Flames GM Craig Conroy Looking at Trade for Right-Shot Center

Despite the loss Saturday night, the Calgary Flames continue to hunt for the playoffs in the Western Conference, battling for the final wild-card spot. Calgary sits a point in front of the Canucks; therefore, Flames General Manager Craig Conroy rewarded his club by trading for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost.

Conroy has always viewed his plan as a retooling on the fly, not a rebuild. He had intended to trade Andrei Kuzmenko, but adding Jakob Pelletier to the package was a tough decision. It was a call he made to add upgrades as a reward the players who are performing well under head coach Ryan Huska.

Conroy added Frost and Farabee. However, the Flames General Manager is not finished adding to the roster.

Craig Conroy Still Wants to Add a Center

During the first intermission of the Flames and Detroit Red Wings game, Conroy joined the Hockey Night in Canada panel to discuss the trade he made during the week acquiring Farabee and Frost and what they bring.

“I think we’ve been looking for a younger center for a while, and talking to all the teams, it’s not easy to do. But as we moved along, Danny and I talked the other day, and we’ve talked. I mean, this has been months, and then all of a sudden it started one for one, and then it got a little bigger. And then kind of the deal that it turned into. We thought we could bring in two younger guys that fit what we’re trying to do here. Farabee scored 20 goals a couple of times a league already. For Morgan, an opportunity to come here and play center for us and help us out in that position.”

Frost is a good addition to the Flames, as he is a controllable asset at the end of the year. He is a restricted-free agent and may not cost much to keep. Frost will get a raise on the $2.1 million he is making. Not to mention, Frost needed a change of scenery. Despite producing in Philadelphia, Frost was always in the Flyers head coach’s doghouse. 

Right-Shot Centers Are Hard to Find via Trade

The Flames are excited about Frost, but for as much as he is, what he isn’t means Calgary still has work to do. The Flames have needed a right shot since they traded Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks. and then signed with the Boston Bruins this past off-season. Frost shoots left.

Conroy is learning how hard it is to make that type of trade as teams covet young right-shot centers, particularly for the playoffs. 

Conroy is still on a mission to add that age-appropriate center to grow with the group. He told Ryan Leslie of Sportsnet: “Right shot center. I mean, it’s something I’ve talked about since the Draft last year. … It’s still a priority. Just haven’t been able to find one.”

He has options if he wants to get an age-appropriate center like Dylan Cozens from Buffalo. As NHLTradeTalk.com has reported, that is the type of center the Flames would like to add. But that wants someone in their mid-20s to grow with the club.

Action has been heating up on the trade market, with the Four Nations Faceoff being a second trade deadline this season. Again, there is an emphasis on making the playoffs and playing meaningful hockey. That is why Craig Conroy is looking to add to his club for the stretch run.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Morning Roundup: Canucks, Flames, Canadiens Bench Laine