Draft
In trades, Conroy has added significant draft capital, but obviously, that's only as good as the players you pick with those selections, and right now, Conroy has been hit or miss at the draft. Fortunately for the Flames, he's been much more hit than miss, and while the likes of Sam Honzek stand out as potential misses, with the likes of Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, Ethan Wyttenbach, Cole Reschny and other selections in 2024 and 2025, he has changed the entire organization's draft philosophy for the better.
Gone are the days when the Flames would choose a prospect purely based on size and their physical potential, with the front office now much more willing to take a bet on upside and skill, and it's already paying off. In 2026, we saw the arrival of Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin, and with the likes of Reschny, Wyttenbach and Potter dominating at the college level, it's clearly paying off.
With eight picks in the first 65 selections in the 2026 NHL Draft, this could change rather quickly for better or worse, but with the Flames now ranked highly among the league in terms of their prospect pool, it's safe to say that the draft has seen a major turnaround for Calgary.
Grade: A
Direction
When Conroy took over in 2023, the Flames organization was in disaray, with some fans wanting the team to pivot towards a rebuild while others believed there was an opportunity to contend. Early in his time as GM, Conroy tried to play both sides, but when it was clear that Brad Treliving's core of Mackenzie Weegar, Rasmus Andersson, Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau weren't a winning group, Conroy made that pivot.
That was made completely clear in 2025/26, when the team officially pivoted towards a rebuild, with Conroy now openly talking about how this process will be a long one that requires patience. On paper, that's not a good thing for fans that want to see winning hockey in the SaddleDome's final season, but given that this team hasn't had a consistent contender in decades, it's the right move.
Simply put, when Conroy took over, the organization had no direction and the moves they made prior were confusing, but since then, Conroy has moved veteran assets out in exchange for draft capital and young prospects, and while it's going to take some time, there's a clear direction in Calgary once again thanks to the GM.
Grade: A+
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