Craig Conroy explains Calgary Flames deadline deals: 'We need to be better'
The rebuild is in full effect in Calgary.
The Flames were expected to be one of the NHL’s busiest teams leading into the trade deadline, and GM Craig Conroy didn’t disappoint.
Things got started on Wednesday, when the Flames dealt MacKenzie Weegar to the Utah Mammoth. As it turns out, that was just the beginning.
Conroy wound up making three additional trades on the day of the deadline as he continues to right this franchise in the proper direction.
“The reality is, we’re not good enough right now. We need to be better,” Conroy said. “To have to lose three really great players, it’s not easy, but I think it’s the best thing for the organization moving forward.”
“I was looking for a centre”
The first of the three moves, which all came close to the 1 p.m. MST deadline, saw the Flames send a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for centre Ryan Strome.
“I was looking for a centre, and I’ve heard unbelievable things about Ryan and the type of person he is,” Conroy said. “For whatever reason, it wasn’t working out for him [in Anaheim]. When I called him, he’s pretty excited.”
Strome, the fifth-overall selection in the 2011 NHL Draft, has three goals and nine points on the season. This move was a cap dump for the Ducks, who were struggling to find playing time for the 32-year-old. He has one additional season remaining on his contract with a $5-million cap hit.
“You can’t really replace Kadri with one person”
Acquiring Strome seemed to suggest another move could be on the horizon, and that turned out to be exactly the case.
Just minutes after the Strome deal was announced, it was confirmed that Nazem Kadri had been dealt back to the Colorado Avalanche. The blockbuster sees the Flames acquire forward Victor Olofsson, forward prospect Max Curran, a 2028 conditional first-round pick, and a 2027 conditional second-round pick.
The Flames also sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Avalanche in the swap, while retaining 20 per cent ($1.4 million) of Kadri’s $7-million cap hit. His contract will expire after the 2028-29 season.
“You can’t really replace Kadri with one person,” Conroy said. “Everyone’s going to get to play more minutes, power play, all those situations.”
Though he’s having a down season by his standards, Kadri’s 41 points led all Flames skaters. This move not only helps improve the future of the Flames but also allows Kadri to compete for another Stanley Cup.
“Nazem’s one of those guys that you really like. He was great through the whole process, too. He’s a competitive guy, wants to win… He wants another opportunity, and for him to be able to go back to Colorado, I think it’s kind of a dream come true for him.”
Olofsson is a 30-year-old winger who has 11 goals and 25 points through 60 games. He’s on a one-year deal that carries a $1.575-million cap hit. As for Curran, a fifth-round pick in 2024, he has 14 goals and 41 points in 31 games for the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings and has yet to sign an entry-level contract.
Flames add former first-round pick
The final trade of the day saw the Flames deal forward prospect Jacob Battaglia to the New York Rangers in exchange for 23-year-old winger Brennan Othmann.
Othmann was selected 16th overall in 2021 and has since logged 42 games at the NHL level, including 17 this season. The Pickering, Ont. native has also suited up for 26 AHL games this season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he has eight goals and 16 points.
“Othmann is a guy that we’ve liked in the past, and with Jacob, we’ve had him, drafted him, haven’t seen him here as a pro,” Conroy explained. “We thought where Othmann is and his age group, a little bit closer to the NHL. He plays with passion, he plays hard. He’s going to have an opportunity to be there a little bit quicker, where Jacob was going to take a bit more time.”
The Flames selected Battaglia with the 62nd overall pick in 2024. The 19-year-old was a promising prospect, but has seen his production drop in what is his fourth OHL season.
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