LAS VEGAS — Craig Conroy had a number of pending free agents on his mind leading up to his first NHL Draft as Calgary Flames GM at this time last year in Nashville. Conroy also completed his first trade at that draft, flipping Tyler Toffoli for Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick that turned into prospect Aydar Suniev. The first move of many in what has been an eventful retool, with more restructuring to come.
There is more focus on Conroy’s draft this year in Las Vegas as the Flames have nine picks, including eight in the first four rounds. But no pick has been under the microscope more than the Flames’ choice at No. 9. Many fans hope it’ll be Tij Iginla, the son of Flames’ legend Jarome who works as a special adviser to Conroy.
While the elder Iginla has previously removed himself from meetings where the front office discusses his son, Jarome stayed in the room during draft-week meetings on Wednesday when Tij was mentioned.
“He was comfortable with it,” Conroy said. “He just said just do whatever you (to do), say whatever you say just like I wasn’t here.”
The Flames are well aware of the implications that come with picking Tij and the expectations that will come with it. Conroy seems confident that the young Iginla could take on whatever attention comes his way.
“I mean, he’s like his dad. He’s got the same mannerisms,” Conroy said. “I think with the pressure, there’s going to be pressure everywhere, though. In the end, it’s the NHL. I saw it with Matthew Tkachuk here and (his brother) Brady. There’s always going to be pressure especially when your dad played in the NHL, maybe even more, no matter where you go to. I do think he can handle that pressure. He’s going to handle that pressure wherever he goes.”
Of course, the Flames will have to be ready for the barrage of questions to come should they pass on him in the draft.
Conroy already has his answer prepared.
“You can be mad at (Flames director of amateur scouting) Tod Button,” Conroy said in jest, prompting laughter from the media horde in attendance. “That’s my easy answer.”
Here’s what we’re hearing about what the Flames could be up to over the next few days.
If the Flames don’t draft Iginla at No. 9, who could they take?
While we know Iginla is a possibility for the Flames, there are a handful of players who could end up being the best player available. Players like Berkly Catton and Konsta Helenius, both centres, come to mind as they would help bolster the team at that position. But it doesn’t just have to be a centre. It also doesn’t have to be a forward. Corey Pronman’s recent mock draft had the Flames taking defenceman Sam Dickinson at nine, leaving Iginla to be taken 10th by the New Jersey Devils, as an example.
Much of the Flames’ decision-making will have to do with how the draft order shakes out on Friday. As Button told The Athletic in May, the Flames are seeking the best player available at nine. Conroy affirmed that on Thursday.
“Some other teams, it might be positional need,” Conroy said. “But I do think for us, it is best player.
“Whoever’s the best player at that time, we need to take him.”
Could the Flames trade up? Or use draft capital for a young player?
While Conroy wants to keep as many picks as he can to restock the prospect pipeline, don’t rule out the possibility of him moving those picks to either move up in the draft or use them for a young player.
The good news for Conroy is, unlike last year’s draft, some teams have already moved up in the first round. San Jose acquired pick No. 11 from Buffalo for pick No. 14 and No. 42. Chicago acquired the 18th and 50th draft choices from the New York Islanders for picks 20, 54 and 61.
“That’s the big difference from last year,” Conroy said. “There was no movement talk. You’d call, ‘Nope, we’re going to stand pat.’
“It’s interesting. Usually, it happens the day of the draft, where you see what’s coming as the picks go and then you make the move. But they’ve already made two. So it’ll be interesting to see how it is tomorrow. But I do think you’ll see more movement.”
The Flames have picks Nos. 9 and 28, the latter of which Conroy is interested in moving.
“I think there may be more opportunity maybe to move up on that pick if we really liked someone with the extra picks we have,” Conroy said. “But we do have a group of guys we really like there, too. We might have to move up to get one of them. But like I said, we’ll see how the draft’s kind of unfolding and if there’s an opportunity to move to do that at 28.
As for trading any of their picks for a young player (perhaps in the 18-23 age range as Conroy mentioned at season’s end), it hasn’t been as easy. Conroy is open to moving their late first- or second-round pick that could get them such a player if someone would bite.
“That doesn’t seem like it’s a real possibility,” Conroy said.
But if someone does, Conroy could always “circle back.”
Oliver Kylington, who is a UFA, returned to the Flames in January after a season and a half away from the team. (Sergei Belski / USA Today)
What about Kylington and the Flames’ free-agent plans?
Once the draft ends, the Flames will turn their attention to free agency. Don’t expect them to make a big splash, at least with long-term deals. The goal is for those players to be stopgaps so they can give their younger players more time to develop.
“Looking for high-quality individuals, maybe on shorter deals that can come in and give us that help,” Conroy said.
Two positions where you can expect Conroy to address are defence and goalie.
Let’s start with defence where even if Oliver Kylington returns and with Kevin Bahl now part of the team, the Flames could use more reinforcements. Specifically on the right side. Conroy said that the team is “definitely looking” to add at that position. A handful of free agents who could be of interest to Calgary include Tyson Barrie, who was previously linked to the Flames. But the list of pending free-agent defencemen is long with names like Matt Dumba and Shayne Gostisbehere among those who’d make sense to sign to shorter-term deals.
As for goaltending? The hope is that the team can add a goalie who can compete in camp with Dan Vladar, who’s coming off hip surgery, and 23-year-old Dustin Wolf.
“Nothing’s given in the NHL, you want to make people compete and earn jobs,” Conroy said. “I think that would be the mindset, I don’t think you’d get a guy for four or five years.”
Finally, it remains status quo on Kylington. The pending UFA defenceman was the Flames’ Masterton Trophy nominee after returning in January from personal family issues that led him to miss a year and a half of play.
“We’ve talked to his representation and we’re working through and it’s never as easy and as quick as you’d like,” Conroy said.
Kylington’s agent J.P. Barry echoed that when we reached out to him earlier this week.
“We are discussing an appropriate contract; both sides trying to find the right terms to stay,” Barry said.
(Top photo of Tij Iginla: Ian Maule / NHLI via Getty Images)
