Craig Conroy is part of the Calgary Flames solution

While teams like the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks are ready to sell their veterans, the Flames are in absolutely no rush to do anything. However, I do not believe that this is fully on Conroy.

Based on Maloney’s comments, it’s the ownership calling the shots. I’m not entirely sure the Pope would be able to do much else with Murray Edwards owning the team.

Success at the draft

While there is a somewhat dark cloud hanging over his trade history, the NHL draft is where he shines. 

Conroy has gone two for two in his drafts. He’s landed Zayne Parekh, Cole Reschney, and Luke Misa. There are still a ways to go in their development, but there really haven’t been any swings and misses just yet. 

Experts have praised the recent drafts. It’s a 180 from where they had been. The drafting can go as well as you want, but what matters now is developing the prospects and allowing them to reach their full potential by consistent playing time at the NHL level.

What’s in the cards?

All of this to say, Conroy is the guy you want. Conroy came in and took charge of a situation that was not going to be solved overnight. When looking at the first three years of Conroy’s tenure, you should look at it as that. It was like taking a mop to Niagara Falls. Even if he had full control, there was no shot he was going to fully rebuild a team and give fans a true Stanley Cup-contending team by the end of his first contract. It’s unlikely that it will happen over the next two years.

The “we don’t want to be Buffalo” mentality is only going to get you so far. You’re already trending in that direction. This Flames team has not made the playoffs in three seasons and is more than likely extending that this season. You’re getting a brand new taxpayer-funded arena in less than two years. The least the organisation could do is work to put a watchable product on ice.

Can Conroy redirect the ship?

Quite frankly, I have a hard time believing this team needs much help “bottoming out.” They’re last in the league. Dustin Wolf is struggling. Generating offence may be more difficult than brain surgery. The Flames are aiming for a top-five pick, whether ownership likes it or not.

Trades need to happen in order to make room for this up-and-coming generation of Flames. If the team is bad enough, you might get lucky enough where Nazem Kadri comes knocking on your door asking for a trade. There’s no reason Conroy shouldn’t be taking calls on any and all players. You don’t have to entertain, but you need to have something to bring to the table, whether you’re presenting it to ownership or another team to call their bluff.

Bringing in a new voice at this current moment would disrupt whatever progress Conroy had made. A revolving door of coaches and general managers may cause more harm than good. If you have to move on from anyone in these situations, I think a coach might be the “better” option. The San Jose Sharks have had an aggressive rebuild with one general manager. They’re finally clawing their way back into things.

If there were a slogan for this season, it’d be “too many chefs in the kitchen.” That could apply to the forward group or too many decision-makers at the higher level. Conroy should be the one leading the charge through this transitional period.

Now that he has some job security and the Flames hate firing people, they’ll have to pay; maybe Conroy will be slightly more aggressive heading to the trade deadline.