Flames GM Conroy caps off first 'nerve-wracking' NHL Trade Deadline with two minor moves
Craig Conroy wrapped up his first NHL Trade Deadline as the general manager of the Calgary Flames with a couple of minor moves.
The rookie general manager said the deadline was a “nerve-wracking” experience, capping off a busy season of deals.
Over the course of the year, the rookie general manager shipped out several players set to hit free agency this summer, including Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov.
“We wanted to do what we thought was fair by the players and what worked for us moving forward,” Conroy said.
“It’s tough. All great players, all good people, and I wish them all the best, but again, I knew we had to do this for the organization and the franchise moving forward.”
The Flames didn’t make any major moves on Friday, but one blockbuster trade involving the Vegas Golden Knights will affect their return on a different deal.
With the Golden Knights trading their 2025 first-round pick to the San Jose Sharks for forward Tomas Hertl, the Flames will receive Vegas’ 2026 first-round pick as part of the return for Noah Hanifin.
The Flames sent Hanifin to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a conditional first-round pick, a conditional third-round pick and defenceman Daniil Miromanov. They also retained 50 per cent of his salary.
General manager Craig Conroy confirmed the team would receive the Golden Knights' 2026 first-round pick, with no further conditions on it.
The conditional third-round pick becomes a second-round pick if Vegas makes it to the second round of the playoffs.
All eyes were also on goalie Jacob Markstrom as the clock ticked down toward the 1 p.m. MT deadline on Friday – but he remains a Flame.
“Jacob’s a competitor, and he cares about these guys,” Conroy said. “I know there’s been noise, but all he does is play well.”
Flames acquire Okhotiuk, extend Rooney
Calgary acquired Nikita Okhotiuk from the San Jose Sharks for a 2024 fifth-round pick, the team announced Friday.
The Russian defenceman has appeared in 43 games with the Sharks this year, scoring one goal and seven assists, for eight points.
Okhotiuk was originally a second-round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL Draft.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Nikita Okhotiuk against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The first thing that came to Conroy’s mind when asked about Okhotiuk’s play was two words: big hits.
“He plays hard, simple puck mover,” Conroy said.
“He’s a high-character individual, from talking to people that know him, where he’s played, right from junior all the way up. It’s important for us to bring in different-type players.”
The Flames also announced a one-year contract extension for forward Kevin Rooney. The contract, through 2024-25, will pay Rooney an AAV of $1.3 million.
Rooney has suited up in 13 games this season for the Flames, registering one goal.
Still fighting
The Flames currently sit six points out of a playoff spot, having won six of their last seven games. Conroy commended the leaders in the dressing room for continuing to fight, despite all of the distractions.
“I wish I could have calmed the noise, and I wish I could have done more, but you can’t,” Conroy said.
“But the way these guys handled it and the way they’ve risen to the challenge every day, it's very impressive and it says a lot about that team down there and the belief they have in each other.”
One of the remaining unrestricted free agents the Flames didn’t trade or extend was Oliver Kylington.
Conroy said the team is hopeful they can get the Swedish defenceman extended, but the priority right now is taking care of Kylington as a person, following his extended leave to tend to his mental health.
The Flames also acquired centre Riley Damiani from the Dallas Stars in exchange for centre Emilio Pettersen, on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977053.1721909931!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
DEVELOPING Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Loblaw, George Weston to settle class action over bread price-fixing for $500 million
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. say they have agreed to pay $500-million to settle a class-action lawsuit regarding their involvement in an alleged bread price-fixing scheme.
EXCLUSIVE One address, 76 foreign currency dealers: Inside Canada's money service business 'clusters'
An IJF and CTV News investigation has found dozens of cases across Canada where multiple money services businesses (MSBs) are incorporated at the same address, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of the location's actual occupant. One money laundering expert calls it an 'abuse of the system.'
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.