As soon as Craig Conroy was hired, he was off to a busy start. Conroy inherited a team that didn’t seem to have any sort of identity. Not sure if they were either a playoff team hoping to compete for a Stanley Cup, or if they were a team in need of a shake-up. Conroy had the chance to put his fingerprints on the team, and decide on the direction that he thought would be best.
So far in his tenure, he has traded 2022–23 Flames leading scorer Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, and Elias Lindholm. Through the trades, he acquired Yegor Sharangovich who is second on the team in goals, Andrei Kuzmenko, and a haul of picks and prospects. Conroy has shown he is not afraid to make moves, and with Noah Hanifin deciding to head to free agency, and Jacob Marsktrom rumours out in full force, it’s likely that more than a couple of moves might still be in store for Conroy.
Conroy is still a very new GM to the league, and fans weren’t sure what to expect out of him when he was first hired. So after some months of work from Conroy, do fans trust Conroy? We asked, you answered.
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How much is Conroy trusted in Calgary?
We presented the below poll to our readers, asking a simple question: Do you trust Craig Conroy? The answers were pulled from Magic 8-Ball answers.
Most Likely
Around 37% of readers are pretty comfortable with Conroy so far. Though it is a small sample size, which is why there is less certainty with this option, Conroy has made moves that have not received much criticism or pushback from fans and media. If the GM is able to build off the moves he has made and continue to effectively manage his assets, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more of the readers in this section move towards a firm supportive stance on Conroy as GM.
Signs point to yes
Most votes went towards people trusting Conroy. It’s quite impressive for Conroy to have majority of the fanbase happy with his work so early into his position, especially with the major moves that he has made. The Toffoli and Sharangovich trade was met with some criticism early on, however, Conroy knew that Sharangovich would be getting an increased opportunity in Calgary, and it has worked wonders for the team.
Additionally, the Lindholm trade gave Calgary an absolute haul in return. It was impressive what Conroy was able to get back for a player who isn’t a number one centre, was on a down year, and didn’t even sign an extension. Conroy has made impressive moves as the Flames GM, and fans have certainly noticed.
Ask again later
Not many readers selected this option, but I do get those who have this view. As a GM, you are making decisions that not only affect the hockey club in the current year but in future years as well. The end goal is to be able to build a hockey team that can compete for and win a Stanley Cup. The only way to know for sure that you did a good job as a GM? Win a Stanley Cup.
It’s harsh criteria to measure success by, and it’s one of the toughest trophies to win in all of sports, but there would be no doubt about Conroy and his abilities if he is able to do that. Because that day has not come yet, some fans just may not be able to assess his performance yet.
Outlook not so good
Barely any readers don’t trust Conroy. That just speaks to how great of a job he has done so far.
Keep up the approach
Conroy has shown that if there is one thing he wants this franchise to have, it’s effective asset management. This is key for a team that is looking to rebuild and one day have a roster that can compete with the best teams in the league. If Conroy keeps up this approach, the franchise should be in good hands.
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