[Royle9]

Craig Talk recap:

Players are smart these days, they have a whole "team" involved with their training and development before getting to the NHL.

Coronato negotiation - His camp was really open to signing long term. Likes city, likes being part of this team. Great for an American kid to want to be apart of this and commit to something we're doing. Never felt like both sides wanted to not get this done.

Lombergs wife went on a podcast and said GREAT things about Calgary. Excited to see guys stay here over the summer and get better. Mentioned Lomberg, Bahl, Backs as guys still here.

Draft

• Craig bringing EVERYONE in to one room to talk, no need to talk amongst certain people like you would a draft table. Can speak freely amongst themselves.
• Analytics can freely investigate trade scenarios move up, move down more picks etc.
• Drawback is making a lot of calls right now on moving up/down and what that appetite is.
• Nice at the draft to be able to go over to another table and chit chat with other GM's. Definitely easier.
• Very packed at the table though, and always have to keep your lists not visible etc.
• Craig thinks there's very good players in this draft depending on what your looking for.
• Feels like this is a "10 draft" meaning after 10 its pretty wide open and every team has their own read. Mentions most drafts that can go on until 20/25 usually.
• Craig not sure even #1 is locked in, says they know who THEY would take but doesn't know for certain how the Isles will go. Mentions Darche not seeing his team and how it all fits just yet being new. Looking forward to it

Any chance Calgary is viewing position over best player?
Only if they saw a player as absolute ELITE and to good to pass up. Have to have strength in their conviction when drafting, he just believes in their list and that's what they use.

• Doesnt know how it will play out at 18, but excited about it
• How aggressive is the move up option?
• Craig does think its there, but its going to be there the day of the draft and you have to see how it unfolds. Most GM's said if they have a guy there and hes gone they will move. Mostly teams who dont have a lot of picks.
• Craig would LOVE to move up. Mentions 2 years ago (Nashville) NOBODY wanted to move their picks at all, they tried.
• Last year a few moves but not a ton.
• VERY Hard to get into the top 5, almost impossible.
• Craig was watching those lottery balls, mentions how they were praying for the #9 ball to fall and let them move up to 6. "would have been amazing"
• Does think that there will be opportunities to move up after the first few picks go.

Big Picture Overview

• Rasmus Future in Calgary: One path is keeping the veteran and the other is moving for younger assets.
• Craig says end of season Andersson wanted a mental break, no talk.
• Dialogue has started, they have term and number he likes and Andersson's camp has what they like.
• It will determine what path Calgary will go down long term.
• Craig loves the player/guy but mentions its a business.
• "We'll see where we're at"
• Would love to have it done before draft.
• Acknowledged Rasmus is very honest and is committed to this team has he's here next year, mentions he's very open and honest about what both sides want to do. No deadlines, Rasmus just focused on the season at hand and will play it wherever he ends up.
• Craig agrees this is Rasmus's one and maybe only cut at free agency, one chance to feel the market.
• Is Craig accepting calls on Rasmus? Having conversations about the scenario where he doesn't come back?
• Yes that's part of the job, but have to do it with every player as you never know what's out there. Wont single out Rasmus, but says its mostly just draft chatter right now and discussing what every team needs/wants. Building out who might have interest in some of their players based on their team needs.
• Delicate balance, went through it with Hanifin.
• Craig has a great relationship with Rasmus, mentions the "stare" and the rivalry with Tom Wilson. They love to joke around.
• With that said the money goes quick and there's young guys coming up that will need it so you have to really keep an eye on it.

Will the Rasmus Andersson situation change the course of the team long term? Rebuild vs Going for it?

• Doesn't think so, everyone was pissed off they got 96 and didnt get in.
• Each guy took responsibility and said if they were just a bit better they would be in.
• Loves the group, Coronato signing long term shows that.
• Other guys to get done here.
• Goal is to always continue to get better, and that means putting in young players with support from the veterans and "hopefully" get into the playoffs and get the young guys experience.
• Really liked Gridin in the playoffs, also mentioned Battaglia and Basha.
• When a star player gets to UFA you have to make a pitch, you have to get better.
• Believes firmly in getting better through the draft or trade, rarely see it in UFA
• Thinks the hockey minds will put Calgary back in the bottom next year but doesnt believe in it.
• Have to keep building, have to show the young guys your going to compete every night.
• Mentions he doesn't want to rush Parekh but he's a special player with a special skillset
• Tough to see Parekh go back and play in JR again.
• Mentions he needs to get stronger, took 2 big hits in the 1 game (not that he got hurt) but ensure he can take it over 82 games
• Need to dial in and make a good pick at 18
• Dallas made some very good picks later in the draft
• Would have been a homerun if they made it to the 6th pick
• Wishes Zary wasn't hurt, Wolf playing all the games down the stretch was great.
• Huberdeau might be their best PK guy, loved him there.

CALDER/WOLF

• Just talked to his agents, both sides want a long term deal
• Loves it here, loves the faith they had in him
• Wolf is here all summer, doesn't go home
• For a goalie he's in great shape, acknowledges he has things to work on at the end of the season
• Mentions there was things Wolf said he wasnt happy with in himself and all the technical goalie stuff he needs to work on
• Wants to get better, learn, and mentions his routine is very strict and focused
• Wolf said he can play more games, as many as Craig wants
• Best guess on backup?
• Work in progress, lots locked up but they have some work to do there.
• Is it money the tandem makes? or person?
• Wolf will be the #1 and get more games
• Working with Jordan to determine who the best person is for Wolf
• Mentions both Wolf and Vladar wanted the starting job at the start of last season, weren't working together as well but that changed about half way through

Head Coach/Contract

• 1 year left of Huska, normally we see extensions by now
• Getting Huska a new deal is a priority, the team needs continuity
• Huska and Craig will build this together moving forward
• Timing is not a priority, not a lame duck scenario
• When there's time they will get a new deal done

Sam Bennett

• One thing they learned was they drafted him as a center but never put him in that position to succeed.
• The one coach that believed in Sam the most was Bob Hartley
• Coaching change was not good, cant afford to do that
• Best player in the playoffs even for Calgary
• Always want a do-over but the Flames didn't figure out what he was fast enough
• Highest pick Calgary ever had, agrees Bennett didn't give them a lot but blames Calgary/himself and the decisions the team made as the downfall
• Learned a lot from these mistakes.

July 1st - UFA

• Jokes Mantha was the big sign lastyear, only played 9 games
• Lots of space, thinks there's players that they could target and have to take a run at and see if they would bite to come to Calgary but it has to make sense long term.
• Player would have to be a difference maker for Calgary long term
• Last year was more focused on bringing in a vet to help with the young guys
• Doesn't want to block a younger guy with just an average pickup
• "Have to try" when asked about BIG GAME HUNTING in UFA
• Mentions Kadri as a guy who they hunted as a big UFA but they got him and it was a guy they really wanted (Tanev, Coleman, Marky also named)
• Have to be aggressive in Calgary - New building will help
• But to get a body just to get a body doesn't make sense

Frost/Farabee

• Fit in great with the group
• Would like more from them offensively
• Need to get both guys back to .5 PPG/20goals
• Frost very good at faceoffs and bringing the puck into the zone on the PP
• Need them to take a big step this year
• Klapka coming back next year will be great for the team

Young Guys/Hunger to get them into the NHL

• Lots of opportunity to put then in the AHL next year
• No rush, don't want them in over their heads
• They need to have success at whatever level they are playing
• Mentions Ferland and his journey, going to ECHL and then back to Brandon
• Takes time for these kids and need to see whos ready
• Honzek has missed a lot of games to injury
• Had a great camp, injury really put him in a bad place last year
• Has to get bigger/stronger - but he's very fast
• His windgate test may be the best there's ever been at a Combine
• Needs to play, hopefully injuries are out of his way.
• Sharongovich - Good at the end of the year, but overall down year
• Huge piece for this team, shot/scoring but hes very hard on himself
• Should have let him get healthy a bit longer but he wanted to come back early as he though he was ready
• Mental game for Sharky, needs to have a good camp because Flames are going to need him
• 1 more shootout win, 1 more goal and they're in the players
• The west is a "beast" and the teams are very good here
• Lots of work ahead of them, great leadership, great young guys and really looking forward to the draft.