A trio of players left, there were no signings nor deals involving the 2024 free-agent crew — as expected
The opening day of free agency was not anticipated to be busy for the Calgary Flames, and it came in as advertised.
In fact, GM Craig Conroy had a media availability only three hours after the doors opened because he had nothing close to coming out of the hopper.
“I came down a little earlier just to let you guys get out of here. It’s a holiday. Sorry for keeping you around,” Conroy said, knowing full well a Canada Day barbecue is more appetizing than sitting in an empty Saddledome into the early evening.
“Even going into free agency we kind of knew our situation and we weren’t going to be really active in free agency this year,” Conroy added. “We went in with that mindset. Obviously we made calls, talked to agents and talked to players, but with our cap situation and all the guys we have signed we’re tight on the cap, like a lot of teams. We didn’t have a lot of room. We explored different options but this is a day where there’s a ton of money spent and we didn’t have a lot of money to spend.”
The Flames saw a trio of players from last season sign elsewhere — Milan Lucic with the Boston Bruins, Trevor Lewis with the Los Angeles Kings and Troy Stecher with the Arizona Coyotes — but made no additions.
Then again, the Flames’ fate depends greatly on what happens with their crew of pending 2024 unrestricted free agents, headlined by center Elias Lindholm and defenseman Noah Hanifin.
Hanifin has reportedly told the team he has not intention of re-signing and now Conroy is trying to grind through a trade to prevent losing him for nothing, while the club continues to see whether Lindholm will remain on a new long-term deal.
“Not a lot of calls,” Conroy said about trade discussions. “I think everybody’s pretty busy focused on their own team today. Those things will probably open up in the next three or four days after teams don’t get players and then we’ll just kind of move forward.”
Conroy said he spoke with Lindholm on Saturday but added they’re just working through the process without forcing anything.
“We haven’t set (a deadline),” he added. “It’s still early in the summer. We’re not setting deadlines or drop-dead dates. We’re just continuing to talk and moving forward and seeing what their side wants to do and what we want to do, that’s all. We’re in a good place, I think, just moving forward.”
Forward for the Flames means adding more youth, therefore Conroy is cognizant of not plugging the path.
“If we were to sign two guys right now, there wouldn’t be that opportunity,” Conroy said. “I’m not saying that it’s not going to happen — when we get to camp if (the young players) don’t do it … I’m going to do what’s best for the team.
“These young guys have played very well in the American league … These guys are proving that they can play. What they haven’t been able to prove is it in the NHL because they haven’t gotten a chance. That’s what I want to see. I want to see if they can.”
It’s a philosophy that includes goaltender Dustin Wolf. The Flames have number-one netminder Jacob Markstrom and backup Dan Vladar in place, so there’s no sure spot for Wolf with the Flames. That said, Conroy wants the young netminder — last season’s AHL MVP and the two-time top goaltender — to have more opportunity with the big club.
“The one thing about young guys, you still want them to play, so you want him to get games. Do I want him to get NHL games? Yes. But do I want him to sit for a month and not play? No,” Conroy said. “That’s a fine line. Next year, it’ll be tighter and we’ll be more strategic how we move forward with our goaltender.”
Wolf fared well in his lone NHL appearance last season, but it was the meaningless season finale, so the questions still somewhat remain.
“It would be hard-pressed to say he isn’t (NHL ready), but will he be in the NHL full-time? I don’t know,” Conroy said. “We feel goaltending is a real strength in the organization, so we’re not going to do anything to rush that along. … We don’t want to rush him and put him in a situation where he can take a step back. We want to do what’s best for him.”