I don't think it's news (or maybe it is to some) that Conroy didn't get all that he wanted in free agency as far as forwards. Mantha was ideal but so was a few others in similar situations, likely including some RH centers, and Conroy was genuinely surprised he didn't get any of them.
So, this was identified early in the summer, and not a product of a good start.
Why do people keep bringing up the MacKinnons of the world?
Conroy AND Seraveli BOTH said a middle-6 C. NO ONE is suggesting that he is trying to get a MacKinnon via trade. A middle 6 C - a commodity that does periodically trade.
Calm down on the hyperbole.
Quote from Conroy apparently.
“But if it was a first-round pick for a guy who would be here long term, we would be open to that.”
If they're spending 1sts they're probably hoping for more then a middle 6 center upside.
Some people just don’t appreciate a well-pulled quote post and I’ll always appreciate how confused and sometimes even scared people get by the search function.
Like Enoch and only Enoch would say, they seem to think the search function “is witches.”
That's not fair.
Some people don't appreciate a poster that has reincarnated themselves with no confirmed handle history using search history in arguments when there is none for themselves.
It's pretty weak.
If the new guy that joined in March wants to list all his prior handles it would help!
The Following User Says Thank You to Bingo For This Useful Post:
Really when you look at the U-25 organizational depth...they do need centers...and they really should be trying to develop Zary as a center. If you move Zary / Pospisil from wing to center all of the sudden the overall organizational depth looks much more balanced.
Look at the organization longer term (Veterans with 2+ years remaining on their contract and U-25 players)
The clear need for this organization is at center. They have a pretty strong base of LW, RW, and G in the U-25 range. Could probably use a young top 4 LH dman blue chip prospect but have a ton of depth at the position.
But really centers in that 18-23 age range have to be the focus for this organization in draft or trade. They have 5 1sts and 4 2nds over the next 3 years (plus assets from stuff like moving Kuzmenko, Mantha, etc) to solve this problem. But seeing if Zary and Pospisil can be NHL centers should be a priority for this organization at this point.
Last edited by SuperMatt18; 10-23-2024 at 11:54 AM.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to SuperMatt18 For This Useful Post:
The clear need for this organization is at center. They have a pretty strong base of LW, RW, and G in the U-25 range. Could probably use a young top 4 LH dman blue chip prospect but have a ton of depth at the position.
But really centers in that 18-23 age range have to be the focus for this organization in draft or trade. They have 5 1sts and 4 2nds over the next 3 years (plus assets from stuff like moving Kuzmenko, Mantha, etc) to solve this problem. But seeing if Zary and Pospisil can be NHL centers should be a priority for this organization at this point.
I really hope that Conroy aims for quality over quantity in this year's draft. I give him and the team top marks for how the last draft went but for this year I would really hope to see them make moves and consolidate assets to try and get 2 picks in the top 10-15.
If we could land McQueen and Misa / Desnoyers / OBrien / Moore then that would turn around the centre depth in a hurry. I think that would be more effective than trying to load up on another big haul of prospects.
How far up the draft would the Flames be able to move the NJ pick if we used one or both of our 2025 2nd rnd picks? I would also prioritize returns from Kuzmenko, Mantha, etc. to bring back more draft trade bait to help get us positioned for landing those high quality Cs.
I really hope that Conroy aims for quality over quantity in this year's draft. I give him and the team top marks for how the last draft went but for this year I would really hope to see them make moves and consolidate assets to try and get 2 picks in the top 10-15.
If we could land McQueen and Misa / Desnoyers / OBrien / Moore then that would turn around the centre depth in a hurry. I think that would be more effective than trying to load up on another big haul of prospects.
How far up the draft would the Flames be able to move the NJ pick if we used one or both of our 2025 2nd rnd picks? I would also prioritize returns from Kuzmenko, Mantha, etc. to bring back more draft trade bait to help get us positioned for landing those high quality Cs.
Would love to see that too but it seems really difficult. Conroy has apparently tried to do this for the past two drafts and the cost to get an additional pick in the top 15 is just too much.
Also, the flames own pick is on pace to be outside the top 10 (but it’s still early). If the flames pick ends up outside the top 10, Montreal gets the higher of the flames and Panthers first round picks. If the Panthers and Devils both have good seasons and end up with home ice in round 1 of the playoffs while the flames finish just outside of the playoffs, Calgary will have two picks in the 25th to 32nd overall range. Montreal would have an additional pick in the 11th to 16th overall range. Tough for Conroy to turn those two late first round picks into 2 top 15 picks. It would likely take combining both of them in a package to get one pick in the 13th to 16th overall range. Even the it would probably not be enough.
Probably the best thread to plop down this interview here. I didn't see it anywhere else on the forum yet, and I think it is worth a listen to - Don Maloney.
The Following User Says Thank You to Calgary4LIfe For This Useful Post:
Very small sample size at C so far, I like the way he see's the ice and reads the lanes, in time I think he'll be a good C.
I have a feeling you're right. There just isn't room to convert both Zary and Pospisil to C at the same time. Since Pospisil seems to have brought Huberdeau back from the dead, I understand why they're running with that and leaving Zary on the wing for now.
__________________
WARNING: The preceding message may not have been processed in a sarcasm-free facility.
Yes, trying to turn players into Cs is not how you solve the depth problem at C, and build a winner.
We need to acquire THREE GOOD Cs in the next 2 years.
I actually think 4. Kadri is the only center we have past next year. No guarantees with Backs.
Also big difference in bottom six and top six. Rooney isnt long term but costco could be found money. Need two top six to push kadri down the depth chart in 2 to 3 years. So much of what the third line needs or looks like depends on what happens with Backlund.
Best case scenario in two years you have a possible top line center.
Kadri, mystery center, Backs.
Third c to replace Backlund if he isn't here, and to be mentored if he is, and you have to have something coming up in case of injury.
Hopefully wrong but just dont see anything in the pipeline that i see successful in the nhl with the possible exception of Lipinski; but again if costco isnt a just a flash in the pan this looks different again but long and short the position franchise wise is a disaster.
The Following User Says Thank You to Fan69 For This Useful Post:
Most forwards, growing up, were Cs. But playing C at the NHL level is a different beast.
It is, but Pospisil is showing that he can do it and Zary has a skillset that seems suited for the position. Playing a man on the wing while he gets used to the NHL game doesn't mean he's now a winger forever.
__________________
WARNING: The preceding message may not have been processed in a sarcasm-free facility.
It is, but Pospisil is showing that he can do it and Zary has a skillset that seems suited for the position. Playing a man on the wing while he gets used to the NHL game doesn't mean he's now a winger forever.
No it doesn't.
But converting 23 and 24 year olds to C is not how you build a team with strength down the middle, either.
But converting 23 and 24 year olds to C is not how you build a team with strength down the middle, either.
I don't know about that one.
Lindholm was converted to a full time C in 2020 when he was 24/25.
Bennett was converted to a full time C with FLA in 2021 when he was 25.
Lundell didn't play C in his first 2 seasons. He started playing C last year at the age of 22.
Greig is playing wing in OTT this season after playing C last year, he's 22.
Pretty sure Giroux started as a RW.
Anyway I'm sure there's plenty of examples of good centers learning the ropes on the wing to start their NHL career.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to gvitaly For This Useful Post:
