How the Flames gave themselves a chance to shock the NHL, and what comes next: Catching up with Craig Conroy

The Calgary Flames have proven plenty to their general manager, regardless of how things play out this week.

Still alive heading into Game No.

81, Craig Conroy cant say enough of his teams will and determination in a season in which the Flames have been doubted by most of the hockey world.

Its amazing that were in the fight still, Conroy told The Athletic over the phone Monday.

Im proud of the guys.

People have written us off at times this year, even to start the season.

Its fun.

Advertisement You could feel the tension a little bit to start the game last night at the Dome (in a win over San Jose).

Itll be like that the next couple.

We know we need some help, but weve still got to take care of business.

The Flames (92 points) need to win their final two games and hope either the Minnesota Wild (95 points) or St.

Louis Blues (94 points) lose their final game.

If the Flames win both in regulation and the Blues win in overtime or a shootout, Calgary can pass St.

Louis on a tiebreaker, too, as both teams would have 96 points and the Flames 32 regulation wins would top the Blues 31.

The odds arent great as the Wild (playing the Anaheim Ducks) and Blues (playing Utah Hockey Club) have winnable home games Tuesday, while the Flames have the Vegas Golden Knights at home Tuesday and then wrap things up Thursday at the Los Angeles Kings.

But its a Flames team full of resolve right now.

The guys are in a good place, Conroy said.

They still believe, and thats all we can ask for for them to believe in each other.

Its the same for many teams, but throw in the fact that Calgarys April schedule had the Flames playing nine games in 17 days and it compounds the physical and mental challenges for a club scrapping for its playoff life.

Its been every other day pretty much, yeah, Conroy said.

Its been a tough schedule.

I guess (to) the guys credit, theyre taking of themselves, theyre prepared, theyre ready to go.

But its never easy.

The fact that the Flames are still alive in the face of a Blues team that reeled off 12 straight wins is something in itself.

That kind of torrid run by a team youre battling in a playoff race might have squeezed the hope out of some teams, but the Flames kept their heads down and kept at it.

Theyre 4-0-2 in their past six games, refusing to wilt when a lot of people thought the race in the Western Conference was over.

Advertisement Its a great job by the coaching staff and the players to say, We can only control what we can control and do our best every night,' Conroy said.

It sets up a big night Tuesday.

Its fun for the city here, Conroy said.

Everywhere you go, people are really excited with the way the team is playing and the direction.

After a 2023-24 season that featured a lot of roster turnover and no postseason, one of the important facets of Calgary gaining a footing early this season was veteran players arriving at camp with an attitude that signaled true belief that the Flames could be better than people thought.

And also a desire to be in a Flames uniform.

It set the tone.

Our veteran leadership group has been excellent, Conroy said.

Its been fun to watch, for sure, to see those guys take ownership of that room and everything on the ice.

The growth of Calgarys younger players has also been important, especially rookie goalie Dustin Wolf, who has been steady as a rock.

Sometimes, rookies slow down a bit late in their seasons.

That has not been the case for Wolf, and part of that is because the 23-year-old has been well-served by three AHL seasons in which he played lots of games.

He marinated properly and learned to handle a full workload.

That has served him well this year.

For sure, Conroy said.

Hes played a ton of games (in his pro career).

We tried to help his workload early on this season to let him get accustomed to the NHL.

He wasnt playing back-to-backs.

Dan (Vladar) took a lot of those hard games (on the back-to-backs).

But after the 4 Nations, Dustin has really carried the ball.

But hes used to playing those games.

Every goalie Ive ever played with, they all want to play every game.

...

Hes done a great job.

Its been impressive.

With 52 starts and 28 wins under his belt, Wolf has firmly put himself in the mix to be one of the three Calder Trophy nominees.

Advertisement Hes given us a chance almost every night that hes played, Conroy said.

We need him to continue that for a few more and hopefully some after that, too, this year.

Win or lose this week, Conroy has a good handle on the growth of his team, the remaining holes and the work ahead.

A 30th-ranked offense jumps out as an area that obviously needs improving.

Were always looking to improve the team, Conroy say.

We have scheduled meetings with our pro scouts coming up.

We know we cant build a team through free agency, but are there fits and needs that we can improve on in free agency? Were going to look at all that.

Were going to try to get more young guys in the mix, too.

As much as the veterans have done a great job, the young guys have, as well.

So you cant throw 20 young guys in there at the same time, but if we can sprinkle in more young guys next season, weve got guys really pushing at the American League level.

Unfortunately for them, we just havent been able to get them in up here because its such a tough race down the stretch, and luckily weve been mostly healthy.

Calgarys top need hasnt changed: its finding a right-shot center in his early 20s.

The Flames had interest in Dylan Cozens before the Sabres dealt him to the Senators on trade deadline day.

Theyll keep looking this offseason.

Ive been looking for that right-shot center, which is not easy to find, Conroy said.

Well continue to see if theres something out there that makes sense.

Its a center that has to be age-appropriate.

Thats the big thing for us.

Youd like to get those 23 and under guys, but not many people are giving them up.

(Top photo: Sean M.

Haffey / Getty Images).

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