[News] Flames presser 12pm MT. Re: Hockey Operations personnel

[Paulie Walnuts]

I don't think his media personality is going to impact the job he does.

He really gave a jolt of energy today.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Nonis seems like a smart guy. His experience as a GM multiple times in some pressure heater markets probably lends him a lot of wisdom.

Probably will be Craig's book of knowledge and sounding board along the way.

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Love they have Nonis as support for Craig, I think they will compliment each other well.

Does that make Nonis Assistant GM?

Nonis’ nameplate said AGM and VP of Hockey Ops

[oldschoolcalgary]

I liked the press conference.... the ideal of thinking about being an integrated team, from management to coaching to players and to staff is really important.

Winning teams, for that most part, have great organizations behind them.

I don't think you need to be a former player, but having a guy like Conroy, who has been everyone as a player, at least gives him some common ground with players and coaches.

Talk about youth and buidling through the draft are things I've always believed in... talking about losing Gaudreau for nothing was definitely good to hear, as it gives me confidence that it won't happen with Lindholm or the other big UFAs.

I love Conroy, so I am certainly hoping for his success. His success means the team's success...crossing my fingers at the draft, as that will be the first big test of his philosophy (i think)

[Jore]

Good press conference. The only thing I didn't really like hearing is the "get in the playoffs and anything can happen" line. Mediocre franchises chase that dream far too often.

However, as long as they commit to building through the draft, giving young players a chance, and managing assets well, they should overshoot the playoff bar. Excited to see what kinds of moves Conroy makes.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Jore

Good press conference. The only thing I didn't really like hearing is the "get in the playoffs and anything can happen" line. Mediocre franchises chase that dream far too often.

However, as long as they commit to building through the draft, giving young players a chance, and managing assets well, they should overshoot the playoff bar. Excited to see what kinds of moves Conroy makes.

Just get in + philosophy of injecting youth consistently + building through the draft

isn't nearly as bad as

Just get in with vets/proven players at all costs

which it appears was the approach last year from what we heard in that press conference

The former is what teams like San Jose prior to their most recent decline were practicing and it kept them competitive for a long time

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I'm happy we got Nonis just based off of what Burke says about him in his book.

What'd he say?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jore

Good press conference. The only thing I didn't really like hearing is the "get in the playoffs and anything can happen" line. Mediocre franchises chase that dream far too often.

Have you been paying attention to the Florida Panthers this playoffs? He isn't wrong.

[JohnnyHockey]

Originally Posted by MacDaddy77

Huberdeau Lindholm Coronato
Mangiapani Kadri Coleman
Pelletier Dube Phillips
XXX Ruzicka Duehr


Hanafin Anderson
Weegar Kylington
Poirier Zadorov
Gilbert (in and out for toughness)

Assuming this is the youth injection still some moves to be made pending drafted players and if anyone can steal a spot out of Junior. Does 16 overall make an impression and force Flames hand with a player like Mang or Dube? Do Flames trade and package #16 to move up and grab an impact player.

Still lots to sort out for a lineup but I wouldn't be opposed to running with this and bring Lucic in as 13th forward @ $1MM and dress him and Gilbert for when we play the heavier teams as this would be a small but pesky lineup.

Although I did say I was glad the Lucic/Lewis/Ritchiex2 years were over.

Jesus, I sure hope Conroy can do better than that or he won't have his job for long. That lineup is cringe worthy.

[RedHawk12]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Have you been paying attention to the Florida Panthers this playoffs? He isn't wrong.

The Florida Panthers are the exception. Plus they haven't won the cup just yet. You always want to play the odds and build a consistent cup contender rather than gamble on the idea that anything can happen once you're in.

Building through the draft and developing players internally is a good way to build a consistent contender.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by RedHawk12

The Florida Panthers are the exception. Plus they haven't won the cup just yet. You always want to play the odds and build a consistent cup contender rather than gamble on the idea that anything can happen once you're in.

Building through the draft and developing players internally is a good way to build a consistent contender.

The Florida Panthers are the exception. The St Louis Blues were the exception. The LA Kings were the exception. On and on. The playoffs are unpredictable, it really is anything can happen if you get in.

[SutterBrother]

I think Ken King would be pretty darn happy today. A Calgary guy through and through, finally gets another Calgary guy into the GM seat. It's nice to know Craig isn't looking to use this as a stepping stone to the "next" job. He wants to do this for the Calgary Flames and this city specifically.

That's a totally different animal than almost all of our recent GM hires.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The Florida Panthers are the exception. The St Louis Blues were the exception. The LA Kings were the exception. On and on. The playoffs are unpredictable, it really is anything can happen if you get in.

These were all situations where the goalies suddenly elevated their play to new heights.

In order to be one of these exceptions, you need a goalie who has the potentially to suddenly be lights out.

[Bleeding Red]

It's amazing how one's fortunes can turn around. I seem to recall that on this board Nonis was not a very smart guy back when he ran the Canucks and became less smart when he ran the TML.

Must be something in the water.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

It's amazing how one's fortunes can turn around. I seem to recall that on this board Nonis was not a very smart guy back when he ran the Canucks and became less smart when he ran the TML.

Must be something in the water.

There's nothing in the water. Name the Flames fans that wanted Nonis hired as GM when it was noted that he interviewed. I don't think there were many if any. I'm not sure why you are making this out like we are celebrating the hiring of Nonis as the position of helping out a first time GM was always going to go to an experienced retread GM. He's got experience running a few Canadian teams and that's going to help but make no mistake this will be Conroy's show.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The Florida Panthers are the exception. The St Louis Blues were the exception. The LA Kings were the exception. On and on. The playoffs are unpredictable, it really is anything can happen if you get in.

Exactly.

Part of the reason hockey is such a fun sport to follow is that the “exception” so often out performs the “rule” or even applies to both.

I think the team closest to being built through the draft and developed internally is probably Dallas and they’re down 3-0. Florida was a top team last year being mostly built through the draft and were knocked in round one. Now almost all of their top players came via trade, they “snuck” in, and are a win away from the finals. Suddenly now they’re the exception, and outperforming the rule.

I like the idea of building through the draft. But yeah, the “exception” seems to outperform the rule regularly enough that I don’t really see how anyone can call these teams exceptions anymore.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The Florida Panthers are the exception. The St Louis Blues were the exception. The LA Kings were the exception. On and on. The playoffs are unpredictable, it really is anything can happen if you get in.

Are they really unpredictable when it comes to winning the cup? I just looked at the list of Stanley Cup winners for the last decade plus and you really have to go to 2006 for a total outlier winner in the Hurricanes and maybe the first Kings cup win. The Blues went on a tear after Berube took over and were the best 2nd half team in the league that season so not really a surprise the went on to win the cup. It really looks to me if the goal is to win a Stanley Cup you need to build an elite team as maybe the Panthers will win the cup this year but it won't be repeatable and I would expect the Avs (Stanley Cup hangover) and Lightning (playoff fatigue) to be back next season.

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

It's amazing how one's fortunes can turn around. I seem to recall that on this board Nonis was not a very smart guy back when he ran the Canucks and became less smart when he ran the TML.

Must be something in the water.

We're bias against the Canucks and Leafs and bias for the Flames. You think you're uncovering some gem there eh?

Nonis as AGM, totally fine. Would've been very disappointed if he was "the" guy.

[Jore]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The Florida Panthers are the exception. The St Louis Blues were the exception. The LA Kings were the exception. On and on. The playoffs are unpredictable, it really is anything can happen if you get in.

Those teams didn't place well going in but undoubtedly have/had talent. The Flames don't currently have any center as good as Barkov/2019 ROR/Kopitar, or any defender as good as Ekblad/Pietrangelo/Doughty so I'm not exactly going to hang my hopes on them gunning for 16th every year as a way to win the cup

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Are they really unpredictable when it comes to winning the cup? I just looked at the list of Stanley Cup winners for the last decade plus and you really have to go to 2006 for a total outlier winner in the Hurricanes and maybe the first Kings cup win. The Blues went on a tear after Berube took over and were the best 2nd half team in the league that season so not really a surprise the went on to win the cup. It really looks to me if the goal is to win a Stanley Cup you need to build an elite team as maybe the Panthers will win the cup this year but it won't be repeatable and I would expect the Avs (Stanley Cup hangover) and Lightning (playoff fatigue) to be back next season.

The fact that the playoffs are so unpredictable is exactly why you want to position your team and core for as many cracks at it as possible. The best team doesn't always win, but there are certainly a lot of familiar teams in the finals every year.