The Calgary Flames have officially hired former captain Craig Conroy as their new general manager, the team announced Tuesday.
The move was first reported Sunday.
The club also announced former Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs GM David Nonis has been named senior vice president of hockey operations and assistant GM.
The club also announced extensions and appointments for Brad Pascall as vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager and Chris Snow as vice President data/analytics and assistant GM.
“We conducted an extensive search process and today we are thrilled to introduce Craig Conroy as our general manager,” said Flames president of hockey operations Don Maloney. “It is rewarding for the organization to learn that the most qualified individual for the position has been preparing in house. Craig brings a fresh approach; high energy; he is a tremendous communicator; decisive; a worker; and he is relationship driven. His passion for the Flames and the community are unmatched. Craig is ready for the challenge to lead our team to the Stanley Cup.”
Conroy, 51, played nine seasons over two different stints for the Flames, including the 2003-04 run to the Stanley Cup Final when the team lost in Game 7 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was the team’s captain in 2002-03 before handing over the role to friend and teammate Jarome Iginla to start the 2003-04 campaign.
After more than 1,000 career NHL games, he hung up his skates following the 2010-11 season, then was a front-office hire by Flames president Ken King just one week after announcing his retirement.
Conroy was then promoted to assistant GM in 2014 where he was mentored by former Flames general manager Brad Treliving for nine years.
Treliving and the Flames mutually parted ways at the conclusion of this season after the team failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“Over the course of the past 12 years, I’ve put in the time in every aspect of our hockey operations to prepare myself for today,” Conroy said. “I’m ready to accept this challenge and promise our fans that our team will do the work required to make them proud on the journey to deliver a championship.”
Treliving has been the GM in Calgary since taking over from Brian Burke back in April of 2014. Under his direction, the Flames made the playoffs five times, and won two Pacific Division titles in 2018-19 and 2021-22.
The Flames also fired head coach Darryl Sutter, with Maloney explaining that the team was in need of a fresh voice.
Nonis was GM of the Canucks from 2004-2008 and with the Maple Leafs for two seasons beginning in 2013.
“David’s experience is extensive, having performed the role of a general manager in the past. Given the complex nature of the business and the decisions required to be made in this area, we believe David will be a valuable addition in assisting Craig and our hockey operations team,” Maloney said.
One of Conroy’s first tasks as general manager will be to make a decision on the team’s next head coach.
Conroy will take over a team that finished with a disappointing 37-27-17 record this season, and also has a lot of notable players on the final year of their deals.
A good chunk of the Flames’ core, including players like Mikael Backlund, Tyler Toffoli, Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin will play on the final year of their contracts in 2023-24.
If the Flames get off to a slow start, Conroy could be faced with some major decisions about the future direction of his team very early on in his role as Flames GM.
Conroy and the Flames will select 16th overall at the NHL Draft on June 28.
