they’ll probably want to keep him around for awhile yet.

5. Protect Curtis Lazar from Vegas
Of all the players potentially exposed to the Las Vegas expansion draft, Curtis Lazar is the one Flames faithful want to see stay in Calgary. Troy Brouwer, Matt Stajan, Matt Bartkowski and Brett Kulak were also in the running, but 49% of fans really don’t want to see Lazar scooped up by the Golden Knights.

Whether or not it’s Trevliving making the calls next season, the fans have spoken. These are the moves you need to make to keep the fans happy, well most of them anyway.