2023-05-27 00:43:43
Craig Conroy will be the new General Manager of the Flames. During the last nine yearsthe New Yorker had performed the duties of assistant to that same position.
It is a quite busy summer in Calgary. This latest announcement is part of the revolution who is living the franchise, where they were dismissed coach Darryl Sutter y Brad Treliving, antiguo GM.
Conroy put an end to his professional career in 2011after a second spell with the Flames. From the ice he went to the offices and, in statements by the manager himself after the announcement, I didn’t have high expectations about consummating this promotion.
“When I accepted the job, the goal was to become a GM and I always thought it wouldn’t be in Calgary, but now that it is, I know this franchise was the dream job for me. I may not say this in a few months, but that’s how I feel right now,” Craig explained.
In the words of Don Maloneypresident of hockey operations in Calgary, there were other 34 candidates, although none with Conroy’s determination and career.
“He’s a good person, but you know what? You don’t play 1,000 NHL games being a good person. There are times when you have to be firm. You have to be tough and make decisions that allow you to win. For me, he has a great eye for talent. I think that this is his strong point, he knows players, and in the end, they are going to evaluate us for that, for making good decisions and bringing the right players to win a championship, ”he explained.
Words, however beautiful they may sound, have to be translated into action, but in his presentation, Craig wanted to make it clear what the main topics that he will try to carry out during his stay on the main floor of the franchise.
“I want it to be a place where people want to play. When I got here, it only took me a couple of weeks before I wanted to be a part of it. I want players who want to be part of the Flames and Don’t come here just for the money. That doesn’t interest me.”
Anyway, what fans are waiting to hear are Names. Although he was not so explicit in that section, he did make his guidelines clear in this regard.
“I speak with representatives and we are on many lists of teams that players do not want to be transferred to. I want to change that and it can be achieved by bringing a winning culture and entertainment. Players talk, and if we build that, they’ll come here. This starts this year, we have to move forward ”, he added.
Little margin with the salary cap
Calgary, like many other teams, has little wiggle room. only has $1.25 million in the salary cap.
This summer, Milan Lucic, Trevor Lewis, Nick Ritchie, Michael Stone y Troy Stecher will become free agents, while Tyler Toffoli, Mikael Backlund, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov y Noah Hanifin they could be in 2024.
“We can’t face a season with so many free agents, it just doesn’t make sense. You have to do things right for the Calgary Flames.”
Tyler Toffoli was the franchise leader in points (73) last season, while Elias Lidnholm copied the section of assists con 42.
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