During the last week, it’s become abundantly clear that the Calgary Flames’ 2023 offseason will throw rookie GM Craig Conroy right into the metaphorical fire.
From the day Conroy was promoted to the job, it was clear things wouldn’t be easy. The Flames missed the playoffs last season and parted ways with both Brad Treliving and Darryl Sutter. To an extent, the team is still absorbing the shockwaves of the earth-shaking departures of Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau.
At this moment, Conroy and the Flames are likely brainstorming what to do after it became clear that one or all of Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Tyler Toffoli and Mikael Backlund are not interested in signing extensions as they enter contract years.