Flames name Craig Conroy general manager

The Calgary Flames have announced Craig Conroy as their new general manager.

The news was posted to the NHL team’s website this morning and was followed by an introductory news conference early this afternoon.

“I have a passion for this team. I have a passion for this city,” said a clearly happy and excited Conroy, who became the eighth general manager in team history. “This is a dream job for me. I may not feel that way in a couple of months, but that’s how I feel.”

Conroy said he “felt better” that Flames ownership and executive chose him for the job after conducting an extensive search to replace Brad Treliving, who stepped down from the GM post last month, because he was “the right person for the job.”

Flames president of hockey operations Don Maloney said in a news release it was “rewarding” for the team to hire in-house with Conroy, who has spent the last 12 years working in various Calgary front-office roles.

“Craig brings a fresh approach, high energy, he is a tremendous communicator, decisive, a worker, and he is relationship driven,” Maloney said.

CONNY!

Craig Conroy has been named the #Flames General Manager! In addition, Dave Nonis has joined the organization as the Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations and Assistant General Manager while title changes have been made for Chris Snow and Brad Pascall.

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) May 23, 2023

Conroy, 51, had been an assistant GM for the NHL club over the last nine years under the recently departed Brad Treliving. The fan favourite started his tenure in the Flames’ front office as a special assistant 12 years ago after retiring as a player. Treliving left the Flames in April after almost nine years as GM following a season in which the team failed to make the playoffs.

“Over the course of the past 12 years, I’ve put in the time in every aspect of our hockey operations to prepare myself for today,” Conroy said in the news release. “I’m ready to accept this challenge and promise our fans that our team will do the work required to make them proud on the journey to deliver a championship.”

Conroy has worked in different parts of the organization, from scouting and player development to management.

The former forward from Postdam, N.Y., logged more than 1,000 games in the NHL, just over half of them with the Flames. The Clarkson University graduate was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1990 and turned pro in 1994 following school. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1996 then in 2001 to the Flames, with whom he served as team captain from ’01-03. He left Calgary in 2005, signing with the Los Angeles Kings but was reacquired by the Flames in a trade in 2007.

Other management announcements

• The Flames introduced Dave Nonis as senior vice-president of hockey operations and assistant general manager. Nonis, most recently an AGM with the Anaheim Ducks from 2019-22, is a former GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks.
• Brad Pascall, who had been a Flames AGM along with Conroy, is now vice-president of hockey operations and assistant GM.
• Chris Snow, who also served as a Flames AGM under Treliving, is now vice-president of data/analytics and assistant GM.