Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
I’d be astonished if Conroy could propose a strategy of gutting the roster, with a high likelihood of finishing bottom-5 in the league for the next 3 seasons, and Maloney and Edwards would just say “sure Craig, if you think that’s best.”
Ownership needs buy-in for those major strategic decisions, with the Flames and virtually every other team in the NHL. There have been many credible sources over the course of many years saying Edwards makes the call at that level. And that he takes a hand in major hockey decisions like signing Gaudreau, dealing Markstrom*, and the possibility of moving Kadri.
* Multiple sources reported Conroy and Fitzgerald thought they had a deal for Markstrom before someone else in the Flames organization (presumably Edwards or Maloney) nixed it.
There’s disagreement on this forum on whether Conroy is in charge, or whether this team’s direction and culture ultimately come down from Edwards (and his proxy Maloney). For those of us who believe the latter, the individual who sits in the GM’s chair isn’t the most important factor in the team’s outlook.
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Believe whatever you want to believe.
I'm not sure that the team wants to get to a bottom five pick. Have no idea.
I do know they've moved many veterans, including three players before they played a game in a season, sat on $20M in cap space for two straight years, and didn't spend any draft capital to improve a team in the playoffs at last year's deadline.
I'll choose to go with what's happening and not what I fear will never happen.