Conroy freezes – Craig Conroy says the Calgary Flames won’t dip into free agency this summer as they watch younger prospects at development camp. Instead, the team makes qualifying decisions, prepares a long-term push for Simon Nemec, moves on from several players including Ry
CALGARY — Calgary’s summer doesn’t start with a flurry of phone calls.
Craig Conroy and his front office will spend Canada Day the way the Flames want it: at WinSport, watching their latest draft picks at development camp. While other general managers pick at the remaining impact players on the pricey open market, Conroy is clear about what this team isn’t doing.
“We’re always looking to do something, but I really don’t know how many guys are going to be available to us that make sense who fit what we’re looking for,” Conroy said. “With where we are, we have a lot of bodies right now anyways, and you know we’re going to see how these guys do.”
The message landed quickly: the rebuild wants competition, not shortcuts. And Monday brought the roster work to match the plan.
The Flames had to do housework first, deciding which restricted free agents to qualify. Simon Nemec received a qualifying offer, as did William Stromgren and Brennan Othmann. Rory Kerins and Sam Morton were also re-signed.
For the players not issued qualifying offers, the organization moved on: John Beecher, Parker Bell, Lucas Ciona, Artem Grushnikov, Carter King, Gavin White and goalie Owen Say.
Say’s situation comes with a hurdle. He needs to be cleared from a recent injury, and the belief inside the organization is that he will be re-signed at some point to remain part of the goaltending conversation at the AHL level.
With those pieces sorted, Conroy’s summer focus sharpens around one name. He will now work on signing Nemec to a long-term deal. The 22-year-old defenceman said he’s open to it after being traded from New Jersey to Calgary as part of a massive six-piece deal before the draft last week.
Lomberg won’t be back past July 1
If the Flames are letting young players battle, they’re also preparing to move on from a fan favourite.
Conroy clarified what had long been expected: the 31-year-old Ryan Lomberg will not be kept past July 1. “We brought him in, and he’s been unbelievable, but I just do think with the amount of bodies we have up front it’d probably be tough to bring back Ryan,” Conroy said.
He added that there’s affection left in the relationship even if the contract ends. “I mean, we love him, and he’s always going to be a Flame, no matter what, even if he’s not here next year.”
Lomberg had made it clear he wanted to continue being a Flame, and he has plans to live in Calgary when his playing days are over. The wrench was roster reality. His spot in the lineup was taken over by youngsters in the final third of the season.
Unrestricted free agency arrives Wednesday for seven others: Jake Bean, Victor Olofsson, Clark Bishop, Justin Kirkland, Nick Cicec, Daniil Miromanov and goalie Ivan Prosvetov.
One of the biggest questions sits with a player who never found his footing the way the Flames hoped. Miromanov is a 24-year-old junior star who hasn’t gained the traction he wanted since Calgary drafted him 24th overall in 2020. Injuries have played a role. and the coach and player have not been aligned on where and how he should be used. The relationship “simply hasn’t blossomed the way either side would have liked.”.
Rumours have also pointed to a trade direction. Reports have surfaced that Calgary would like a second-rounder in exchange for his services. But with his best season coming three years ago—14 goals and 34 points—the Flames may need to decide if they’re willing to lower the asking price so both sides can move on. If no deal materializes, the Saskatoon native could open the season in Calgary. He has two years left on a deal paying him $3.77 million annually.
Coleman, Huberdeau and the injury that shaped the season
The Flames’ summer also includes ongoing contract uncertainty and a medical timeline that could influence camp readiness.
Before his final season under a contract paying him $4.9 million, the 34-year-old winger has submitted his 10-team approved trade list. There has been no movement yet. Conroy expects that could change after free agency, and that a team or two may circle back. He also said leadership still matters inside the building. so he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the player starting the season in Calgary.
A trade is almost certainly in the works ahead of the trade deadline. Conroy revealed in the spring that Coleman would consider foregoing a shot at his third Stanley Cup ring to stay as a mentor in Calgary. but only if the team extends his contract past this season. The situation remains fluid—both the team and the player are comfortable with whichever path it takes.
And then there’s the one injury that ended a season early: Jonathan Huberdeau.
His season ended early so he could have hip resurfacing surgery, which requires several months of rehabilitation afterwards. Conroy said he spoke to Huberdeau three or four days ago, and that the forward is skating. “He said it feels great in the gym and great doing everything else. The skating is a work in progress. but he’s got a few months still. so he thinks he’ll be 100 per cent ready to go. ” Conroy said.
Conroy also described what eased his concern at the start of camp planning. “Hubie was probably the one I was most worried about for camp. but it sounds like he’s going to be ready to go. It’s not minor surgery, you don’t really know how guys will respond to it. He said he’s pain-free, which is the first time in a long time. So that’s a great sign.”.
The Flames are building their plans around what they can see on the ice and what they can control on the contract side. The rest—who comes knocking through free agency that Conroy says likely won’t “make sense” for this team—will have to wait until Wednesday’s free agency window opens.
Calgary Flames Craig Conroy free agency Canada Day development camp Simon Nemec Ryan Lomberg restricted free agents qualifying offers July 1 Jonathan Huberdeau hip resurfacing surgery contract negotiations