When asked about his top priority for the summer, Calgary Flames General Manager Craig Conroy had a clear answer.
Conroy stated that finding the “right centre” was definitely a key goal, as the Flames organization is particularly in need of right-handed shots and players who can play centre.
He plans to instruct his pro scouts during their May meetings to identify potential long-term players who can make a significant impact on the team.
Conroy anticipates this list won`t be extensive, but emphasized that if they identify an impactful player within the desired age range (22-26) whom they believe they can acquire, they will pursue that opportunity.
This expectation of a short list is supported by data, which shows only eight right-handed centres with expiring contracts falling into Conroy`s preferred age bracket of 22 to 26.
The top players on this list include Gabe Vilardi from Winnipeg and Morgan Geekie from Boston, a 33-goal scorer. Both would be valuable, albeit expensive, additions to any roster.
However, these two are currently playing as wingers, not centres, despite being highly valued top-line players.
The other six players on the list are Restricted Free Agents (RFAs). The highest scorer among them is 23-year-old Mavrik Bourque from Dallas, who recorded 11 goals and 25 points.
The remaining names on the list are Cody Glass, Rasmus Kupari, Mark Kastelic, Philip Tomasino, and Marc Gatcomb.
All of these players are RFAs, meaning they would likely need to be acquired via an offer sheet – a strategy Conroy is willing to consider. However, with the rising salary cap, many teams have increased flexibility to match offer sheets and retain their players.
Tristan Blackwood