Conroy wants to see scoring boost in Saddledome send-off

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 1, 2026

Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy highlighted the need for offensive growth from key young players as the team prepares for its final season at the Scotiabank Saddledome before moving to a new arena. The Flames aim to improve scoring and build momentum for the future while head coach Ryan Huska endorses goaltender Dustin Wolf as the starter and emphasizes healthy competition with Devin Cooley.

Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy emphasized the need for offensive improvement as the NHL team prepares for its final season at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames will officially close out 43 years at the arena with their last home opener Thursday against the Seattle Kraken before relocating next season to their new home at Scotia Place, adjacent to the Saddledome.

Entering his fourth year as GM, Conroy reflected on the organization’s efforts to accelerate the development of young players following a difficult start to the previous season. After nearly making the playoffs in 2025, the Flames began last season with a 1-8 record and fell further out of contention. In response, Conroy intensified a youth movement that began after he was promoted from assistant GM in 2023.

“Our objective has always been to be on the upswing when we move to the new building, and a lot of that depends on the young players,” Conroy said Wednesday inside the Saddledome. “We’ve traded many veterans and have a lot of faith in the players currently on the roster. We want to see progress, a step forward this year, for the sake of the team, the fans, and the city.”

Last season, the Flames struggled offensively, finishing as the NHL’s lowest-scoring team and ranking near the bottom on the power play. They missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. Conroy singled out several young forwards, including Matt Coronato, Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost, Matvei Gridin, Connor Zary, Martin Pospisil, and Adam Klapka, as key contributors who need to increase their scoring output.

“We need all of them to step up and demonstrate where our scoring will come from,” Conroy added.

A longtime figure within the Flames organization, the 55-year-old Conroy spent more than half of his 1,009 NHL games wearing the Calgary jersey during his playing career from 2000 to 2011. He was part of the Flames’ run to the Stanley Cup final in 2004 and served nine years as assistant GM before his current role.

On the goaltending front, head coach Ryan Huska announced that Dustin Wolf will start Thursday’s game against Seattle. Wolf, the runner-up for the 2025 NHL rookie of the year, posted a 23-29-3 record last season with a 3.01 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage. Devin Cooley, who finished with a 10-10-6 record, a 2.69 GAA, and a .909 save percentage, will continue to be a trusted option.

Huska expressed increased confidence in Cooley compared to the previous season. “Last year, there was hesitation due to some unknowns, but based on how he performed, we have no hesitation to go to him now,” Huska said. He stressed the importance of internal competition between goaltenders, clarifying that while there is no plan for an even split in starts, the hotter goalie will see more ice time.

“We have full confidence in both guys now,” Huska added, “so we won’t overuse one or the other based on trust.”

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.