Despite odd rollout, Flames show faith in Conroy’s vision with extension

SUNRISE, Fla. – With seven blown-lead losses, no NHL team has turned W’s into L’s quite like the Calgary Flames have this season.

So, when one of the most positive developments of the season comes in the form of a press release announcing the team’s popular GM has been extended, perhaps it was fitting for the fine print to prompt unnecessary consternation.

Lumped in with the news of Craig Conroy’s new contract were similar two-year extensions for assistant GMs Brad Pascall and Dave Nonis, as well as Flames hockey president Don Maloney, whose current popularity rivals that of snow shovelling.

The release is punctuated by the dubious suggestion that all four deals were inked before the season started.

The company line is that with the team’s season-opening faceplant, there simply wasn’t a good time to draw attention to front office matters.

Interesting.

In the spirit of moving forward, let’s just point out that at this point in a season of endless tumult, what matters most is they got it right by giving Conroy the keys for two additional years.

Now, more than ever, it’s important for the Flames to have a singular voice speaking for the club, delivering a consistent message as the team’s path out of the basement is mapped.

Giving Conroy more time to continue the rebuild he started two-plus years ago speaks to the commitment the organization knows is required to effect significant change in today’s NHL.

Exhibiting patience and savvy while trading old for new, Conroy started stocking the cupboards in 2023 with future pillars who represent hope that things will be better, perhaps one, two, or three years after the new building opens in 2027.

It could take that long.

And the encouraging news about that is Conroy’s message revolves around the fact he is well aware that the path moving forward is not a straight one, meaning you can bet the team will lean into this lost season if the losses continue to pile up.

“There’s always pivots and different times where you have to adjust and make changes,” said Conroy, who joined the team in Florida following a week of fan frustration stemming from Maloney’s anti-rebuild interviews.  

“It’s just like in a game — if something’s not working and we can easily change it, we’ve got to change it. Like I always say, we’re always looking to improve. And the draft is going to be one of those things that we prioritize. It has been that way right from when I got here. It’s such a big thing for us to get to where we want to go.”

Yes, he’ll add to the haul of eight picks (including two first-rounders) he already has for the 2026 Entry Draft, and you can bet more than a few will come from swapping out a veteran or two.

Those moves will also open the door for more of the handful of youngsters they’ve already summoned from the AHL this season, including Yan Kuznetsov, who kick-started Saturday’s comeback win over the Panthers with his first NHL goal Friday.

Debate how extensive a rebuild is required all you want, but the reality is Conroy has been reshaping the club through the draft ever since he got hired as GM. 

No, ownership is not keen on a stripped-down, burn-it-to-the-ground approach, as Maloney made clear. 

But the goal, as Conroy has stated from Day 1, is to get younger — something he insists on doing with the aid of core veterans preserving a healthy culture. 

“We’re trying to build towards something, and it started two-and-a-half years ago,” said Conroy, whose club allowed the first two shots Friday against the Panthers, but bounced back to win their fourth in five games, 5-3. 

“Obviously, everyone wants it to happen quickly. They always do, and I get that. It’s the world we live in, with the phones and everything. We just have to continue building through the draft and trades. At some point, you’ll be adding free agents, but not yet.”

He points to Dustin Wolf, Matt Coronato and Kevin Bahl as players he’s building around, then directs attention to the Wranglers.

“Look at what Matvei (Gridin) is doing this year, leading in AHL rookie scoring (8 goals, 20 points in 18 games), and sitting just a few points out of the league scoring lead,” said Conroy of his first-rounder from 2024, who he acquired in the Elias Lindholm trade.

“(Hunter) Brzustewicz is playing well (acquired in the same deal). You’ve got a guy like Aydar (Suniev, a third-rounder acquired in the Tyler Toffoli trade) that’s coming, Stromer (William Stromgren, 14 points) is playing well, and so is Yan.

“We do have a lot of young guys, and we have some of those young guys up. So it is a little bit of a process, and we’ve got to work our way through it. But you’re always open – there’s not one linear plan. This is where it’s got to go.”

Sure, patience is wearing thin in Calgary, where striving for the mushy middle has become a way of life.

But if anyone can sell hope, it’s Conroy, who has built up the emotional equity in a fan base to do so.

His is the voice players, fans and opposing GMs should hear from as he delivers the message on where he plans to take things.

“We’re not going to lay out what we’re going to do, but have some patience with us as we build this thing the right way,” said Conroy, who also confirmed a Sportsnet report from a few weeks earlier that Zayne Parekh will be healthy enough to be loaned to the Canadian world junior team.

“Hey, I understand where we are, lowest point percentage of the league (before Friday’s win) — I’m not lost on that, I understand. We’ve got smart fans. They understand what’s going on, and they understand the business and how this works. I respect them and what they want. I get where they want to see young players, and they’re going to get to see them.”

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