Thread: [GDT] Locker Clean Out Day!
View Single Post
Old 04-19-2024, 12:43 PM   #68
Royle9
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Exp:
Default

For those who couldn't listen:
  • Huska reiterates the PP was poor for most of the season and credits Kuzmenko for having helped give them the swagger that they could be a great PP.
  • Huska says Penalty kill suffered after Tanev and Hannifin departures, take away your top 2 and the personnel change obviously hurt. - No surprise
  • Commends leadership group, they're the ones who help set the standard. Says the goal is to continue to compete and not look at it as a rebuild (go figure)
  • Take the start out of the equation and if they kept their standard of play going into the deadline they would be in a different position. Players will help continue to push for playoffs.
  • Huska commends Pospisil for helping flip the script on the season, laughs and says his "rat" style and pace is what helped them a lot. Hopes the worlds can help him progress, but he's proud of how far he's come.
  • Said that next season will be much harder for both Pospisil and Zary as next year they'll have higher expectation and so they need to understand and embrace that but not without commending both for fantastic seasons.
  • Both Zary and Pospisil coming up and sticking was great for the franchise, thinks it helped set a tone for the Wranglers in that the hard work can lead to opportunity which justifies what Craig said at the start of the year.
  • Confirms Zary is not a 4th line player, says he needs to be in a position to succeed.
  • Huska says Coronato has the ability to jump up and down the lineup, where as with Zary he's a more refined/skilled player and needs to use his creativeness to succeed. Coronato can play a checking role too.
  • Said that Zary needs to work on playing at center but they need to see if he can play there long term or if he's better on the wing. Good news is that he can play both for them.
  • Coaches will all evaluate a team during playoffs to help identify area's of weakness or improvement and they'll reconvene at development camp to discuss.
  • Says that offence is generated by 5 guys on the ice and not just defence or forwards and that its on both to help identify it. Doesn't see any issue with the Flames defenceman generating a large majority of if it this year.

    Conroy
  • Disappointed they didn't make it, but confirmed there was a different tone and mood this year which is promising. Lots of optimistic conversations with the end of season interviews with him.
  • Conversation with Markstrom wasn't something he was happy with either in terms of hearing their name out there. Marky explained where he's at and he's explained where Calgary is at and the agent is aware. Tight lipped so I feel like Markstrom is gone at the draft.
  • Wont comment on whether he envisions Markstrom on the Flames next year when asked by everyone's favorite Salem the Snake.
  • Wont comment on 3 goalies going into training camp, but as of today they have 3 goalies but he'll address it moving forward.
  • Exit meetings confirmed guys want to be here and want to win here, there's no negativity around the city or the rink etc. Mentions the last few games when they were out of the mix the guys were still having fun and wanting to hit milestones for each other. There's work to do.
  • Tone is good with the room, guys are mad they didn't make it and that's the goal long term (win a cup). Nobody is going to feel sorry for them, the work is on the players and the staff/group to make it happen.
  • Asked if bottoming out is the way to rebuild, but Conroy references Dallas as a team to look at between drafting well and bringing in good people. Doesn't see having to go to the very bottom long term.
  • His philosophy is seeing the young guys this year in Wolf, Zary, Pospisil and Coronato taking a big step next year. Coupled with the unknowns of UFA's and drafts as other guys coming up next year and seeing who rises coming into next year.
  • Would love to get guys 18-22 to come in and win now, but those guys are hard to pry out of other teams. Says MTL and some other teams have done it and its not easy but its something to definitely look at.
  • Flames looking at everything in terms of the picks they have, cant say they'll use them all or trade them for "now" assets.
  • Uncertainty going into the meetings today in terms of where the guys stood on a rebuild/retool and long term in Calgary. Most guys enjoy the city and the team and want to win here in Calgary.
  • Confirms they lost good players, gave new guys longer looks and brought in new players and they want to continue to build on that moving forward. Need to continue to grow with a mix of the young guys and the veterans.
  • Confirms its tough in the west, lots of young skilled teams and acknowledges it takes time. Need to come compete next year.
  • It's on the players to determine how fast the retool/rebuild takes as its on them in terms of play and wanting to win. Mentions the slow start the year not helping but it doesn't change the fact they had to move the guys they did out of necessity.
  • Guys are locked in under contract, so its time to move on and move forward
  • Acknowledges CAP space as a "weapon" and its always good to have because teams are going to have to move people out when they compete. Mentions 7 year contracts are necessarily the way to go long term. Flames have a few holes they need to add but term and contract needs to make sense.
  • Flames have the veterans presence now and the goal is to turn the page over as quick as possible.
  • Re-tool vs Re-build - Rebuild is tearing it all to the ground, not spending money and you want to lose for the high pick. Sometimes can/want to do it but in a Canadian market with the players/core they have it doesn't make sense for them - Compares Dallas model again in terms of win now mode after a short period of time.
  • Jonathan has to get back to playing offensively, the expectation is the points he put up after Christmas. Would be nice to take the pressure off him but when he's the highest paid player he needs to produce. He's doing what's being asked but the numbers just aren't there. Want's to find him a player he can have chemistry with long term and will address that this summer.
  • Feels bad for Pelletier, would love to have seen him down the stretch but he needs to play more and have a good playoff run with the Wranglers. Jacobs speed is his biggest asset but knows its a disappointing season for Jacob. He's part of the plans moving forward.
  • Asked about Pospisl's success having been far down the prospect depth chart. Says he couldn't catch a break for 2-3 years with injuries, but plays the same way every night all night long and that's what they love. Only going to get better and has another level in terms of skill.
  • Acknowledges you have to give these kids a chance to show what they can prove. Zary/Pelletier last year and Pospisil all part of this.
  • Scouts are happy with all the picks Craig has acquired for them, but the team needs to dial in and make sure everything background wise is ready to go. From 1st pick to last pick they're all important long term.
  • Mentions lots to do before September, lots of conversations to have with other teams and scouts need to be ready to pivot.
  • Excited to pick at 9 because its going to be interesting, first 3-4 will give them an idea how things will go but the Flames list is not set in stone. Meetings coming up soon as now they know fore sure where they're picking (not really, we're winning the lottery!)
  • Asked about AJ Greer being back he says he's happy with what he brought and they'll be talking but the team needs to meet and see where they stand long term.
  • Wont comment on any long term/bigger injuries but more people will be seeing the doctors. Nothing jumps out as of right now.
  • Happy with Kylington, mentions he wants to continue to play hockey and thats a great sign for Calgary and from where he came from. Will be talking to his agent JP.
  • Whirlwind start for his tenure as GM with UFA's and players leaving. Will be leaving for Finland here shortly.
  • Asked about Tij Iginla coming up this year, how involved is Jarome? Says they don't talk specifically about Tij but they have great talks about ALL the kids in general as he knows this age group/bracket really well. Wealth of knowledge.
  • Craig asked if Tij is on their draft list and he says they'll put everyone on the list who should be - awkward question/answer.
  • Says its going to be hard work and the players know its going to be hard to re-tool this team as they struggled along the way with consistency. References winning 4-5 but then losing 4-5 and need to win the close games. Frustrated with winning against the stronger teams but losing to the teams lower in the standings.
  • Kadri had an amazing year, whoever they put with him played better. He's helped the young guys tremendously, really turned those 2 guys (Zary and Pospisil) into NHL players. Cant say enough about the year he had, most consistent forward all year.
  • Would Conroy extend Kuzmenko/Sharangovich? Not going to rush anything right now but they'll review it. They have a plan and they just need to execute it.
  • Confirms all coaches should be back next year, doesn't see anything wrong as it was a learning curve for all of them. They need time, mentions the powerplay wasn't what they wanted it to be early on, but says Mark was trying and always thinking. Very high on Huska in terms of work ethic and compete.
  • Probably not as open next year for young guys as they have a lot under contract now, but wont say its not possible. Guys need to come to camp and work hard and show they want it.

Sorry, its lengthy but I didn't want to miss anything
As you can see Conroy loves to talk haha.

Last edited by Royle9; 04-19-2024 at 02:32 PM.
Royle9 is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 97 Users Say Thank You to Royle9 For This Useful Post:
3thirty, 442scotty, aaronkarlpatton, Abstract, apiquard, archer, AustinL_NHL, automaton 3, bc-chris, bdubbs, BeltlineFan, Buff, burn_this_city, calgaryboy, Captain Hair, Captain Otto, CaptainYooh, Cheese, CliffFletcher, Cole436, D as in David, davidus_49, Demaeon, devel, DigitalCarpenter, Dion, drewtastic, DropIt, DT77, dustygoon, Erick Estrada, FBI, FireGilbert, Flambé, flambers, FlamesAreOne, flamesgod, gallione11, Gondi Stylez, GreenHardHat, Groot, gvitaly, handgroen, Hockey_Ninja, Hoop27, IamNotKenKing, Igottago, iloveicedhockey, jaikorven, Jethro Choicebro, jg13, Joborule, joejoe3, JT45, KevinKlineReadingABook, KipperRules, KootenayFlamesFan, Lanny'sDaMan, Lewis_D, mac_82, Madman, Manhattanboy, Mass_nerder, Mazrim, Mightyfire89, mile, MrButtons, Mustache, My2Cents, Number 39, oxygen, Party Elephant, Pellanor, Press Level, Raymones, Reggie Dunlop, Reign of Fire, Rickbo, robertsfanatic, rogermexico, Save Us Sutter, Savvy27, serratedmuffin, shogged, SnipeShow, SuperMatt18, TaranakiFlame, The Hendog, Thunderball, Titan2, Tkachukwagon, tkflames, Toonage, UKflames, underGRADFlame, Yeah_Baby, Zevo