GM CRAIG CONROY calls it a retool. Most fans call it a rebuild. But semantics aside, Calgary greatly reshaped its roster this season. A half-dozen UFAs were traded away, and a whole lot of draft picks and younger players came back. These aren’t your father’s contending Flames anymore.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Front-line center. After Elias Lindholm was dealt to Vancouver, Yegor Sharangovich took on the role of center on the top scoring line. He was miscast there, but connecting for 31 goals kept him in that role. Rookie Connor Zary was tried at center down the stretch, but it’s clear that it’s a position of need both now and when Nazem Kadri and Mikael Backlund age out in a few seasons.
LONG-TERM NEEDS: Calgary secured a number of prospect defensemen while offloading its…
You're reading a preview of
The Hockey News (Digital) - 1 Issue, Draft Preview 2024