Snapshots: Castonguay, Flames GM Search, Canucks Free Agent Needs

In the latest edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet gives an update on a vacant general manager search. He had previously speculated that the Philadelphia Flyers GM search included discussing the possibility of speaking with Emilie Castonguay, who is the assistant general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

Now, it sounds like Castonguay will not be going anywhere. While her name did come up as the Flyers cast a wide net to begin their hunt for a new GM, Castonguay is happy where she is currently and is not looking to move on from the Canucks to replace Chuck Fletcher in Philadelphia. This past season was her first full season with the Canucks after being hired midway through the 2021-22 season.

• Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 discusses the possibilities for the next Calgary Flames general manager and points out one very likely candidate. Steinberg says the team isn’t looking for a veteran retread for the job as they have Don Maloney in place as an experienced executive after naming him the team’s President of Hockey Operations. Steinberg discusses Flames assistant general manager Craig Conroy, the most likely candidate. The 51-year-old has been in the Flames front office since 2010, acting as a special assistant to the GM or the assistant GM.
• Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet breaks down the Vancouver Canucks biggest needs this offseason, pointing to a big hole down the middle. While the team has Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller at center, there is really not an ideal third-line center on the team. He suggests the team will need to address this in free agency, possibly by signing Ivan Barbashev, Pius Suter or Max Domi, none of whom will come cheap. He also discusses the team’s need to move out a pricey winger like Brock Boeser or Conor Garland in order to create the cap space to fill that need down the middle.