[Rumour] Assistant General Managers Craig Conroy and Don Maloney extended

[browna]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Not sure I agree with that. Stillman played two more years for the Blues before winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. During that time Stillman was a top six producer for the Blues. With Conroy Calgary missed the playoffs both years and only made the playoffs once before moving on to LA. That year the Flames made the playoffs was the one where Stillman won his first Stanley Cup. Conroy's impact was not that significant IMO. He was a great interview and pal for Iginla, but as far as a main cog to making the machine go, never bought it. I agree with Yelle and Warrener being key components but I would also throw Langkow and Hamrlik in as a important players to the evolution and success of the team as a whole. I never saw Conroy as moving the needle much. But let's also acknowledge the gorilla in the room, the team went as far as Iginla and Kiprusoff could carry them.

Stillman had 45 and 67 points in his two years with the Blues.
Conroy had 75 points in his first season here, feeding Iginla for his 52 goal season, and 59 the second.

He averaged 44 assists in his first spell here, and that includes a season where he missed close to 20 games.

2004 playoffs was second leading scorer. Moreso, 7 of his 17 points came in Games 6(3-1) or 7(1-1) where Iginla had only 5 points in those same games.

May not have been flashy but he was a pretty good setup man for Iginla, not afraid to get dirty and retrieve pucks but also had some soft hands and knew where teammates would be.

[calgarygringo]

If they don't hire Conny they send the same message as Sutter not playing the upcoming kids that have worked there way through the system. Then it would show no reason for an agm to stick around long term to move up the ladder. Just like Sutter with the kids That everyone bitches about. Not much difference.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Not sure I agree with that. Stillman played two more years for the Blues before winning back-to-back Stanley Cups. During that time Stillman was a top six producer for the Blues. With Conroy Calgary missed the playoffs both years and only made the playoffs once before moving on to LA. That year the Flames made the playoffs was the one where Stillman won his first Stanley Cup. Conroy's impact was not that significant IMO. He was a great interview and pal for Iginla, but as far as a main cog to making the machine go, never bought it. I agree with Yelle and Warrener being key components but I would also throw Langkow and Hamrlik in as a important players to the evolution and success of the team as a whole. I never saw Conroy as moving the needle much. But let's also acknowledge the gorilla in the room, the team went as far as Iginla and Kiprusoff could carry them.

Yeah this is completely underselling Conroy's impact IMO. He was great in that 01-02 season and played a role in Iginla's emergence as a star for sure.

And was pretty good for all three of those seasons in Calgary, and was a big part of that 03-04 team. Sure Iginla and Kipper carried that team, but they don't have success without Conroy and Regehr too.

He also had 66 points in 78 games his first season after leaving Calgary and then made the US Olympic team in 2006 ( 5 points in 6 games at the Olympics led the US team). So not like he was only good in Calgary.

After that age Caught up to him a bit, he was 34 in 06-07 season had a rough start to the year in LA. but really he wasn't bad the first three years of that second stint in Calgary either putting up 0.55 PPG in those first three years back.

[Lanny_McDonald]

And Conroy won what in his career... ??? The Flames won what during his time here... ??? The claim "you win things with players like Conroy and not with guys like Stillman" was, and still remains, total bull####.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

And Conroy won what in his career... ??? The Flames won what during his time here... ??? The claim "you win things with players like Conroy and not with guys like Stillman" was, and still remains, total bull####.

I don't remember that claim...and you're the one that made that claim in this thread.

I was refuting your point that Conroy really didn't help this team and wasn't a big part of the turnaround. Which is 100% false. Conroy was easily just as important as Rhett and Yelle, and IMO probably more important.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I don't remember that claim...and you're the one that made that claim in this thread.

Was a common refrain at the time and generated quite a bit of discussion. Unfortunately the wayback machine only goes back to 2004 otherwise I'd pull some quotes.

I was refuting your point that Conroy really didn't help this team and wasn't a big part of the turnaround. Which is 100% false.

What turned the team around was getting Kiprusoff. Full stop. Flames were still complete #### until Kiprusoff rolled into town and won 12 of his first 17 starts, giving up a goal or less in 11 of them. Kipper's 1.69 GAA turned the team around. Conroy was gone the next season and the Flames took the next step forward because they were able to attract some free agents to supplement the roster which included superstars Iginla and Kiprusoff. Conroy was a blip. A very likeable and effective role player, but never a core player for the team or key to its success.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Was a common refrain at the time and generated quite a bit of discussion. Unfortunately the wayback machine only goes back to 2004 otherwise I'd pull some quotes.



What turned the team around was getting Kiprusoff. Full stop. Flames were still complete #### until Kiprusoff rolled into town and won 12 of his first 17 starts, giving up a goal or less in 11 of them. Kipper's 1.69 GAA turned the team around. Conroy was gone the next season and the Flames took the next step forward because they were able to attract some free agents to supplement the roster which included superstars Iginla and Kiprusoff. Conroy was a blip. A very likeable and effective role player, but never a core player for the team or key to its success.

I think there are stages to it to be honest.

I was a young kid at the time but to me that 01-02 season was the first glimmer of hope that the org had in a long time, and while most of that was Iggy, Conroy was a huge part of that too.

The Flames had that amazing start, Iggy won the Art Ross, and Conroy was top 20 in NHL scoring. It made it cool to be a Flames fan again! (Wings, Avs, Ducks were probably the most popular teams in Calgary schools at that time).

Then in 02-03 they took a bit of a step back - but had a good end to the season under Sutter and things felt positive around the team too.

And really there was excitement around the team coming into the 03-04 season before the cup run too. People were excited about Iginla and Sutter, the Flames released the black C jersey that was just such a huge step up from the Pedestal and Blasty jerseys and the team couldn't keep up with the demand and they were tough to get until around Christmas.

Then to your point they brought in Kipper and it was the spark that really ignited it all.

When it comes to the 03-04 season sometimes I think even Sutter and Iggy get too much credit. The team was 6-8-1 as of the trade for Kipper. 25th in the NHL trending to their favorite draft spot of 6th overall.

That team was 24-10-4 with Kipper in net, 18-23-3 without Kipper. He was what drove them more than anything else, and why they won the division in 05-06 too. Really the team went as far as Kipper could take them in that era.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I think you're youth and enthusiasm may have blurred your memories of the time. The year before Conroy arrived the Flames finished 4th in the Northwest division, 17 points out of a playoff spot. Conroy's first year with the Flames saw them finish 4th in the Northwest, 15 points out of a playoff spot. His second year with the Flames saw them tumble to last in the Northwest, 17 points behind the Oilers who took the final playoff spot. Flames started out Conroy's final year in his first go round sitting 4th in the division and 11th in the conference before Kipper played his first game. Not exactly artifacts of turning anything around.

I'll admit that I've never been a Conroy fan from a hockey perspective. Always thought he was a mediocre player (perfect Calgary Flame if you look at it that way?) and we took a step in the wrong direction with the trade. To me it was just another dumb trade on the heels of another dumb trade (Savard for no one). I always look back at that and wonder what could have been if Savard and Stillman were around for the Kipper and Iggy years. Conroy was a great interview and an infectious personality that likely helped pull the team together at times, but we were better with other players in the lineup IMO and Connie was very replaceable.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Was a common refrain at the time and generated quite a bit of discussion. Unfortunately the wayback machine only goes back to 2004 otherwise I'd pull some quotes.

With all due respect who cares.
Why are you trying to re-start an argument from that long ago? Who cares what people said at the time of the trade?
And who cares if they were right or wrong?

This is an odd thing to get worked up about. And I don't see the relevance to Conroy as a candidate for GM.

[Yeah_Baby]

iirc it was Conroy who brought over the Hard Hat thing right?

I hear you in terms of numbers etc, but you can't really under sell the personalities gelling in that room the way they did.

[curves2000]

Conroy wasn't an elite player or anything but he did play in the league a long time (1000+ games) and was around a while. He has the player level knowledge that could be useful for the organization and can relate in a lot off ways.

My concern with going the Conroy route is the dynamic of him being GM and Sutter the coach. That dynamic is strange as it used to be that Conroy's "boss" was Sutter when he was on the bench. Does Sutter take that lightly being told or encouraged to do things?

It's not the greatest example but one of the reasons why when a coaching change occurs, the worst long term solution is to hire one of the assistant coaches to be the HC. The dynamic goes from good cop to bad cop and it just doesn't work a lot of times.

Conroy as GM here? I don't know, can we expect something totally different that we didn't see before? Perhaps. Is he the absolute best person available to do the job? Doubtful. Who knows but the dynamic with Sutter and Conroy could be a disaster.

[tvp2003]

So if I'm reading correctly, Kipper should be the next GM?

I mean, I don't hate it?

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

So if I'm reading correctly, Kipper should be the next GM?

I mean, I don't hate it?

I don’t think Kipper would even show up to his own Jersey retirement ceremony let alone come into office every day to be GM

[looooob]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

When it comes to the 03-04 season sometimes I think even Sutter and Iggy get too much credit. The team was 6-8-1 as of the trade for Kipper. 25th in the NHL trending to their favorite draft spot of 6th overall.

That team was 24-10-4 with Kipper in net, 18-23-3 without Kipper. He was what drove them more than anything else, and why they won the division in 05-06 too. Really the team went as far as Kipper could take them in that era.

meh I think it was equal parts 12 and 34, not Iggy's fault he was here first. Kipper wouldn't have taken the team all that far with Shean Donovan as the team's featured goal scored

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

I don’t think Kipper would even show up to his own Jersey retirement ceremony let alone come into office every day to be GM

You mean Iginla's jersey retirement? But yeah, I doubt he'd show up for his own.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by FormerPresJamesTaylor

You mean Iginla's jersey retirement? But yeah, I doubt he'd show up for his own.

I was just joking about how we never hear about that guy anymore. But I did find it odd he didn’t even show up to Iggy’s jersey retirement. Ah well, Jarome still gave him his props in his speech

[Hangman]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It's pretty apparent to me he will be. Who wants to pay Sutter $8M to sit at the ranch?

With Edwards money, I'd be happy to.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hangman

With Edwards money, I'd be happy to.

That's why Edwards has his money. He's not a guy who parts with it happily. I say this as a guy who's been at the same table on deals.