October 23, 2024 | 2:00pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
FLAMES STILL ON THE HUNT FOR TOP-TWO CENTRE
Flames GM Craig Conroy
It is no secret the Calgary Flames want to add up the middle and that is something GM Craig Conroy has been searching for since the 2023-24 campaign.
During “The Latest” segment on TFP earlier Wednesday, David Pagnotta reported the Flames have been on the lookout for a top-two centre since last season and that hunt continues.
“This search, I can tell you, has been going on since last season,” he said. “The Calgary Flames have been combing the market, put out a blanket and say, ‘how can we get our hands on a No.2, possibly No.1 young centre in the 22-25 range who can come up here and that we are willing to give up pieces for.’ He doesn’t want to give up a first-round pick or future assets for a short-term fix in a rental. The Calgary Flames would love to add a piece that is going to be part of a long-term solution.
“It’s not going to deviate from where their plan is. They’re retooling. It’s not a full rebuild. They’re retooling and what’s happened this season, to start anyway is great, but they want to see how things are going to progress before making impact type moves.”
In an interview earlier this week with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, Conroy acknowledged his desire to add at the dot.
“It’s something we’ve been talking about for a long, long time,” Conroy told Sportsnet on Monday.
“When we lost (Elias) Lindholm, a right-hand centre in your top-six, that’s kind of something you’d like to find.”
The Flames have just over $19.27 million in current salary cap space, as per PuckPedia, and own two first-round draft picks in each of the next two drafts, along with two second-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Conroy isn’t interested in giving up a high draft pick or top prospect for a player on an expiring contract, but if someone in his early-20s is on table, he wouldn’t be afraid to pull the trigger.
“But if it was a first-round pick for a guy who would be here long term, we would be open to that,” Conroy admitted.
“If you have them, you don’t really want to give them up. So that’s my job, to look and see if it’s out there.”