Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy Talks 2024 NHL Draft, Jacob Markstrom Trade & More | FN Barn Burner

Episode Date: June 22, 2024

Boomer & Pinder catch up with Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.Presented by Betway, McLeod Law LLP & Village HondaTIMESTAMPS- Intro (0:30)- Look Back At Last Year (2:00)- Losing Good People (3:30)- Tanev Trade (4:30)- Markstrrom Trade (6:00)- Kevin Bahl (8:30)- Dustin Wolf (11:30)- Vladar (13:00)- Draft (15:00)- Iginla (21:30)- Honzek (24:00)- Oliver Kylington (25:00)- Free Agency (26:00)- Upcoming UFA's (27:30)- Coach Huska (30:00)SHOOTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 McLEOD LAW https://www.mcleod-law.com👍🏼 VILLAGE HONDA https://www.villagehonda.com👍🏼 BETWAY https://betway.com/bwp/flamesnation🚨 Subscribe to @Flames_Nation on Youtube🚨➡️ / @flames_nation 🔥 After Burner ➡️ • FlamesNation Afterburner @dailyfaceoff2563 LIVE with Frank Seravalli:➡️ / @dailyfaceoff2563 💻 Website: https://flamesnation.ca🐦 Follow on twitter: @FlamesNation @BarnburnerFN @960boomer @PinderReport @warrener44📺 Subscribe on Youtube: @Flames_Nation 💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.comFollow us on Instagram @flamesnationdotca Follow us on Twitter @flamesnation @barnburnerfnFollow us on Facebook @FlamesNationReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 23, 2023. Does it feel like it's been over a year? And I don't know that there's any data to back it up, but I can't imagine any GM in their rookie year has done more than you have. I mean, out for a debate as to, we'll see how the trades work out, but between signings and trades and it's been a wild year for you. It's been stressful for sure.

Lots of sleepless nights, lots of, you know, trying to, you know, like we're always trying to get better and make the team better and try to, you know, whether it's hiring on the staff side, doing contracts. And that's the other thing. People, you know, they see the hockey part, but everybody's contracts were up last year. So I have to get everybody done, get back. So it's been, yeah, it's amazing. It's only been one year. It feels like about 10. He's doing okay. Because normally like the Barack Obama thing, like he aged like a decade in one year. You're still looking at the hair's almost gone. We won't have the overhead cam. You know, and the thing of these

deals is. And we'll see how how they pan out because already that's a folly. one has looked sure looks like a win is it's tough when you are always trading away the best player in the deal right you're you're taking assets you're taking unknowns they may all be granted like slam dunks in five years 10 years from now but right now you're kind of on the the wrong the S end of the stick if you will when people are grading these things yeah I pretty much lose every trade in everybody's right from the Sharon Govich that was the first one and I remember you know I'm human I I said, I'll just take a peek, see what people. I looked at the first one.

Rookie GM gets schooled by New Jersey. I was like, and I saw he got an A plus and I got an F. I just said, I won't look anymore. That's not good for the eagles. The internet's got the receipts, hey, look at this? The internet's pretty level-headed. Yeah, I was like, that's not good. Yeah.

Difficult spot too because you're making these trades. You want to win these trades, but you're trading away good players. You're trading away good people, too. It's hard watching what's left. I would think the emotion in the locker room as all-star, good player, all-star, as these guys leave the room to kind of keep morale up. And we're building towards something here, as hard as it is for guys to take right now.

Yeah, you know, and that's a thing. But I do think even when the season started last year, you know, we're going to see how we're going to get off and off to the start. And it was not great. You know, obviously we were two and nine and things weren't looking good. But then Zari came up, Pospasal came up. You know, and then we started bringing these young guys up and we got to a point we're back to 500. We're, you know, hey, we're going to have some growing pains with young guys.

But to see what those guys did, I think it gave everybody hope. And it brought a guy like Cadrear right back to play with those two guys. I mean, you know, if he would have got to play with them all year, who knows where his point totals would have would have, you know, kind of went. And then, but you're right. You know, you're losing really good people and great players and, you know, and unfortunately, that's the hard part of the business, but, you know, that's what we had to do. You know, we, you know, we, we had kind of contract lengths and what we would pay and what made sense to us. And, you know, when they, when they want you to budge, they don't

you budge a little bit. They want you budge a lot. And I think we just had a plan. And it's hard to be, you know, we always talk about being disciplined with contracts. You know, we want to do contracts that we feel are fair, but we don't want to set, especially for myself, a rookie GM, you know, I talked to Brian Burke a lot about it. You don't want to set a market for players being a young GM. Sure. You know, someone else sets the market. That's okay. But you're, you know, and I always, in the back of my mind, I've always thought about that. And I, and I have Donne there and Dave Nones and Brad Pascal, you know, on our whole staff, you know, they keep me in check because I'm impulsive at times and I want to do things maybe a little quicker. But, you know, you have to be patient.

You have to work through it. But the contracts are, are the tough part. Yeah. Did you get, because I know we were kind of in touch because the TANF one goes down that was a busy time. Did you get a first offer of a first for TANF? Because remember that was going around and it's like it's one thing you have a hard offer. It's not like, oh, maybe you'll maybe do it.

What was the story there? That's pretty much the way it will. Yeah. Might do it. But you know, you talk for a couple months and it's, oh, hold off for another weekend. Hold off for another. Give me a few more days.

You know, and I said, hey, I'm going to, I'm going to go in a different direction and is the first in play. well give me another few two three days and I just thought it's just been too long you know and I do think teams you know when you look back uh maybe if I waited right till the end but again it it's a tough one and maybe not I just he's going down the tunnel every second period I swear that one guy what I would I you know and then when I we felt like okay we got a you know Greshnikov is a good young player similar to you know 20 years old and a second round pick and we thought, okay, you know, we would have, would you have loved the first?

Yeah, we all, you know, everybody asked for a first and every deal. I think that's the way every, it must be in the GM handbook, asked for the first, you know, and then wait as long as you can and see if you can get it. And, you know, the one thing about that, there was kind of trade deadlines coming. And again, with the injuries, you just never know, you know, with Chris, he's a warrior. But we thought it was, that was the right time for us. He was a good fit in Dallas. That was a good trade.

Yeah. But at the same time, you're trading away UFAs, and they're going to play off-bound teams, and only one team wins it, and I'm not sure. I'm not sure how many of the guys you traded away are a Stanley Cup champion. I don't think any, actually. Yeah, as it turned out.

Anyway, it's so hard. Yeah, we'll see how it comes. You know, we can jump right to the Markstrom thing. That's fresh in most people's mind. Again, another tough one to get done, because he's one of your MVP, more or less. Months in the making, but yet came together quick, I guess.

How did this come together? How close was this to the rumored deal that was kicking around at the deadline? You know, I think the one thing, I never went to Markstrom and said, will you sign off on a trade? There was never a trade done, you know, and that's where people kind of,

there are rumors out there, but there was never a deal where I went to them and said, okay, will you sign off on it? That, it didn't get to that point. So, you know, it got to that point a couple days ago, and that's when I did it. But it's hard because we're in a Canadian market, everything seems like it's out there, whether, I will say, like, when I hear a lot of the

trades that are out there, I would definitely do those trades. Like, once I hear them, in my mind, I'm like, this guy in a first, 902 and then I would, I would love to do that. But when I, you know, you talk to the teams and just like anything, you go to all the teams at the end of the year and, hey, what are you looking for? What are you looking to do on the draft? Are you willing to move it all up or down? And, you know, you're kind of getting a lay of the land, what might be coming. are you looking for anything on your team? So I kind of knew which teams were looking for, had interest in goalies.

And you work through there. And you try to figure out, okay, what's the best deal? What's the right time? And I do think there's more goalies on the market now than there was at the trade deadline. And as we were moving through, especially with New Jersey, they called and said, hey, we need to go one way or the other, Craig. Like, we like your goalie. We'd like to do a deal.

But again, we have to do it. sooner than later. And then that's when it really picked up. And then we came to an agreement. And then I said, okay, now I got to get a hold of Pat Morris and then to get a whole of Markey

to get signed off on. Would it be fair to say that they were the only serious bidder? Like there's obviously teams that have needs, but did you get as far down the line or even close with any other clubs? It felt like it was moving in a direction with all the teams where they were similar offers. They were similar type deals.

You know, there wasn't, you know, much different. in kind of where we were generally laid out on each one. And we just felt like this is one that, you know, with Kevin, he's a player that we really liked. Like, and I get where people would say, geez, what do they like about him? You know, he's a big man that can play well defensively.

And he's gotten better each year. You had to play a ton last year with their injuries. Yeah. And you got to see where, okay, where Zerdorov was when he was at 20, three and where he was, you know, and we do all the analytics. And, you know, you look at guys around the league that if you're, uh, you're hoping he gets to at one point that the analytic numbers and and what our scouts say about him would be like a churnack in Tampa, a guy like Samison and Buffalo or a, uh, a guy like Nick Hagan. Those are similar type players. You know, you try to compare

players who, who would be, you're hoping where he's going to be at some point. That's kind of, you know, that's kind of the player he is, but those are very important players in each of those teams. And that's why, you know, not everyone's going to get all the points or, but to kill the penalties, to use his size. And, you know, we've heard great thing character wise, the type of person he is talking to coaches, talking to people in Ottawa when he was there, you know, what he's all about in his work ethic, you know, so that's exciting. So it's safe to say he's a guy that will start this year in the NHL. He's played 82 last year with the devil's.

You don't want to put a ceiling on a guy where you limit him, but do you feel like it's a natural for him to become a top four defenseman, or is everything going to have to hit for him to sort of get to a second pair guy? Yeah, I think the progression of where he was, you know, coming in playing pro, he's gone in the right direction. The one thing I like, I like to hear when his work ethic, where he was physically, how he trains now, how his diet is, you know, you talk to people that know him like that. and he's really learning how to do all that.

And it takes time. You know, not everybody's at the same pace, but I think, you know, he's a simple, when he's at his best, he's a simple puck mover.

He plays hard. He's not gonna, he's not a fighter. Like, I don't expect that, that's really not in there, but he'll stick up for teammates. He'll be there for everybody.

And penalty killing. That's not really in the game now anyway, right? No. We talk, he, he's a specialist, right? Right. Yeah.

Be big, be physical, move. Well, that's, that's what today's game. You know, but if possible does what possible, you just want guys to get in there and help each other. And that's what, and he will do that, you know, and he will play hard.

And he's, you know, he's hard to beat good one-on-one, good size, good stick. So, but still, but still growing. Yeah. And learning how his game translates. And that's what we always say, even with Noah Hannafin when he came, he wasn't a finished product. Because we always say 25, 26, 27 is when they really, on the defensive side, really figure it out. So, and I think you saw that with Hanifin. and he had an amazing year to shoot.

You really did. Yeah. You know, one person I saw that I think loves this trade is Dustin Wolf. Like he's a big fan. He thinks you did great. Yeah. Villardar is probably saying the same thing.

He's got the same thing. Yeah. You never want to, you know, it's here you go. It's on a silver platter. But it's clear. It's, it's worth it. He's been patient.

I think he's probably been a good pro. Is that fair to say over there had been a lot of guys, but this is my year. I'm going to get some NHL games. And it just maybe took a little bit longer for, him maybe in his eyes and it would have taken but it's he's still young is it just fair is it fair to say this is his team now or don't go quite that far well you know it's for me you know it's the competition yeah you know vladdie him somebody's got to take the job you know and earn it and it starts

right in training camp you know and do i think they're working that much harder yeah they they are excited you know they're thinking this is a great opportunity and that's what people want it's just like with Pospasol and Zari and, you know, I think at the opening press conference, we talked about giving young players opportunity. And, you know, I think we had eight young players come in and play up for the flames this year. So, you know, that was part of the plan going in. And now, you know, we need someone to rise. And, you know, do we know exactly where these guys are as NHL goalies as starters? No, you know, but that's part of the learning curve. He's done his job, right? At every level to this point he's totally he's earned the opportunity he's earned it yeah yeah totally yeah he has you

know and you can't ask i mean goal of the year goal of the year it just so vladar's health is that is that a question for the start of the year will that have you maybe shopping in a veteran goalie market well well the reason we kind of did it when we did because he was supposed to be back ready to go for training camp that that was a goal that's why we kind of said okay we're going to shut you down we're going to get the surgery and then you should be back ready to go in September. Everything's on pace. You're always a little nervous. I mean, it is surgery.

You do, you know, he hasn't gotten back on the ice, getting in all those situations. So, you know, there might be something where we need to think about, you know, now that it's happened and Mark, he's moved. Is there someone else we bring in to help supplement this? Because we don't know. I mean, I wish I could say you 100% he's ready to go. But. until he's on the ice.

If I called him, yeah, if I call him, he's, yeah, I'm good. I feel great. Don't worry about it, Craig. But in reality, you know, you're hoping he's going to be ready to go come training camp. We've seen organizations. You need three. Like most teams will have, okay, we lost the guy, like whether it's the lions and

stay a locks, even Calvin Picker, what he's done in Ebinton, like if you can find a vet that, you know, is a tweener of sorts. That seems to be, you know, it used to be 70 starts for your race and now it's splitting. But now you almost need a third guy that can play. Well, you really do. and I mean with injuries, with anything that happens. You look at the teams, even Toronto, you almost need to have that in your organization.

So, you know, to lose marks from obviously your starter, yeah, we need to kind of supplement and figure out who's the right fit. And that's, you know, that's what I said. I said, I wish I was a goalie guy. Like, but that's where Jordan Sigelette, you know, he puts a time in, he works. And I said, what is the best for a goalie's development? You tell me, Jordan, because that's why I'm just not sure, you know, forwards defense are a little bit different, but a goalie. It's different sport.

It is. It's hard. And I know it's such a mental thing. And you don't want to put him in a situation where it sets them back and all. And he'll tell you, right? Because you can have a, we want him to play 40 games, 56. His performance is going to tell you what he's ready for and what he isn't. But ultimately comes down to it. Exactly. I mean, and that's what we always say. The players always say, how do I make the NHL? I remember Matthew, we were in Penticton. How did Monaghan make? How did Monaghan make? the NHL that quickly. I said he played so well, we couldn't send him back. Yeah, Burkey, I think it's said publicly, like, you can't make this team as a really,

he's going to have to completely change our minds. Yeah, like, and then he had the nine goals right away and Berkey's like, he's staying, like, you know, and he earned it. And that's, that's what it is. It's really about guys earning the spot. So, uh, Friday the 28th, you have two picks in the first round. You've got eight picks in the first four rounds. You've talked about trying to remain competitive, but you've also talked about how this team's going to turn around by your work through the draft. You had one pick last year,

but this feels like the beginning of a bumper run. You've got seven first rounders the next three years. One will go to Montreal for the Monaghan deal, but six in the next three years. Tell me about, is it pressure? Is it excitement? This is not an exact science going to the draft and finding stars, but if you're good at it,

man, it changes everything. It's an opportunity. It's exciting, actually. Like, it really is exciting. And I think, you know, I've watched, again, I think that's how we're going to build this through the draft, not through free agency, trades and probably the draft are the two ways we think we're going to kind of move this thing forward. But to know, to see all these kids.

And I didn't think it was going to be a real deep draft when it started this year. I thought, it's going to be an okay. But it's amazing how many guys have emerged and come on. And I'm thinking, oh, this is better than I thought. So, you know, to be at nine in a very good spot. And the other thing is I think there's opportunity this year where last year, you know, you call anybody looking to move up or down or it was pretty much nowhere. Nothing moved since like winter of those picks.

No. Everything stayed put, which is incredibly crazy. Yeah. So I do feel this year isn't that way. Yeah. Because I do feel when you look at who's going to go number one after that, everyone's got their own opinions and players and who they like and their needs. There's some teams in there.

Sorry, Craig. there's some teams that they've been picking high for a while. while. They've got a full cupboard of prospects. They don't necessarily need another first rounder that might be ready in a few years. A body that can step in now might be more attractive. Absolutely. Like, and that's what I said. That's, you know, that's when I made the calls last year was pretty much, you know, we're good. We're going to sit tight. And this year, no, we're open to it. What are you guys thinking? Huh. So there is that dialogue going on right now. So it'll be interesting. You know, I don't know how it's going to play out, but I do know, you know, talking to Todd. I was just with him in

Florida at Dan Milstein's camp. And it was, it's exciting. I mean, I think we're really excited. I've, you know, last year there was more nerves, just getting the job, getting in and then the Foley stuff and kind of what was going on behind the scenes with all the players. You know, we were in, it seemed like we were in the news every day. So this year it feels like it's now we can really go and enjoy this draft and have eight

picks in the first, first four rounds. pretty exciting for the for the organization so if you're sitting at nine how many guys are you like no chance he gets to us like three or four it just feels like this volatility is is crazy yeah because you know we we said could he well maybe you know i is todd usually i'd say todd can this guy no he will not be there can this no he will not be there this year i don't know you know because if it's a run on d early if it's if forwards keep going early if you know do you want a defensive more a solid all around two-way guy or do you want an offensive guy or you know there's lots of different types of players so you know like you said teams have been drafting a lot what are

their needs maybe they say okay we we feel comfortable going in this direction or that direction but and that's why they might move down there might be trades for players like it's going to be it's going to be a fun draft i know it's going to be in Vegas so there's going to be a lot of it seems like there's going to be a lot of action. You're in best player available mode. That's that probably safe to say. You're not specifically focused on a defenseman over a forward. Center over winger.

Yeah. Is there anything? You know, I would like being a center. Always want centers. Yeah, I suppose. You know, I mean, you get them. Yeah, like that center would be ideal.

But again, you know, if you felt a defenseman was better than a center or a wing was the best player available. You know, and that's why we get the order. And I still think Todd and I were, we talked about it. Like, it's still going to be fun at the draft because I still think they'll be, we've tightened up the list. Have those battles started in the boardroom yet? They're more aggressive right towards the end, I'll say.

You know, guys are heated. Bang in the table. This guy's there. A couple people breaking computers slamming it. No, my guy can't move down one. Yeah. So if you're like you've got a list obviously the list will have to be done by then. Yeah.

There might be a tweak here there like geez, should we put these guys in the same box or do we separate them? Like is that kind of the final layer of getting ready for the draft? It is. I mean, it's it's in order. And then when we get moving along, you know, and a big,

big thing is like if you have a guy that's higher, is there a chance to move up? Okay. Make that call. See if we can get up a little bit higher. You know, what the price is maybe. The one thing I like is to have,

the amount of picks we have, I think that's a good thing too. Get some flexibility. You know, when you kind of, you feel like, okay, this is the area we might get

the first pick, and then this is the group that we could get in that second. You know, is there an opportunity to move up a little higher from that second pick? I think there might be.

So, you know, which gives us lots of leeway to go either way. And again, I know I had a lot of calls on the draft floor and none of them worked out, but I think this year

could be different. It feels totally different. Usually it's like, oh, the drafts will start at five. It feels like a draft starts a two of the year. I don't ever remember hearing that. Or it's like there's that little consensus. Yeah, it is. And you know, it's going to be, and that's why I don't think people mind moving back. They're saying, okay, I might get the guy I want. And I feel like down, because of that, there's going to be maybe it's only one team, but there's going to be someone that looks really smart in about eight, nine years and someone that really doesn't look like they knew where they were doing. Well, and that's a thing. You can make a mistake. Yeah. You know, you can make a mistake. You know, you can make a

mistake and that's the you know but we feel if we didn't do anything we feel very good with with who might be again it's it's a big range because at nine it could go anyway jerome's got a role in the club and his kid had an absolutely monster year from like healthy scratch in the playoffs a year ago to setting rockets records or goals in a series you know nearly 50 in the season I don't know that there's any sane hockey dads but I do think jerome's a very sane human have you guys agreed to not talk about tiji leaves the room Like what's the arrangement there? Or is it just like, no, it's business, is business, pretend his name Smith?

Or can a dad do that? When we were over in Finland, let's put it this way. He watched all the games with us once the Canadian games start gone. I don't know where he was. Yeah. And that's professional. Yeah, he's a dad. He has nerves during the game.

I mean, he's, what are his plans for draft night? Is he at the table? Is he with? No, I told him. No, I said, you have to be with Teesh. Until he's gone. And then day two, he can. Because I think there's things that the families do after them.

They get drafted. There's stuff that goes on. I don't know what that is. Peter Handel would be able to tell you better. But I think they're pretty busy doing things and the families are there. Yeah. You know, so you only get so many chances to do that. So I think, you know, because Jerome's like, do you want me to come down?

You want me to start out? I'm like, no, you have to be with your son. There's one way to fix this, Craig. I mean, I don't want to say it out loud. If you all want to be in the same spot, you can meet on the podium. Yeah. That would be the first time ever the kid and the dad walked down from the seats. This is from the podium from the flames and from the family.

Yeah. That would be, yeah, it'd be weird. A story, though. Is he a center? He's been a wing. As a young, young player, I've seen him play center, you know. It sounded like he started three, four games at the beginning of the year and that was it. Yeah.

And look what he did at wing. So, I mean, I think it's hard to say, you know, I think he probably would, I think I've heard him say he'd like to be a center. But again, you want to be a center. You know, that's what when I was in St. Louis, Joel Quinville said, you can either be the third line checking center or you can go play in the minors and be in the family. Like, I'm good with the checking center. I'll stay here. You know, I'm no. So it's kind of, there's an opportunity to play wing. Perfect. If center, you know. It kind of sounds like Hanzek too last year, right? Because there was hope that he could play center. But then the injuries this year just kind of derailed everything. Yeah, that was a year. And I talked

in a year, I said, this is just one where, hey, we're going to put it behind it. We're not going to talk about it. We're going to have a great summer training, come back, healthy, let's go. You know, don't even overthinking. Don't lose sleep over it. It is what it is. Injuries happen. When do you make your decision on him playing for the Wranglers or going back to junior? Or have you made it or do you want to see him in Devcap first? I mean, how does that process with? Yeah, probably going to, you know, we want to see him. You want to see him at thing. I mean, just just the way he plays, you know, probably the American League is the way. to go, but I don't want to, you know, pigeonhole that either, you know, so we're open to kind of wait

and see, see how it goes. But he's, you know, he's going to have to have a big summer. And one thing I like him and Pospicil are training over at home together. And Pospisil was, I think he finished third in camp last year in testing was in great shape. So, you know, I think him working out with him over there, they're going to push each other, which is great. Because he's, he is a great athlete, Hansi. You know, he's he's he moves well for a big man yeah we got you for a few minutes it's busy all over schillington is there any update there yeah i mean we're talking to the agent you know it's never uh it's never as quick as we like or as fast but i did talk to all over the other day too i think uh last week maybe thursday or friday and he's in good spirits he's excited you know he's looking forward to

getting back playing wishes the season hadn't ended so you know it's just the the process of going through the contract you know it's it's it's it's never as easy as we would like. So it's not a fear of losing Oliver so much as finding the right terms for both sides. Exactly. You know, that's the big thing. You know, just like we talked before, like things have to make sense for our side and his side. July 1, you have a ton of money to spend, but that does necessarily mean you're going to spend it.

I know having, you watched the GM, there haven't been a lot of years or you've had room under the cap. that's maybe a tool in your toolkit that other GMs haven't had that we can do things with Cap Space. Yeah, it's nice. I mean, I think the ability to do it, but again, we have to be smart. I mean, we have to know where we are. I don't feel, you know, like when I told, I think Frank Sarvelli, after at the GM meetings, like, we're going to look to do something.

I guess I should have been more clear and said, you know, I don't think seven-year deals for the Calgary Flames makes sense right now. But, you know, shorter-term deals at a, you know, the dollars, we have some more money, guys that we think can come and help build the culture. And it's all about building the culture for the young guys. Again, we have young players and we're going to see the young players get a chance. It's just you want to make sure they are ready for that chance. And you don't want it to hurt them in the long run.

I know they all want to be there today. So I totally get that. It's just a matter of getting them in, you know, when Zari was ready, when Pospasso was ready. You know, you just don't want to force them in and have them, it go the wrong way. So I do think there's going to be some opportunity. And, you know, I do think with the cap going up, you can also kind of weaponize that money, too, maybe not now, maybe later, you know.

When teams are tight, when teams are tight, because I know the drafts, the cap's going up, but there's still going to be some tight teams out there that need some relief. And if we're there to, you know, add some more draft capital or get a player that we like, that's, you know, that's important to us too. So July 1's free agency, but it's also a chance where you can extend players that are heading into UFA summers and obviously a lot of tension on Kuzmenko with obviously coming back in the deal and the great pace. I think he scored at about a 40-goat since arriving in Calgary. And then Sharon Govich, who we talked about, what a theft of the devil's that is. No more F-grades on that trade, Greg. Thanks. Can you flirt now? Do you chat? Do you

line up meetings? How do you approach an extension conversation with with these players? You know, you kind of had, you know, you have ideas like, hey, were you happy? How's everything going? You know, we'd like to talk. But again, with all the rules, we can't do it until the first. So, you know, definitely we have ideas what we want to do moving forward with these guys. So which is good. And you know what?

I think they like being here. So that's a positive too. You know, they're excited about Calgary. And they, you know, I think Sharon Govich might not have said it quite the way. but he really enjoyed his time in Calgary. I think it was a language thing. People were all fired up. How is your Russian?

Yeah, I can't. Yeah, I can't. I should learn a little more Russian than I end. But it's amazing to see those guys come over. Even the kids that we just interviewed to think, imagine going to Russian, speaking Russian and to, you know, to teams. It would be, it's amazing what they do. Yeah.

Because I did want to ask you about those shorter term deals because you're not as focused on getting the money under the cap, there's an opportunity for you to have some veteran guys, some good players on a shorter term deal, and for them, and it's not like they're using you as a stepping stone, but if they want to come in and play a bunch of minutes and have a key role and be a key leader,

not a lot of teams maybe have that for them. You could be in a unique spot for July. Yeah, you've seen teams do it, and it's smart. I mean, they bring them in, and it's not to say they're only going to be there for one or two years, like maybe it works out. And it's a home run for both sides and you can do it.

But, you know, I think with the, we just don't want to, you know, it's always those contracts when you feel like you sign them. The day you sign them, you could never trade the player. You know, those are the ones you want to stay away from or where you feel like you're handicapped. So you want to make, you know, fair deals. Everybody's happy, but also, you know, could make sense if for some reason it doesn't work out, you can move on and they can move on. But, you know, that's kind of the philosophy. A year under your belt as a GM. Also a year for your head coach in the hot seat, so to speak, is the guy that has to talk to the media after. It's his plan that's being put out there. How does he balance

and how have you think he's done the job of balancing developing young players, but also, you know, trying to win with these veterans that are saying, hey, like, I signed here to be competitive and win because it felt like this first year was a really good blend of that. It was. And it's hard because, I mean, let's be honest, we, myself include, we all want to win every game. You know, every player down there wants to win. I mean, that's what you play for. But the one thing I like about Ryan was he's very open to the young guys. You know, I could go down and say, hey, we're going to bring up Klapka. We're going to bring up Coronado. You know, can we put them on the, can we get him on the power play? Can we put him in a position with Zari and

poshysal? And, you know, it's always a little bit of a battle with us back and forth. But, you know, in the end, he ends up giving these guys an opportunity. And then, you know, I think now that he's seen those guys come up and do well and do what he's like, okay, I get it. You know, like I can give these guys a little bit of a leash. This is the way we're going to have to go. And he's open to everything. You know, that's the one nice thing. I mean, I think, you know, with Darrow might be a little different. He, if you're in the dog house, you might be in the dog house for a while. I think Ryan, you know what? You're in and you're out. You know, and that's, and I thought Bob Hartley did a real good job at that too with our young guys. He, he would be mad at Sam some days and then he'd be

mad at John, but, but what he did is he played him and he put him in situations to get better and they might make some mistakes and he'd shake his head. He'd be like, oh boy, you know, but he's stuck with it and I think I see that in Ryan. And I think, you know, with Brad Larson coming in, even last year, we really did talk about what we were looking for with Ryan. We'd love to have a coach with some head coaching experience. Again, we made some offers. We didn't get the coaches. And now to have someone come in,

I said, if Brad's worked with, you know, torts, it's going to be pretty good, hopefully, with Ryan. So real good. I really enjoyed kind of the interviews with Brad Larson. And then to kind of see him and Ryan work together and talk and what their philosophies were. And then, you know, go to dinner with him and see them. and yeah, I think it's going to be a good fit. So I'm really looking forward to it.

And Kail's going to get an opportunity. Kail's a, nobody works harder in the NHL than Kail McLean. I mean, I don't know if people know what he does behind the scenes. I mean, even the other day he was down there for six hours cutting clips. I'm like, what are you doing here? Yeah. But, you know, he's going to do everything in his power.

He's going to be doing the power play. So I'm looking forward to seeing how he does. You're a busy man. It's meeting after meeting after meeting. We appreciate you for coming by making time for us. we'll hook up again. Good luck in Vegas. See you in Vegas. Yeah. You guys are going.

One of us is. Oh, this. I have a, it's a long story. It'll be fun. You'll see Finder and Fares. You know what? We just went through all the sphere stuff and it's going to be, it's going to be interesting. Yeah.

It's tighter than a range. Are you buying a new suit? Are you like the drafted kids? It is. But you know, you find out some of the rules. And so like, you know, usually you go up on stage and literally they're like, okay, you go to this little stage to make the pick. The commissioners there and the player will come there.

So it's a little different. It's going to be a Broadway show. This is very exciting. It's going to be. No pressure, but don't mess it up. Yeah, that's how it goes. And are you doing the Bill Armstrong? Everyone wears the same suit or you're going to let them, because they're not in Arizona.

You should wear like cowboy houts and buckles, right? And roll in with cowboy boots. If you haven't talked to wardrobe, it might be too late. You got a hurry. I was thinking about that. Should we do? Yeah, but it seems like Billy takes a beating for that. So I'm like.

I don't mind it. I mean, they can be better suits, but I like that. You know who they are. You're part of the team. Yeah, that's true. You know what? It is kind of, it should do something fun now that you're saying. It's a great idea.

Stampede a couple weeks. Snake skin boots. I know. Well, Boomer can come down. Yeah, we'll see. I'll try and.

Don't worry if you have any recommendations for the ninth pick, let me know. I'm open. I'm open. This is scary at all. Thanks, Craig. Always good to see you,

buddy. Thanks, thanks for having you. Too bad Wreck couldn't be here. I know. Is it? Where are you stuck? You're right.

You're such a draft nut. I don't like he's dying watching this. He's more dialed in. now that his son's getting older. It's closer to being dialed in. It's like Jerome. He knows all the players in the next three years. He's very interested all of us.

Very has lots of opinions. Thanks, guys.