This team needs to pick a direction, and there’s only one right answer.

[Ace Rimmer]

What NHL executives think of Craig Conroy's first year and a half as the Calgary Flames General Manager - The Win Column

Two NHL executives share their thoughts on Craig Conroy's first year and a half as the Calgary Flames General Manager

thewincolumn.ca

Hilarious how obvious the situation is for the rest of the league

Hindsight is always 20/20.

Going into last season, the Flames had every intention to be competitive, and it was the lousy start that was the final straw before initiating the UFA "fire sale". It's no wonder that offseason trades didn't happen.

"Better offer" from an "unnamed NHL executive" could easily have been an extra mid-round draft pick, so while it's entertaining to contemplate the idea, I can't put a lot of stock into that claim.

 

[Lunatik]

Hindsight is always 20/20.

Going into last season, the Flames had every intention to be competitive, and it was the lousy start that was the final straw before initiating the UFA "fire sale". It's no wonder that offseason trades didn't happen.

"Better offer" from an "unnamed NHL executive" could easily have been an extra mid-round draft pick, so while it's entertaining to contemplate the idea, I can't put a lot of stock into that claim.

It's also an opinion... and opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and most of them stink

 

[Flames Fanatic]

Good point during the Barn Burner discussion on Rasmus.

We have oodles of RHD. Weegar, Andersson, Brust, Parekh and even Pachal all RHD. At some point something has to give somewhere in there.

 

[Lunatik]

Good point during the Barn Burner discussion on Rasmus.

We have oodles of RHD. Weegar, Andersson, Brust, Parekh and even Pachal all RHD. At some point something has to give somewhere in there.

Weegar plays LD, so I'm not even sure why'd bring him up other than to make it sound like a bigger potential issue to generate drama for views.
Pachal will nevr be a top pair guy, may never even be middle pair and is only signed for 2 more years.
Brzustewicz is a first year pro and needs more time in the AHL.
Parekh may not be pro until 2026-27.

Eventually is at least 2 years away IMO, which is when Pachal's contract ends.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

Weegar plays LD, so I'm not even sure why'd bring him up other than to make it sound like a bigger potential issue to generate drama for views.
Pachal will nevr be a top pair guy, may never even be middle pair and is only signed for 2 more years.
Brzustewicz is a first year pro and needs more time in the AHL.
Parekh may not be pro until 2026-27.

Eventually is at least 2 years away IMO, which is when Pachal's contract ends.

The argument was Weegar plays better and prefers RHD, which I agree with myself. Pachal isn't so much a road block for top four, more so just mentioning more term on the right side.

Also the fact they were talking about when Andersson's extension would start, which is when Brzustewicz and Parekh are probably knocking on the door a bit harder.

It was also noted that if the organizational preference is indeed to keep Weegar playing RHD, they can always move him instead of Andersson too.

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Good point during the Barn Burner discussion on Rasmus.

We have oodles of RHD. Weegar, Andersson, Brust, Parekh and even Pachal all RHD. At some point something has to give somewhere in there.

I'd also throw Mews into the mix of RHD prospects with high upside.

Weegar has the flexibility of being able to play on his off-hand side, so yeah trading Ras might be the path. Ideally for someone's very good centre prospect.

Offseason is probably the right time to make a hockey trade like that, not a deadline move IMO.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

I'd also throw Mews into the mix of RHD prospects with high upside.

Weegar has the flexibility of being able to play on his off-hand side, so yeah trading Ras might be the path. Ideally for someone's very good centre prospect.

Offseason is probably the right time to make a hockey trade like that, not a deadline move IMO.

I think the stars would have to align for it to be a TDL deal. IE we fall out of the race, Ras indicates he wants to test the market before considering an extension, and a team is willing to overpay to get two cheap playoff runs cap wise out of him.

 

[Lunatik]

The argument was Weegar plays better and prefers RHD, which I agree with myself. Pachal isn't so much a road block for top four, more so just mentioning more term on the right side.

Also the fact they were talking about when Andersson's extension would start, which is when Brzustewicz and Parekh are probably knocking on the door a bit harder.

It was also noted that if the organizational preference is indeed to keep Weegar playing RHD, they can always move him instead of Andersson too.

Except Weegar has said he prefers LD and he had the best year of his career on LD last year.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

The argument was Weegar plays better and prefers RHD, which I agree with myself. Pachal isn't so much a road block for top four, more so just mentioning more term on the right side.

Also the fact they were talking about when Andersson's extension would start, which is when Brzustewicz and Parekh are probably knocking on the door a bit harder.

It was also noted that if the organizational preference is indeed to keep Weegar playing RHD, they can always move him instead of Andersson too.

Except Weegar has said he prefers LD and he had the best year of his career on LD last year.

I don't think he has specifically said he has a preference. What is important is that he is very competent regardless of what side he plays and that versatility makes him valuable as a mentor figure moving forward. We can literally slot any top D prospect with him and he will fit like a glove as a partner

 

[crackdown44]

Yeah I am quite sure I’ve read before that Weegar even as a righty prefers to play the left side. He is definitely capable of playing either side at a high level though

 

[Backlund]

What NHL executives think of Craig Conroy's first year and a half as the Calgary Flames General Manager - The Win Column

Two NHL executives share their thoughts on Craig Conroy's first year and a half as the Calgary Flames General Manager

thewincolumn.ca

Hilarious how obvious the situation is for the rest of the league

Most of what they've said aligns with what I've said in the past. Conroy needs to make some tough decisions on how to move forward or he'll just prove he wasn't ready because he isn't willing to do what he needs to do to actually make this team successful.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Most of what they've said aligns with what I've said in the past. Conroy needs to make some tough decisions on how to move forward or he'll just prove he wasn't ready because he isn't willing to do what he needs to do to actually make this team successful.

Conroy or Murray Edwards? I think we all know who’s making the calls on direction at the end of the day.

 

[Backlund]

Conroy or Murray Edwards? I think we all know who’s making the calls on direction at the end of the day.

Someone eventually is going to have to convince Murray of what needs to happen in order for this team to be successful or what's the point of taking the job. It appears Conroy was hired to appease Murray based on how he's handled a lot of moves so far and that quote on the other GM applicants. He hasn't been terrible so far, but he hasn't been great either, but if his moves are going to get us to a different version of what we've already seen, then what's the point? It's not like Murray has never changed his mind on something. Granted, this is much bigger than the smaller changes we've seen, but if you can't find a way to convince him, then what are you going to do with the team?

 

[crackdown44]

I don’t think Conroy has strayed from the rebuild/retool plan. It’s not his fault this team is playing much better than everyone anticipated. I thought he did great on the Lindholm and the Markstrom trades, Tanev return was a bit underwhelming but the org appears to like Grush. I expected more for Hanifin as well but I guess it was more of a gamble that Vegas may slow down a bit with their aging core but that does not appear to be the case

They traded their starting goalie, their 1C, two top 4D but they’re somehow better than last year. All the UFAs we have this year are pretty trash so I anticipate a quiet deadline

I’ll be mad if he brings in a plug veteran defenseman at the deadline for a 4th just because the team is in the hunt à la Treliving, or if he makes a dumb free agent signing this summer because he thinks the team is something it isn’t

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Someone eventually is going to have to convince Murray of what needs to happen in order for this team to be successful or what's the point of taking the job. It appears Conroy was hired to appease Murray based on how he's handled a lot of moves so far and that quote on the other GM applicants. He hasn't been terrible so far, but he hasn't been great either, but if his moves are going to get us to a different version of what we've already seen, then what's the point? It's not like Murray has never changed his mind on something. Granted, this is much bigger than the smaller changes we've seen, but if you can't find a way to convince him, then what are you going to do with the team?

The team is currently operating nearly 20M below the cap. I can understand the argument of making a playoff push to sell playoff seats when you are spending to the cap ceiling like everyone else but with where we currently sit I just dont think that is remotely as reasonable a demand.

 

[Siignal]

It will not be hard to end up in the 4-7 range after some trades and a more difficult schedule.It's only a 6 point gap

 

[DomBarr]

I don’t think Conroy has strayed from the rebuild/retool plan. It’s not his fault this team is playing much better than everyone anticipated. I thought he did great on the Lindholm and the Markstrom trades, Tanev return was a bit underwhelming but the org appears to like Grush. I expected more for Hanifin as well but I guess it was more of a gamble that Vegas may slow down a bit with their aging core but that does not appear to be the case

They traded their starting goalie, their 1C, two top 4D but they’re somehow better than last year. All the UFAs we have this year are pretty trash so I anticipate a quiet deadline

I’ll be mad if he brings in a plug veteran defenseman at the deadline for a 4th just because the team is in the hunt à la Treliving, or if he makes a dumb free agent signing this summer because he thinks the team is something it isn’t

you don't have to worry about getting mad about that he did that before the season started it just didn't cost a 4th just roster spots and There hasn't been any injuries on the blue line with the Flames or the Wranglers which means there are 16 Dmen for 12 playing roster spots.
I would be more worried about him over-reacting to Zary's injury and overpaying for a 23-25 YO right shot center who either is a bust or needs to change of scenery to reach their middle 6 potential.

 

[Figgy44]

I don't think he has specifically said he has a preference. What is important is that he is very competent regardless of what side he plays and that versatility makes him valuable as a mentor figure moving forward. We can literally slot any top D prospect with him and he will fit like a glove as a partner

Move to right side seems to be bringing the best out of Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar.

“I don’t know why I’m more physical on the right side, it’s just always been a thing,” Weegar explained.

“I think going on the right side has helped me a little bit,” said Weegar, who had four goals and 16 assists in 38 games this season entering Saturday night’s contest against the Nashville Predators at the Saddledome. “I’m fortunate to be able to play on the right side, too. It kind of gives me a little confidence going back and forth sometimes. You change it up, you adapt a little bit more, you can see the game a bit differently. It’s worked out well; I like playing on the right side.”​

Weegar has typically played LD even though he's a RHS. He's played little RD until he came to Calgary (often paired with Ekblad in Florida IIRC). Couldn't find a quote but he indeed has commented he feels most comfortable playing on the left side, but he's definitely quite capable on both sides. It wasn't that he was always shoehorned into playing LD.

It does seem like he's recently embraced playing both sides to change things up though.

 

[Mobiandi]

If Zary is out for a while, the decision is made for us