One of the most depressing days of an NHL season is locker cleanout day. Every season, 31 teams and fanbases have to go through it, with only one being able to relish in celebration. For Calgary Flames fans, this day has been a constant for the last 35 years, and hopefully, one day soon, the team won’t have to go through one.
That being said, it’s often one of the final news-filled days before the NHL Draft, which is a few months away. Yesterday was no different as there was lots to digest across the organization. Here is everything key you need to know:
Markstrom’s Future
One of the biggest unresolved plot lines from this past season was the handling of Jacob Markstrom. From a potential trade to no trade at all, his status for the 2024–25 season seems up in the air. The team currently has three goalies under contract, so something has to give. When asked about his thoughts on if he will be here next year, Markstrom was non-commital:
What is even more suspicious was Craig Conroy’s response when asked the same question:
If I were Jontay Porter, I’d probably be placing some wagers on Markstrom being traded at the draft. New Jersey’s 10th overall selection seems like the prime trade piece the Flames would want right now, and the team cannot afford to have this storyline hover over the team for months to come. Nothing against Jacob Markstrom at all—as he’s been a great fit in Calgary—it’s just time to move on.
Players’ futures
A big question asked to most players was if they would be willing to stay through a “retool.” Most players—like Mikael Backlund, Blake Coleman, MacKenzie Weegar, and even Nazem Kadri—all seemed to be buying into the next few years of Flames hockey. Being under contract, that, of course, should come as no surprise.
The only wrinkle was that of Rasmus Andersson, who seemed hesitant to talk about his future past his current contract:
That being said, what person likes being asked about what they plan to do in two years?
Additionally, A.J. Greer and Oliver Kylington, who are pending UFAs, asked if they wanted to stay in Calgary. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see them both back in Flames colours next season.
World Championships
Last year, the Flames were well-represented at the World Championship, but this season may be a little light. Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, Oliver Kylington, and Mikael Backlund all declined invites to their respective teams. Some were due to family reasons, but mostly due to nagging injuries they want to recover from.
Andrew Mangiapane and Jonathan Huberdeau are still mulling over their invites to Team Canada, which would be foolish of them to decline based on their seasons. So, as it stands right now, Martin Pospisil may be the only player attending on behalf of the Flames, which is one of the best stories of the season.
GM notes
Craig Conroy, in classic Craig Conroy fashion, spoke at length about the season and his approach moving forward. He touched on some players’ performance, including trying to find Jonathan Huberdeau a player with whom he can form some chemistry, but he was hesitant to talk about player injuries.
His most insightful comments were about his approach to his “re-tool” and using the Dallas Stars as the mold. This is extremely encouraging, as Dallas used a brief down period and one heck of a draft to turn their team into a long-term success. Could this year be the draft that does it? Surely, Conroy and company are thinking that way.
Although not as dramatic as last season—when almost every Flames player seemed like they wanted out of the franchise—it still provided everyone with some key insight moving forward. Until next year!
