Hockey Hall of Famer and Calgary Flames’ legendary forward Jarome Iginla knows who should take over as general manager as the team looks for Brad Treliving’s replacement. He believes Craig Conroy should be in charge of the Flames’ front office and promoted from assistant GM to general manager in order to get the club back on track for the 2023-24 season.
“He’s a great competitor, played a thousand games, he’s a very smart hockey person,” Iginla said Tuesday during an appearance on Sportsnet 960. “I’m excited. I really hope he gets it. I think he’d do a great job. He loves Calgary.”
Iginla knows Conroy is a bit busy at the moment, but believes he is getting great experience at the moment at the annual IIHF Men’s World Championship. Conroy has been named to USA Hockey’s management group for the tournament. It was natural for Conroy to take the job alongside Chris Clark, who was his teammate in Calgary for several seasons.
Conroy has been part of Flames management since retiring as a player, and was named an assistant GM in 2014. He knows everything there needs to know about the team, knowing head coach Darryl Sutter and the organization inside out, from top to bottom.
“He’s a guy who’s great for relationships – I’ve never heard a person say a bad word about him – and in that type of role, it’s relationships all over,” Iginla said, before adding with a chuckle, “he can also be very fiery.”
Iginla had no hesitation supporting Conroy as the next Flames GM seeing that he knows the type of leader he can be. The Hall of Famer witnessed it on and off the ice. He is certain Conroy, who was a finalist for the Buffalo Sabres GM job several seasons ago, has what it takes to help the Flames become, once again, a strong contender, after another busy summer.
“He’d always talk hockey and he got to play with some really good teams and players: the St. Louis Blues, when they were the Presidents’ Trophy winners, and then came to Calgary and was a big leader on our team,” Iginla added. “He was always a guy that cared about everybody, and it’s so important for a team because some guys come (to the rink) and they work and are focused and lead by example, some guys they’re great personalities around the room, great jokesters and bring a team together that way. (Conroy) was a combination of both. He worked really hard, he was committed to it, but he was always a glue guy. He always knew what was going on with everybody in their lives and made them feel a part of the locker room, and if someone wasn’t feeling good, he’d find ways to pick them up.”
Do you agree with Iginla and believe the Flames should promote Conroy to team GM?
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