Flames Rumors: Calgary Ready To Make Some Moves

Craig Conroy and the Calgary Flames seem poised for some moves as the offseason winds down, leveraging nearly $20 million in available cap space. 

According to Wes Gilbertson and Daniel Austin of the Calgary Sun, Conroy has made it clear that the Flames are ready to help cap-strapped teams by absorbing contracts, but only if these deals include valuable sweeteners like draft picks or prospects. 

Conroy’s patient approach, evident in his handling of trade talks involving Jacob Markstrom and his cautious free agency signings of Jake Bean, Ryan Lomberg, and Anthony Mantha, have positioned the Flames to capitalize on late-offseason opportunities.

How about your first #StanleyCup Playoffs goal standing as the game winner?! 👏

Steven Lorentz comes up big. pic.twitter.com/04gOgn1zuV

— NHL (@NHL) April 26, 2024

As the Flames gear up for the upcoming season, Conroy remains committed to providing opportunities for the team’s young talent. This patient strategy suggests that Conroy is in no rush to make a move unless the right deal presents itself, allowing the Flames to maintain flexibility while fostering the development of their prospects. 

Both Gilbertson and Austin suggest that this approach could pay off even more as the season progresses, with the Flames in a strong position to acquire valuable assets from teams looking to alleviate cap pressure.

FILIP 👏 ZADINA 👏

FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON ✔️
FIRST GOAL AS A SHARK ✔️ pic.twitter.com/IuzjnPtWyv

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) October 13, 2023

Despite the focus on youth, the Flames are also considering adding experienced depth through bargain contracts or professional tryouts, with names like Steven Lorentz, Kailer Yamamoto, and Filip Zadina being floated as potential options.

Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports