Craig Conroy’s patience is starting to show up in a very real way for the Flames.
Since becoming Calgary’s general manager in May of 2023, Conroy has leaned hard into patience, and that approach has helped him navigate several high-profile trade situations over the last three seasons. This fall, that same trait is paying off with Adam Klapka and Martin Pospisil, two forwards who entered training camp under plenty of pressure.
That pressure was no accident. With a wave of prospects arriving through the draft and via trade over the last few years, the battle for jobs in the organization has been tougher than it has been in ages. Klapka and Pospisil were part of the group that had to answer for it.
They did.
After exit meetings delivered a strong message, both players responded the right way. They attacked their off-season training better than ever, and the results are showing on the ice. At the same time, Calgary made sure they had a real chance to run with those opportunities.
One thing I was told this week was how much the organization still believed in both players heading into the summer. The Flames wanted each of them to raise his level, but they also wanted to give them the space to prove they could handle it.
For Pospisil, that meant a clear runway at centre from the opening of camp. The team said early he would get plenty of time down the middle, and they’ve stuck with that plan even as the lines have shifted. Many around the game have viewed him as a winger long term, but Calgary has kept him at centre.
Klapka’s path has been just as defined. He opened camp on the right side of the fourth line and was asked to own that spot.
He has done exactly that, bringing consistency through his physical play, forechecking and willingness to drop the gloves. The offence he has added has only made the package more impressive.
The numbers match the eye test. Klapka and Pospisil are both near the top of the table in individual five-on-five metrics such as expected goals, high-danger scoring chances, shots and shot attempts.
In Other News...
Wranglers Grind Out Road Win Behind An Early Boost And Late Finish
A quick start and a disciplined finish gave the Calgary Wranglers a 2-1 road win over the Colorado Eagles in Loveland, where Carter Wilkie put Calgary in front early in the first period and the visitors spent much of the night managing the margin. It was the kind of game that asked plenty of both teams, with penalties and power-play chances shaping the flow and forcing the Wranglers to stay sharp after getting the early boost.
Owen Say handled the net for Calgary, and the Wranglers were able to lean on that opening goal long enough to keep Colorado from fully taking control. The game stayed tight into the third period before Calgary found the decisive answer on the man advantage, a finish that fit the hard-earned feel of the night and left the Eagles with little room to recover. [Read more 🡒]
MacKenzie Weegar Was Almost Headed Somewhere Else Before Calgary Dealt Him
MacKenzie Weegars path out of Calgary almost took a different turn before the Flames finally moved him on March 4, 2024. Ottawa had been in the mix, but the deal never got over the line, and the defenseman ultimately landed with Utah after agreeing to waive his full no-move clause to make the move happen.
Since then, Weegar has settled into a top-four role with the Mammoth and signed on through the 2030-31 season, a clear sign of how quickly the fit has taken hold. From Calgarys perspective, it is one of those trade stories that still carries a little extra intrigue because the destination was not always so certain, and the player involved has clearly found some comfort in his new home. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Hanley Just Gave The Flames A Tough Lineup Decision
Joel Hanley had not played for the Calgary Flames in more than a month, but he was suddenly back in the mix Friday night and made the most of the opportunity. With Kevin Bahl unavailable, Hanley was pressed into service against the Anaheim Ducks and even chipped in a goal in Calgarys 5-3 loss, giving the coaching staff a timely reminder of what he can offer when called upon.
What makes the performance more interesting for the Flames is how quickly Hanley had to get ready, then how comfortably he handled the jump into a bigger role. He skated 16:42 alongside Simon Nemec on the top pairing, and head coach Ryan Huska praised his readiness and execution on short notice, which only adds to the sense that Calgary may have a tougher decision ahead the next time its blue line is healthy. [Read more 🡒]