Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Craig Conroy (FULL INTERVIEW)

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

Flames GM Craig Conroy Talks Rasmus Andersson's Future, 2025 NHL Draft & More | FN Barn BurnerBoomer and Pinder sit down with Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy to talk all things Flames — from the draft and prospects to trades, contracts, and the future of the team.🕒 Timestamps:https://youtu.be/Q0mMvx7_qKY0:15 – Intro2:30 – Matt Coronato deal4:30 – Draft strategy6:00 – Prospects8:30 – Drafting for position vs. best player11:30 – Move up in the draft13:00 – Rasmus Andersson's future23:30 – Zayne Parekh26:30 – Dustin Wolf 29:00 – Backup goalie situation30:30 – Ryan Huska’s contract32:00 – Sam Bennett talk35:00 – Looking ahead to July 1st37:30 – Frost & Farabee 40:00 – Sam Honzek development41:30 – Sharangovich #calgaryflames #hockey #nhl #nhlshorts #yyc #edmontonoilers #stanleycup #floridapanthers Presented by:👍🏼 Powered by @bet365. Whatever the moment, it’s Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today and use promo code:NATION. http://www.bet365.ca/ 👍🏼 McLEOD LAW https://www.mcleod-law.com/👍🏼 VILLAGE HONDA https://www.villagehonda.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So how many times through this cycle now for you? Is this round three for the, go to the draft, get ready, free agency that's his old hat for you now? Yeah, but the draft is always something I was a big part of before. Like, that was a major part of my job. So it's just that part doesn't feel, you know, the free agency were in there, but obviously Tree did all the calling and talking and, you know, like we would call agents. We'd all get heat call on this player, that player, this player. And we would do that.

But then when it came down to like, are they open to coming? Yeah. Then tree would kind of take over. So now it's a little different. But it's been good. But, you know, if things go poorly, it's your fault. And if things go well, then it's kind of your credit. But it feels like I don't get it.

If it goes well, it's not my. No, you know what? Yeah, good or bad. You got to take it. That's weird. Not to dive right in, but you mentioned that kind of, are they coming? You know, will they come? And it's a different time for young hockey players.

It feels like maybe it's always been that way. But it's more than just the elite one or two. It feels like there's a little kids have some sway now, some real power on, I don't know if I want to play. I may, may not sign. It's just, it's changed. Yeah, it's amazing, you know. And I think it's just the way we are now. I mean, the kids have, I didn't have shooting coaches and personal people talk, you know,

they just have so many people around them. It's like they have a team and we have a team, you know, and whether they want to come, they don't want to come, what they want, how they envision their life going forward. Like they have a plan. I mean, they've kind of mapped it all out,

but, you know, I think in the end, still you get to play in the NHL, you get the dream, right, yeah. You would think.

And for, I'll bet you for 90% of the kids, it's like that, you know, and even players, they're like, you know, when I,

you know, you talk to Matt Coronado after he signed his deal, very excited. Like, happy, can't wait to get going. Clapka, same thing. He's like, I wish you were playing tomorrow. What was the Coronado negotiation like?

Because it did feel like, you know, it's, that's an American kid, hanging Calgary, who careful, but it never really, from where we said, at least, or where I said, it never felt like that was one that you were ever in danger of having any complications with. No, they, you know, it was really, hey, we're open longer. We're okay doing a shorter deal.

We're, you know, we're fine. You're restricted for this amount of years. We're willing to, you know, we're willing to listen to anything. Obviously, we want to see how you feel about it. And they instantly came back so we'd rather do longer. Yeah. You know, Matt wants to be here. There's no question, like, thinks we're going in the right direction, happy, likes

a city, likes being, you know, for an American kid that went to Harvard, you know, with Fox, it didn't work out that way. But. Even Johnny, you had to get on a private jet and you didn't know how that was going to go necessarily, did it? Yeah, it was, it was, I thought it was a done deal. but when we got there, it felt like not quite sure it's going to be done. You know, so, you know, I think those are the things, but it's just, you know, I think,

I think the players kind of the way they talk about the city, the way, you know, Ryan Lumberg's wife went on a podcast. I don't, you know, those things are great for us. I was so happy when she said what she said. And it's, those are the big things, you know, guys are staying here in the summer and they're training and they're not, they're not leaving, you know, which is exciting. You know, I, Wolfie and I walked in the other day. and Baller and, you know, Womberg and Bax is still here.

So, you know, you're, they're enjoying it here. They want to be, they want to stay and they know how much fun it is here in the summer. And the weather, the weather has been hit or miss a little bit, but, you know, they're out golf and they love the mountains. Just, it's a good place to live. And that's what I think people are starting to see. You want to do draft? Yeah, well, I mean, draft to, what, the 27th.

So how do you prepare? And for the first time, you're not going to be at a venue with the players. you're going to be in a war room. Like, is this, how do you prepare for this? It's a little different. Yeah, the one thing I think, so the one thing I'll be able to bring everybody in, Ryan Husk, everybody who wants to come in, player development, pro scouts, we'll all be in one room now.

And when I get a phone call, you know, I would kind of talk, and then I could talk to the few people here on either side, and then it would kind of circle around, would we trade this pick for those picks? Would you do this for this player? like but now we're just going to be able to speak freely. Yeah. What would we do?

Analytics would say, you know, we have a formula to say, okay, if we're going to move down so many spots, what say it's a, we're moving down in the first round, what pick do we need to make it worth our while? Sure. You know, and stuff like that. And then they have a formula, okay, this makes sense. This is a fair deal and we'll move forward. And so that'll be the nice thing.

Is there any kind of a drawback to not being collective on the draft floor? You know, I mean, you're making a lot of calls during the. the week right now just touching base to see would anybody be willing to move up or down what's the appetite for that is just so we have a general idea and you know i think we're at 18 when we kind of see where the draft's falling okay oh is there an opportunity to move up and if so what is it going to take so we have those talks already it is nice at the draft to be able to go and over and just kind of yeah you just you know oh yeah i forgot i'm gonna go can we talk one second and then go through it like that.

It does make it a little easier. But when you're at the table, it is very packed in there and you're trying to keep your lists hidden. And, you know, not that, hey, everyone's doing their own thing. I don't think people are looking over, but, you know, it is tight.

And you're trying to be quiet. Yeah. How would you characterize the draft class? Because it's funny, we were in Nashville, our first year doing this. Your first year is GM. We were there when you made the picks

for the first time as GM. And that was supposed to be this draft class that was just incredible and one for the ages. And the more I look at the 24 draft, I'm like, damn, that was way better than I thought. And the 23s aren't maybe popping as much as I thought they were. How's this group? And how much can you really know until you see them a couple of years down the road?

Yeah, I mean, I think there's some good players in the draft. It's what you're looking for, what you want to do, what, you know, this is a draft where we might know. Usually we could say we kind of hit the list for like 20 to 25. You kind of knew who was going to be in there. I feel like this is a 10 draft. And I don't know how the order is going to go. So after that point, it's just scatter. Yeah, I think people are, they like this type player.

They want that type of player. Maybe they're going to go size on defense. Maybe they're going to go in this direction. So everybody's got their own, you know, it doesn't feel like it's going to be, you kind of could read the tea leaves and say, okay, he's going one. David's going one. Here comes Eichl, too. You know, you felt like you kind of knew.

I think this one, even one. I don't know. I don't know where it's going. Yeah. Like, I think I know who, you know, we would take, but it doesn't mean everyone's going to, you know, especially with Matthew Darsh being a new, a new GM, going with a staff. I don't know, you know, I don't know how much he did with the draft for Tampa. So, you know, he's really going to rely on his guys there and what direction he wants to,

because he hasn't seen his team, he's seen his team play. But, you know, when it's your team, you really start, okay, this is how I'm mapping it out in the future. You're these people fit. This is how we're going to put the puzzle together. So I'm looking forward to seeing, you know, even the number one pick. There are some new GMs when you think about that, right? As far as, you know, for a long time, well, he's been there for 20 years and he's been there for 15 years. And there still are some gray beards or whatever you want to call them.

But you think you got Breyer and Greer and yourself. There's shots all of a sudden. There's been some changes. Yeah, there's been some changes for sure. It's the question, because you're a little further down, I guess it's probably, like positional need or best player. And to a certain extent, you're never going to look past if somebody is a highly skilled defenseman

and maybe you're looking at centers. But it feels like the center spot is such a need for you guys. Are you closer than ever to maybe being position over best player? Or is that ever the case? You know, I think we put the list together. And I think when it comes down to, okay, our picks in two, these are the players. If there was a player that we thought was elite,

like okay even if it was a winger or you know whatever position it was and we said we have to this is this guy's too good to pass that as much as you'd like to go for a position i think we would go with the thing with the player that we say how did he fall to us like we have to take him you know and that's and that's our belief and obviously the other teams don't feel the same way about them but we do you know and that's why we're going to have strength in our conviction when we go you don't worry like that's why i wouldn't want to see i wouldn't even want to see anybody else's list. I just want to see our list and what our guys believe. We put all that work in, all those interviews, all that time in the road. I appreciate what the scouts do, those late nights, and,

you know, I know there's bad weather and, you know, you're always worried, just want them to be safe guys. And, you know, if you need to get a hotel room and stay, just do whatever you got to do to be safe. So that's kind of the focus. But we, we're excited about the draft. I mean, I don't know how it's going to play out at 18. I remember Burkey would always say it, I think, it's a little bit of bluster from Berkey's like, if anybody, we have, we have, our list at the table and if anybody wants to divert from that list that we've worked months and punch him in the mouth or whatever he would say. And we've seen Brad, you know, Brad's thing is, well, we'll move down because there's a player we like we think we'll get. We've got two or three

guys in that pocket. We think we're going to get one of them. Is because you have a surplus of picks, is there how, or how easy is it to maybe, we'll take this pick and this pick and we're going to try and move up. How aggressive do you think that option? Is that option there or is that a lot of good, is that just kind of talk? No, I do think it's there. I do think talking to different GMs and it's there, but it's going to be there at the day of the draft. Because like I said, I don't know how it's going to unfold moving down. You know, and they said, we have a group of players of three players we really would like.

But if they're gone, you know, we'd be willing to move back because then they kind of had a larger group where they feel comfortable with. So, and they would like to, you know, add more picks, you know, especially teams. that don't have a lot of picks. Yeah, I mean, I'm not a prospect expert, but it seems like a consensus opinion. You've got a really, really, really good A prospect in Perek, where you took it nine last year, and you've got a lot of intriguing guys,

but not slam dunks to B stars. Are you of the mind that we don't need more B prospects if we can take two picks where we think we'll get B guys and turn it into an A guy? We've got to do that? I mean, moving up is always easy to talk about it every year. Yeah, we're open to do it, but it just doesn't happen that often.

Would love to do it. Would love to do it. What was it? Two drafts ago, it was a no from everybody. The national draft. Yeah, the national. It was, yeah, exactly. Like, I was like, wow, that was my first one.

I'm thinking, this isn't that easy. I'm very good at this. You know, Berkey sent me a note. Burkey's always sent me no. Hey, it's okay to move up in the draft. You know, it's not illegal. So he, you know, so it's kind of, you know, he gives me a little shot. But that year it was impossible.

Nobody was moving. And I think last year there was a few, you know, few moves, not a ton. But it just depends. It's so hard to get up in the top five. I mean, you would love to get, you know, and for sure, everybody's like, you know, I was when we were watching the, you know, the draft lottery, when I'm thinking, oh, please be number nine. So we would have went down to six. You know, that last ball, I'm like, we're still in it, you know.

We were out on the first, the first round, we were out. I was like, well, that's not fun. I got it. I forgot I was on TV. I'm like, of course we're out first. I threw my hands up. I was like, not happy. But I'm like, Pete's like, you're on TV, Craig.

I'm like, sorry, sorry, guys. I'm like, I'll keep my emotions to a minute. But then I was getting pretty excited. I'm like, oh, here we go. I'm like, it's a six here, you know, like that would be, it would have been amazing. But yeah, you know, but like I do say, as the draft starts to go down, I do think there'll be opportunities.

And you just have to, that's where it would be nice to be at the draft. But, you know, we're all using our cell phones. I think there might be a, I think they might hardwire a line in there like they do at the, at the draft. So I guess a lot of the conversations we've had is very, very big picture and this fan base is having. And it's like, okay, you're watching the Oilers and the Panthers play. It's like, is this a team that's a few tweaks or free agent ads away from being in that level? Do you have to tear it down to the strips? Is there a healthy middle ground?

and there might not be more of like an indicator of where this organization will go than with how you deal with Rasmus Anderson. What are the conversations been like? Because clearly on July 1 you can choose to extend them. He's got one you left on his deal. But you and Rasmus as parties have to be at least close on numbers. So what have the conversations been and how do you sort of move forward because one path is keeping a veteran and the other is potentially moving him for younger assets?

Yeah, I mean, and that's the biggest thing. I mean, even when at the end of the season, kind of when he left, he wanted to just take a mental break, not talk about any of this. So, yeah, so now, you know, over the last week, we've reached out to them and now we've started the dialogue. So it's the beginning of the process. We definitely have a term and number that we like, and they have a term and number they like, and that's where it kind of, you know,

it begins. But, you know, that's part of the process. and it's, I think it'll kind of, you know, I think when you're looking, how this goes, it will determine,

you know, a little bit of what path we're going to go down. You know, so it's, it's never easy, and Rasmus has been unbelievable. I mean, the way he played with the,

you know, the broken leg and to do what he did, you know, to try to get us in. I mean, he's been an ultimate team guy for us and we love him. But again,

it's a business too, and it has to work for both sides. So, you know, we'll continue to see where we're at with the two of us and move from there. Would you want to have resolution ahead of the draft or is like, hey, look, we can go into the fall here and there's other drafts that theoretically, if there was a trade, you could move picks for it. It probably would be best case to have it ahead of the 27th. Yeah. You know, the one thing, I give Rass a lot of credit. He's just very honest, you know, and he just said, hey, if we can't come to a deal or we do come to a deal, like, I'm a Calgary Flame.

Even if I come back next year and I don't have a deal, like, I'm here. I'm going to play hard. You know, I'm going to, I'm going to do everything I can for the team. So if anything, he's been real open to beforehand those conversations. Like, I don't think he would be upset. You know, I don't think there's a deadline for me. Oh, you don't get him signed. He has to go.

Like, Rasmus isn't in that mindset. Rasmus knows he wants to have a great year next year because that helps his contract. Like we all do. Every time I went in a final year, you know, you're thinking, oh, I want to have a big year here. The more I look at him, the more I'm like, this. This is his one cut for agency, if it happens. Because he's 30, yeah. And because he did that, you know, longer, not really a bridge.

Like that second contract, it was a really good team-friendly deal for a long time. And it's like, if he's going to get a lot of term, whether that's seven years from somebody else or eight for you, like, he's now late 30s. He's like, this is one chance to feel the market a bit. Absolutely. I mean, absolutely. I mean, that's, if I was the player sitting the same thing, that's what I would be thinking. Yeah. You know, we couldn't get a free agency until UFA until you're 31, 30.

two back in the day, so you knew that was going to be your one chance. You weren't going to hit it multiple times. I don't want to get you in trouble, and I don't want to do, please. No, it's clipped and it's on the internet, but yeah, are you accepting calls on because that's part of the job? Don't know what your assets are. One avenue is, well, let's see if we can get him signed. The other avenue is, well, what if there's a trade out there that makes sense and if there's a team that loves this guy and it's a no-brainer for us and we have to pursue that, I can only expect that you've been having some conversations with teams. They will be calling. They know what's going on. Not are you fielding offers, but what's that activity like for you as you approach the draft or

just approach July 1 in the summer? Well, that's just part of the job. I mean, you have to do that with every player. I mean, you really do because you don't know what's going to come up, what's someone's needs, how, hey, maybe there's a great fit. I never thought of it. the other guy did, you know, and that, that's part of it, you know, if there's a way someone just calls and says, hey, we would be willing to do X, Y, Z and it's, oh, that, that makes total sense for the next 10 years of our, for our team, we would, we would look at it, but it would, not just RAS, it's, it's, it's, have you been, have you been intrigued at any, anything? You know, it's been, it's been, it's mostly draft stuff right now and then, hey, what do you

think and what are your needs? They're, they're kind of, everyone's had their meetings and they're going through, what is, you know, I call and, and, what do you look what do you guys looking for are you looking for you know what type of player is or a defenseman you need a goalie you need a forward like that's those are the type conversations so you're just kind of building out who might have interest in some of your players because of what they're looking for and that's the way it starts a little bit and then you'd have to call back and start piecing things together and i see why it's why it's hard because we get caught up in the day-to-day and you think a seven-year deal's like that's so long it's a lifetime and it's

I mean, it is. But this is a guy who's 30. He cares like he does. He cares about the crest on the front. He loves it here. You need to, that's the, you need those guys. And he's a hell of a player.

Andy shot blocker and battles. He's exactly what you want. So to lose one of those guys, but that's also coveted by teams that you think maybe they feel like they're a step, but they're this close, they're Erasmus away.

How hungry are you to get this one piece that could push you over the top? It's a delicate balance. And I know for you, you love your players and you love these guys. And you went through it with Hanifin. And not everybody wants to be here. There were some of the guys you knew. As soon as we get them out, probably the better for everybody else in the room.

It doesn't feel like that's the case here. No, it isn't. I mean, and I have a great relationship with Rasmus. I mean, that's the one thing. I mean, I remember the Tom Wilson stuff, both of those two guys. I mean, that's, he's got the stare after the guy. I mean, he's got some mom. He does. He has that personality and he's fun to be around and I enjoy. He chirps me. I'll

chirp him right back. So it's just, you know, like, how many games have you played Rasmus? A thousand nine, buddy, relax, you know? So we have a good relationship. But again, you're always trying to do what's right for the team and you have to take calls, listen. And then there is a financial thing. I know everybody says the cap's going up. The cap's going up. But it doesn't take much to spend the money. Yeah. You know, if you ever dip into free agency and it, it really, the money can go quickly. And you have young guys that are coming, you know, you guys know who I'm talking about. The goaler that he just could pay it soon. Yeah. You know, and that's the thing. They go, it's not like the old days where you go your first contract and there's kind of that bridge.

You know, I'm looking back, I looked back thinking, I wish we had it. You have a good entry level and then, bam, you could nail it. Because that's the difference between then and now. I will move on. But I just wonder, and it's kind of what Pinder said off the start, like with Rasmus, how this goes. If it's extension, I don't know that he walks for nothing. There's always a chance, I guess, of that. But if it's trade or extension, does this have any potential to be a, well, we're changing course now long term. If Rasmus comes back, it's like, well, the term's good and the dollars, we like that deal.

Okay, we're signing them. and if we're signing him, then maybe we're going into free agency to add another one of these. We're going to try. We're tied for a playoff spot. Or if it's, well, it's pretty clear. The money in terms is too much. And we've gotten a good trade offer. Well, maybe now we're more inclined to take other trade requests.

Is it potentially a fork in the road based on how this one negotiation goes? I don't think so. I mean, I think, you know, I kind of said at the end of the year, when I spoke to everybody on the team, it was all pissed off that we didn't couldn't believe you get 96 points we didn't get in and how we're going to be better you know each guy took it said it's on me i got to be a little better if i'm just a little better we're going to take that next step so this is a good i mean we talked about it being a good group it is a good group i think matt coronado kind of shows you hey i want to sign here long term i mean we got

some other guys to get done still but i think it's more about this group believe you he believes, hey, we're the underdog still. No one's going to believe in us next year. We can move forward. So I don't think one leads to the other because our goal is always to continue to get better. Again, we have the plan. We're going to keep putting in young players. We have to put in young players and they have to become significant pieces.

And we've got to give them that support with the veterans. So, and hopefully with that we're getting the playoffs. That's the goal every year for us. Get in and then and let them get some experience. You know, and that's, you know, that's where, like, with Gridden, winning the rookie the year in the Quebec League. Like, you watch a lot of his game, powerful skaters, scoring, you know, can play PPP, PKK, you know, bash of being able to come back.

Unfortunately, you know, and you're looking at our guys, Patagli with 40 goals. You know, we're going to need these guys because we're not going to, I don't see us built. We're not going to build through free agency. That's not a, you know, add, if you can get something, it's got to be the right fit, the right piece. And if it's a star player,

you have to consider that 100%. Those are the things you have to take a chance at. When someone of high caliber gets a free agency, you have to make a pitch to see if you can bring them in. Because, again, with this, we might not be able to draft top five, you know, because I think our teams, they work hard. We're going to win games.

Our young goalie played really well. You know, we're going to have some ups and downs, but I don't think it's a team where you're saying, oh, we're going to, you know, that's not what our guys believe. Our guys believe, hey, we're coming to win each and every. night. So now how do I kind of put the pieces together and add, but it really is going to be through the draft. I believe what you're saying. I also know that Boston and Nashville would have said the same thing a year ago. And they're both going to pick in the top six. Yeah. And those are disastrous

years and they happen. I mean, the 96 points and the culture stuff's great, but there's no guarantee that carries over, right? None. That's why I think people are probably going to put us right. back to where they were last year. You know, 80, 81 points was the overrun or whatever. Yeah, exactly. But we don't believe that. I mean, we, you know, our guys don't believe that because if you let them believe it, even your young guys, what are you really teaching them?

It's okay to lose in the NHL. Oh, we play in the NHL, it's fun. Oh, we lost a lot of games, but it's not really how it works. You have to keep building. So you want, you know, you want to keep adding these guys. I mean, to see Perrette come up, play a game and score a goal. Like, he's going to make a push. This is a guy that we're going to need.

need to be, if we're going to get to where we're going to have to be a really good play for us at some point. I don't want to rush him. I want to make sure he's in the right spot. But, you know, he brings a skill set that is pretty special. That's got to be an exciting guy to have. And I understand that DeLahom is not linear and he didn't have a great camp last year. He didn't play a lot of, the one game at World Champs and I think part of that was get him make sure he's ready for camp this year.

It would be tough to see him go back to a league that he dominated as a defenseman for a second year. or all. True. That's why we wanted to get him back, get him training, get him ready, because he's going to have to get stronger. I mean, he took a couple hard hits in that one game and I'm thinking, he was fine, like really good game. But now you've got to do that 82 times. That's hard. You know, for a young guy, especially defensemen. Forewards, they can, they can be protected a little bit more. Defense, not so much. But it's exciting. You know, it's exciting when you watch him in practice and see what he can do the way his his mind thinks a little bit differently than I'm like whoa

I didn't even really why would I didn't even think he'd pass to that person on the power play during practice and you're thinking oh I can't wait to watch this in the game because he just all of a sudden he's in the slot in the power play and I'm thinking I don't even know how he got there and then he scores I'm good so you know those are the things but that's how we're going to have to do it we're going to if our pick is 18 yeah we need to dial in and make a good pick I know everybody you know, I kind of, whenever I reference what Dallas did, you know, they made some great picks later. For sure, Heskiner, and they got that pick, which was good. Yeah.

So, you know, that's why I said, if we could have went down to six with where we finish, that would have been a home run for us, you know, so I was pretty excited for about 10 seconds and then it was gone. But, you know, we're going to have to continue to, you know, we want to keep building. You want the young guys to be in those games like Matt Coronado. I wish Zari was not hurt, so he could have played in those games. But to have Wolfie down the stretch playing in all those games, I mean, that's important, you know, and I think having the Coleman's and the cadres and the cup winners and all

these guys, I mean, I thought Hughie had an unbelievable year. I mean, killing penalties, he might be our best penalty killer. I was like, very impressed. I was like, you know, when Ryan and him had conversations, how are we going to get him more involved, more ice time? He did kill penalties in Florida. So Ryan's like, we're going to kill penalties. And I'm thinking, oh, I wonder how that's going to work.

Excellent. So. Yeah. Wolf up for the Calder. And I think there have been a lot of those, it'd be nice ifs going into last year. He had to have met all of them and exceeded it. He seems to be on track for what every team would love to have. You mentioned contract.

What's, is this, let's lock this up as long as we can. What is there? Takes two to tango, they say. What's, what are you hearing from their side? Where are we at there? Yeah, they would be, you know, we just, again, we just talked to them, and they'd be open to it. They're going to get back to us. They're not in a hurry.

Yeah. You know, like the one thing about Dustin, even he said, he, he loves it here. You know, where we picked them, the faith we had in them. Yeah. He's a very loyal person. And he's, he wants to show everybody, hey, a lot of teams had a chance to pick me. Everyone. But Calgary did and I'm here.

And, you know, that's what, I mean, he doesn't go home. He's always here in the summer, which is exciting and he's work. And he's working out hard. It's amazing how for a goalie, he's in great shape. You know, like I'm like watching him. He's, and he's, you know, even at his end of the year, he goes, I know I can improve. I have things I need to work on. And he kind of went through him.

And I thought, okay, good. Sounds good to me. Like, so he's, he's already dialed in how he, where he thought he could have improved. He said the same thing the year before. He didn't like how, not that he didn't like, but he was like there was games in that first little, where he came up at the end of the year when Vladar was hurt. And he was like, I got to do this.

I got to come out here. I got to cut down angles and all the technical stuff that I don't really. I'm like, just stop the fuck. Yeah. And Jordan to him talk about it and LaBarbara. And he just, he's like a sponge. He just wants to get better and continue to learn. He's got a great routine like that he does.

Every game I walk down usually to. see the coaches and he's dialed in. I don't talk to him. I just walk by him, walk back by him, leave him alone. But he's focused and, you know, he said, I can play as many games as you. You know, that was his one thing. I can play more games. I can play as many as you want. You do media day of, like, that's, there's some, he's a different cat. Like, that's, he does not fall into a lot of the goalie stereotypes.

No, he's not huge. And B, he's like, yeah, I'll talk with that. What's your best guess as we sit here today on your backup? You know, I think that's still a work. progress. It's a weird market this summer. It is. It is. You know. There's not a lot. You know, and I think that just shows people are locking up their goalies as quick as they can

and just kind of moving past that. You know, but we have some work to do there. So I don't have a exact answer for you, but we'll continue to... What's the biggest, bigger consideration there? How much money, either the backup or the tandem makes or the person because you've got your number one. Yeah, it would seem like. It seems like you're selling 30 to 35 starts no more.

Yeah, so, right. Well, and Wolf wants to play more games. Sure. You always want good people, but you wonder, it's like, do you want that veteran guy who can be there? Or do we got someone that can come in and win games and whether he gets along with Wolfrodd, that's maybe secondary. Well, it's funny.

That's, I mean, those are the conversations Jordan and I have. Like, what is the best partner for him? You know, what makes him feel the most comfortable? You know, obviously, I thought him and Vladie, great together. They did an amazing job. And I saw it grow. The relationship was maybe at the beginning, they both wanted the job, both wanted to be the starter. And it kind of got to a point. I'm not sure when I think it got to a point, but how they were, I could see them talking. It was more, they were a tandem and they were working together. So that was positive, you know,

especially down the stretch. I mean, I know Dan didn't get to play as many games, but when he did play. He was great down the stretch. Excellent. Yeah. Couldn't, couldn't been more happy with Dan's the play. If I'm correct, and not a lot of the coaching stuff is public, but I believe your head coach is heading into the final year of his contract. It used to be the school of thought that you don't have a coach in his final year. It's a lame duck thing. We've seen the league sort of be more open to that now, but then also maybe not.

I mean, there was one year left on DeBoer. There was one year left on Talkett and those situations resolved themselves differently. Are you comfy with a coach in the last year they're deal? Does it make them a lame duck? And where does, you know, getting Huska a new deal rank into your priorities here? It's definitely something that I prioritize. But for me, him going into the last year doesn't do it. You know, I said it a long time ago.

He's my coach. We're building this together. And I think we need some continuity. We've had a lot of coaches change here. And I think that's, it's hard to keep systems and coaches. And then just philosophy. So, I mean, I think Ryan has done an amazing job. You know, we took a step.

and now we're always hoping to take another step. That's the goal. Take another step, get better. But, you know, as far as timing, I don't think it, for me, it doesn't mean as much. Like, I don't think it's like, oh, my God, it's something bad. He's not lame duck coach. You know, it's not, you know, he's done a great job for us. And when we do get time and we both can agree on a deal, I would love to do something with him.

That's right. We watched Sam Bennett's incredible postseason and, you know, just incredible. well, he was here, you got to watch his development. I think he had like five coaches. Like you talk about continuity there. When you look back at Sam and what could have been or maybe what wasn't going to, like, how do you make sense of that?

And, you know, given hindsight 2020 and looking back and the perspective that the management team didn't have then, like what can you learn from that? Well, I can learn. I mean, the one thing is we drafted Sam as the center. We drafted him as exactly what he's doing right now. Yeah. And we never put him a position to do that.

And that was on us, except in the playoffs when he was excellent for us also. And we gave him a few chances. The one probably coach that probably believed or felt like, okay, we're going to do this with Sam was Bob Hartley, you know, that first year. You know, I think he had 18 goals. Yeah, on Backle's line. Yeah, on Backlons line. You know, and I think there was going to be a progression. And then we made the coaching, you know, we make a coaching change.

and then everything changes. Everybody sees everybody a little differently. You know, and that's the thing we can't, we can't afford to do that. We have to find out exactly what our players are and what we believe they're going to be, you know, because when you'd see him in the playoffs,

he was the best finishing checks, doing exactly what he's doing right now. You know, he went to Florida, and they put him on the second line with Jonathan, and away he went. And now he's doing what he's doing. So, you know, you always want to do over and but we didn't we didn't figure out exactly what he was so I think that's important moving

forward to make sure we know exactly what our players are and and be right you know a heck of a lot more than we want to be wrong but Sam was the highest highest pick we've ever had here but how much pressure did he feel because like he never the opportunity wasn't given was well he didn't take anyone's job we talked about it's like how about you go make it impossible for the coach to not play you at 2c he didn't do that. Yeah. No, it's, and that's true too. But still, sometimes you have to give a little bit. Yeah. We talked about it. Not to throw anyone under the bus, but Jeff Ward asked before the start of the season, where is Sam Ben? Where is he playing? Playing center. And it lasted for about a week. And then he was on the wing and then he was down a line and then it was essentially over.

Yeah. And then that was history. Yeah. I mean, those are good things for us to learn and take from above. And, you know, especially when we believed in Sam when he was here. And we just hadn't seen it, hadn't seen it, hadn't seen it. And then, you know, you make the, make the trade. And it felt like overnight when he went to that second line center. Yeah, we went on a heater right away. You know, he got to play with Jonathan. Like I said, and he was excellent.

So, you know, those are good learning things for us. So, you know, we can't afford to make those mistakes with young kids. We got to get you out of here fairly quickly. I guess just as far as July 1, I didn't see, you know, when you go to market and I'm drawing the blank on the player you saw in July 1 last year. Amatha? Because he played nine games. But, you know, here you don't like that side.

Yeah, though. Do that again. Here you are again. It's a team. Well, defensive, they're pretty good. And they play just a little more offense. Is, are you even a bit, are you a bit player July 1? You've got cap space.

Or, hey, let's go. How do you foresee July 1 being for you? You know, I think there's. players that you target and say this is something we'd like to get and you have to go after those players when you have an opportunity might not happen they're they're going to have 31 other teams to look at but i think you have to you have to make a push if you feel like this guy can help you uh even this is the reason and the reasons why it has to make sense long term you know and and he can be a difference maker for us i think that's what we're looking for now you know i think last

year we were looking for some a little bit more like when we got mat that we're saying okay we like we got young guys coming but we don't want to just throw him into the fire and then you know amanda unfortunately got hurt and then but it gave coronado that chance you know so i don't want to block anybody with with someone that maybe isn't he's a little better right now but hey if our young guys are coming they might they might pass him yeah but if there's somebody out there i'll just would you be will you be big game hunting Got to try. I think you have to try all the time.

We're always, like I said, we're trying to get better every day. So you have to see, you know, and you don't know who's willing to come or who isn't willing to come. Until you want. Until you make the phone call and ask. And we do have money. When there's a contract in front of you and you realize they're serious, oh, well, no, I do have a decision. Yeah, it's just like when we got cadre. I wasn't sure, you know, like remember Brad saying, hey, we're going to target cadre and see if we can bring them in.

And it took a while. You know, that one seemed like it went a while. But, you know, we got him. but he was a guy we really wanted, like, and we targeted. Same thing with Coleman and Tanniv, like, you know, those were guys that we were marquee coming in. I mean, I think if there's an opportunity and there's a need, we have to, we have to, especially when you have cap room, you know, and like I said, it can go quickly to

cap room, but we have to be aggressive, especially here in Calgary. You know, we have a new building coming, but we just don't want to get a body to get a body that doesn't make sense for me. You brought in two younger forwards mid-season in the form of, a trade, you got younger, you've been trying to add younger players. What did you make of the third of a season or whatever it was from Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee? Yeah, I thought they fit in great with the group. Unbelievable. I would have liked a little bit more production at times, but you know what? It happens. The one thing about even with Farabie at the end, I think the last

10 games, we kind of took scoring chances. He was third in scoring chances. Cadre, Coronado, then Joel and it just it was not going in so you know we need to get these guys to get back to where you know half a point of game 20 goals but they fit in great to the team they fit in unbelievable I mean frost carrying the puck in on the power play really made a huge difference for the pp kind of what he brings he was good he was good in the face-offs I think he might have been our top face-off which you love which is which is important to win those draws so I think uh you know they now we just need them to we want everyone to take a little bit of a step next year. You know, the young guys, especially, Plapka, getting him done.

You know, he played really well down the stretch. We want, and again, it doesn't always start that way, but we know he can do it, you know, and he's going to have more confidence, and it's going to feel more comfortable to him coming back next year. When I look at your group, like, you're still long in the tooth at certain spots or young in other areas. I wonder, like, kind of lost in this thought here. But I mean, you're going to try to augment the group. You are going to bring in some young guys. There's a stable of kids that you drafted last summer and a lot of them are going to be showing up in the HL as soon as next year. Like you're going to all of a sudden see Basha. You're going to see Gridd and Ristavich. It's just got one year in the hand of his belt. Like, are you, how hungry

are you to get those guys in? This is the guys you've picked. And a year out, like that draft class looks very strong that you had. Yeah. I mean, I do think that's the nice thing. We do have the opportunity to put some of those guys in the American League next year, which I think they're probably ready for. But again, we don't want to rush it. We don't want to put them in over their heads where they're swimming and not having success, and they're like, this is not going well.

We want to make sure, you know, I think we kind of did it with Michael Furlin, remember the first year, and then we end up sending him to the East Coast League. And then we just had them go back to Brandon to kind of reset because it was hard. I mean, even though he's a big, strong guy, powerful, it was hard.

And I think going back, playing and Brandon, having that, you know, last little bit, went to the Morrill Cup, all that stuff was huge for him. And then he came back and he was like a different player the next year. You know, it just takes time. And you don't know who's going to be ready for it at what. But we got to be, that's what we just want to be careful. We don't want to rush guys in to hurt their development. We want to make sure they keep going in the right direction.

One of the guys has been there for a couple of years is Sam Hansick. He's been robbed of a lot of development all time with injury. worry out on Sam and how do you keep him healthy? It's been, you feel so bad for the kid, he's missed a lot of games. Yeah, you know, it's unfortunate. Like the one thing is he had a great camp, came in, he made the team. Then he had the injury and then went down. And it's tough, you know, and then he's like, I'm in the NHL, I'm down.

And then another injury. So it's just been, yeah, we want, he's got to get bigger, stronger. He's got to get, you know, he's got to get a little, but he's powerful. He's fast. His wind gate, I still was looking, he might be one of the best ever at the combine, you know, just like pure explosive power. So I'm like, as he still continues to get bigger, stronger. But again, we need to be patient with, we all want our first rounders to play tomorrow.

Sure. You know, but it might just take a little more time. And we need to be patient. Just like we, you know, we were talking about Sam a minute ago. We got to make sure when he's ready to bring him up. And because these are the big men, fast, fast, strong, physical. and, you know, hopefully he's got all these injuries out of his way, and he's a healthy player for the next 10 years.

We do have to get you out here. Just the last one, we talk about offense and everything. Kind of forgot, in a way, oddly, a forgotten guy was Sharon Govich. He was so good two years ago, gets the deal comes in, injured in preseason, takes him a long time to get in. It was a bad year. We still have, what, 13, whatever he has? 17.

17 goals. You saw him at the end, too. it was back to where in the shootout, back. You just see he felt more comfortable again, and the leg felt good. Yeah. What is he? As a person, as a guy,

I know people joke on, he likes Lego and this sort of thing, but he's still a young player in a different country, in a new city with now a long-term deal. Just, he feels like an important piece, obviously, for this team. He's a huge piece. I mean, you know, when you see a shot,

you see the skill set, you see what he brings. And I think he was very hard on himself this year at times because it didn't start well. Getting hurt in the last exhibition game. Maybe he came back a little quick. And then, you know, it's hard because we're winning. We're off to a good start. Let's get him back.

You know, he's like, I'm pretty, I'm good. I'm good. I can do it. And maybe at that point we should have just said, okay, let's just give it one more week. So you feel completely healthy. Yeah. But, you know, in that towards the end of the year, I really saw it come back.

but he was very hard on himself. So, you know, a lot of it's a mental game too. So we got to make sure that he stays in a good place and hopefully comes in, has a good camp, and we get in injury-free and get him going. But we're going to need them. I mean, shootouts, every point matters. I mean, we're 96 points.

One more shoot-out, one more, you know, it's the what-if game. I try to let it go. But it's hard because you figure out three teams have done it ever where they've got 96 points and not made the playoffs. You know, when you're looking in the east and you're thinking, hmm, 91 got you in. It's frustrating.

But the West is a beast. I mean, it's hard. And, you know, even seeing that Colorado, the first round, it's amazing to see how good the teams are here. So I know we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we're looking forward to it. And I think we've got some great young guys and great leadership on the team with the older guys.

And we're just going to continue forward. And we're hopefully make some great draft picks. Looking forward to this year. It's going to be a fun draft. Thanks for coming in. Appreciate you. Thanks for having me, guys. Thanks, Greg.

Thanks.