Flames laying solid foundations through 2024 and '25 drafts
It's too early to say for sure how any of the Flames' later round picks will wind up, but the likes of Andrew Basha and Henry Mews — both taken outside the first round last year — and 2025 picks Theo Stockselius and Mace'o Phillips all have legitimate NHL upside.
'I do feel like we've checked boxes,' Conroy said. 'With that said, I was thinking in my mind that we still need these guys to come in here and do it. What we project them to be, we think they're going to be able to help us move forward to our ultimate goal to win a Stanley Cup (and) to make the playoffs consistently. Obviously, with the new building coming you would love to be on a roll in a few years and have a lot of these young players pushing for the NHL.
'To see Parekh come up, I know it was only one game, but to see him get one game and score, you're thinking about the future and where this might go. All these young players we've drafted are a part of it.'
There are still pieces that need to be acquired, and big ones, too. They're set in net, have potential foundational pieces on the blueline in Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz, and have added some real skill to their forward group in the last two drafts. A surefire, superstar No. 1 centre is still missing, though, and those are generally only acquired in the top two or three picks of the draft.
The Flames are two-thirds of the way through this three-draft window, though, and the base of the pyramid is starting to look pretty solid.
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Toronto Sun
16 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
SIMMONS SAYS: Blue Jays' LaMacchia hit a home run with Clancy
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Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
He isn't bionic, but this Edmonton Oiler may still become The Six-Million-Dollar-Man: 9 Things
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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Former Jets captain officially hangs up blades
The end officially came for a Winnipeg Jets 2.0 legend on Saturday. The team's long-time captain, Blake Wheeler, announced his retirement from the NHL after 16 NHL seasons. Wheeler, 38, hadn't played a game since the 2023-24 season when he put up nine goals and 21 points in 54 games with the New York Rangers. His regular season was cut short when he was injured on Feb 15, but he did suit up for one playoff game on May 28 against the Florida Panthers. It would be his only playoff appearance that season. Winnipeg Jets right wing Blake Wheeler (26) celebrates his goal during first period NHL hockey action against the Toronto Maple Leafs, in Toronto, Thursday, March 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn Wheeler played 13 seasons with the Jets/Thrashers franchise, and was its captain from 2016 to 2022. Wheeler was taken fifth overall in the 2004 draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. He played 1,172 NHL games for the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers, Jets and Rangers and put up 943 points (321 goals and 622 assists). He also recorded 10 goals and 45 points in 66 playoff games. After having the captaincy taken away from him in Winnipeg and then being bought out by the team, Wheeler signed with the Rangers. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Wheeler ranks first in games (897), assists (550) and points (812) and fourth in goals (262) in Jets/Thrashers history. His 39 playoff points when the team (nine goals, 30 assists) rank third. Among American born players in the NHL, Wheeler is 26th in games played, 25th in goals, 11th in assists and 14th in points all-time.
