Flames finally break silence on Nikita Zadorov trade request
GM Craig Conroy has his work cut out for him.
HockeyFeed
The Calgary Flames, much like their Alberta rival Edmonton Oilers, have largely struggled to start the season, though they've been able to string together a few wins to put some distance between themselves and Edmonton.
And it was recently that defenseman Nikita Zadorov stunned fans with a trade request not long after having been contemplating a contract extension.
It's looking more and more like Zadorov, who has a goal and six assists in the first 17 games of the 2023-24 season, will not be finishing his career with the Flames as originally thought.
For Flames general manager Craig Conroy, a former fan favorite who is in his first year on the job after taking over from Brad Treliving, it sounds as though he has a good attitude about the latest organizational setback.
“We’ve had conversations. We have a good relationship, we really do,” Conroy explained. “We get along well. I’m going to keep that between him and I, but we talk. He’s been a pro about everything and he’s played well."
In true professional form, Conroy stated that whatever decisions that are to be made will be in the best interest of the Flames organization.
“It’s just like any other person. We’re just going to do what’s best for the Calgary Flames, and on our timeline,” Conroy said.
As stated last week by NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun, Zadorov wanting out is just the "tip of the iceberg" of what is likely going to be a major period of transition for the franchise.
“The bottom line is this: the Zadorov trade request that came out Friday night was really just the tip of the iceberg - what teams are telling us is that the Flames are listening on other pending unrestricted free agents: Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, the Flames are ready for a roster reset here," LeBrun explained. "Now, Hanifin almost signed an extension here last month, close to $6 million, but he decided he wanted to wait and think about things and now that ship has sailed. The Flames are listening on these guys but they’ve got no hurry, they have until March 8 for the trade deadline to seek a return on these players.”
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