It’s been another disappointing season for the Flames, who sit 12th in the Western Conference with a .500 record and are down to a 19% chance of making the playoffs, per Hockey Reference. Early-season optimism around extending their many pending unrestricted free agents has now turned into trade discussions for most, already moving fan-favorite blueliner Nikita Zadorov out the door to the Canucks earlier this season.
The team has an extremely well-rounded offense with 11 players scoring over 20 points thus far, but they haven’t received top-end production from the higher-ups in their lineup. Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri currently hold a tie for the team lead in points with 32, and their 30th-ranked power play certainly isn’t helping them in the goal-scoring department. They’ve slipped significantly in terms of limiting quality scoring chances against under first-year head coach Ryan Huska, too, leading to an uncharacteristically low 23rd-place defense despite a bounce-back year from starter Jacob Markström.
On track to miss the postseason for the second straight season in the post-Johnny Gaudreau/Matthew Tkachuk era, it’s no surprise multiple Flames have found themselves in trade rumors regardless of their contract status. GM Craig Conroy commented on what’s unfolded thus far and what we can expect to see from the Flames in the coming months in an interview with The Athletic’s Eric Duhatschek published this morning. Asked about whether the Flames would go full scorched-earth at the trade deadline and ship out multiple high-caliber names without immediate replacements, the first-year manager expressed hesitancy.
“There is a balance between short- and long-term,” said Conroy. “You don’t know what you’re going to get for certain assets that you have — or what’s to come. Or maybe somebody here wants to re-sign with you. All those things are still out there… You want to get your young guys in, but you want to put them in an environment with some veteran guys that can show them how the NHL works. Because there’s going to be ups and downs with the (Connor) Zarys, the (Martin) Pospisils and the Dustin Wolfs.”
Reading between the lines, it’s clear Conroy isn’t chomping at the bit to give the keys to the team’s rookies just yet. Zary, namely, has had quite an impressive stint since being recalled from the AHL early in the season, posting nine goals and 21 points in 31 games while assuming top-six minutes and tying for fourth on the team in goals. But this is the 22-year-old’s first run in the NHL, and it’s been an injury-plagued and inconsistent development path for the 2020 24th overall pick. Conroy reiterated his desire to not let major assets walk for nothing, and players like top-line center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin will still likely find new homes by March 8, but his approach for the future allows the Flames to take money back in those deals in the form of serviceable veterans.
However, what Conroy’s retool plan means for Wolf is less clear. A couple of teams have called about Markström, per a report last night from The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, but the Flames haven’t been shopping him. The 33-year-old has two seasons remaining after this with a $6MM cap hit and a no-movement clause, meaning whether a deal comes to fruition is entirely out of Conroy’s control. Despite his menial 11-11-2 record, Markström’s advanced numbers are squarely back in the above-average territory this season with a .908 SV% and 10.3 goals saved above expected, per MoneyPuck. It’s not the form he displayed en route to his second-place Vezina Trophy finish in 2021-22, but his GSAx figure ranks ninth in the NHL at the time of writing. If the Flames still have the intention to try and return to the playoffs in the next few seasons with some personnel changes, it doesn’t make much sense to trade away a cost-effective top-ten goalie.
Wolf’s .930 SV% and four shutouts in 21 games with AHL Calgary this season speaks for itself, though, even if his short time in the NHL this year (five games played, 1-2-1 record, .893 SV%) wasn’t all that promising. He’s still just 22 years old and deserves a spot on the roster sooner rather than later. It would surprise no one to see Conroy aggressively step up efforts to move backup netminder Daniel Vladar, who’s been one of the worst in the league this season with a .883 SV% but an inexplicably higher points percentage than Markström with a 6-5-2 record in 13 appearances.
There’s plenty of time yet for the Flames, though, who have just under two months until the deadline. If they do intend on being active players, which seems like an accurate assessment by all accounts, Conroy needs the runway to form what will likely be multiple financially complex deals.
He must be bluffing to gain the upperhand; if Conroy doesn’t move at least 2 of Lindholm, Markstrom, Tanev or Hanifin then he’s missing the plot. The rebuild improvements for the Kings & Rangers were jumpstarted by garnering assets for FA-to-be vets, & the Flmes prospect pool is nothing to write home about (Coronado the best & only guarantee down on the farm)
Hannafin, Tanev (1/2 salary) for Walman, Holl, 2025 1st and 2024 2nd
Lol
Maloney has already stated that nothing will happen till after the All-Star break. He also stated that Conroy is still getting used to talking to other GM’s and that takes time. Read into that what you will.
He will make all appropriate moves for each UFA accordingly, but more established players may have to wait till off-season. His last 2 trades are turning out ok, but this will define him moving forward. I want to see a windfall of course, but we’ll see Conroy’s true mettle now.
Don’t hate on me, but the few times that I’ve heard Conroy talk, he sounds more like the kind of guy I want to be my next door neighbor rather than running a sports franchise. He seems like too nice of a guy to be a GM, that comment about Conroy having to get used to talking to other GMs seems to dovetail into that.
That’s exactly the take I have on Conroy. He may be just too nice. I think he would feel bad for fleecing another GM.
The Flames are a playoff team on paper, When I watch them they play well but then there are short periods where they will take a couple of bad penalties at the most inopportune time. It’s maddening sometimes.
Markstrom needs to go. He’s not worth 6 million for 2 more years. Time to give Wolf the net. Of the UFAs the only one I would try to sign is Hanafin.
Marky has proven that he is a top 10 goalie in the league. The stats prove that. This day and age (especially this season), that is a huge commodity that a lot of good teams don’t have. He is worth 6 mil for 2 more years…to the right team. Maybe NJ. Maybe Toronto. Maybe Edmonton. Maybe…….
He will wave his NMC for the right team to chase a cup. That would be a good trade if done right.
Hanifin, Lindholm, Tanev, Greer, maybe even Mangi, Backlund, or Coleman? Conroy could absolutely load up (at least 3 more 1st rounders?) for the next couple of drafts, and some good young pieces as well. Do the Flames have the guts to do that?
The problem with the Flames is they are always middle of the pack. They got lucky with drafting Gaudreau and Chucky, which both became stars. Then the ex GM bumbled all that. They will have a new home built in 3-4 years, so they need to blow it up now and build the next wave. This is one of the most exciting “Flames Fan” times in history, but it is also one of the scariest.