Everyone enjoys a winner, which is why the 4-0 Calgary Flames are attracting considerable attention early in‍ the NHL season. This includes an ⁢article by ⁤my colleague Pierre LeBrun, who highlights several key changes that‍ have contributed to their‍ surprising strong start.

Winning hockey games has been a central theme in general manager Craig Conroy’s communication since he succeeded Brad Treliving 17 months ago. However, ​not everyone has appreciated Conroy’s approach to rebuilding the team⁣ after losing several longstanding players last year.

Conversely, some—perhaps many—on social media support a drastic “scorched-earth” strategy for ‍revitalizing a struggling ⁤franchise. Such tactics do not align ⁤with Conroy’s philosophy, nor have they ever.

Conroy firmly believes that the⁢ best path to improvement lies in striving to ​win every night, as opposed to gently guiding the organization toward the bottom of the standings, hoping ⁣for a⁤ future​ No. 1 overall draft ​pick ⁣to trigger the ⁢turnaround.

While⁣ this⁣ perspective may‌ not be universally popular, it is the ‍approach the team will adopt ⁢going forward, he conveyed during an interview at Scotiabank Saddledome.

“You can’t tell people that losing is acceptable and then later expect them to win.​ How does ⁣that work?” Conroy remarked. “Where in ⁤our minds does​ it say that is possible? If a culture develops where losing is tolerated,⁣ it doesn’t foster a winning mentality.​ I accept that we will lose games, but⁤ the mindset must always ​be: ‘We are ⁣here to win. This is our responsibility.’

“As a player, I always feared someone might take my job if we weren’t ⁤successful. I loved playing in the NHL. Therefore, if you⁤ indicate to people that losing is fine—or if they perceive that ‍‘Craig doesn’t care about ​winning or losing’—that’s not accurate. I do care. ⁢Losing makes me upset. I aim to win every night. We may⁢ not achieve that, but at least I expect to see effort.

“For‍ example, in the opener,‌ I really appreciated​ how we supported one another after the (Kevin) Rooney injury. Winning that game‍ was a fantastic bonus. Then, seeing the team come together in‍ the locker room, their excitement and enjoyment—it’s clear they believe, ‘Hey, we can accomplish this.’ We do not want to promote a ⁣mentality that losing is acceptable ⁣because it unequivocally is not.”

When Conroy was traded to the Flames during his playing‍ career, Al ‌MacInnis, then his teammate in St. Louis, mentioned that fans in Calgary would embrace the newcomer due to⁤ his affable and sociable nature.

Most who have interacted with him over the years would agree: he’s one of the ⁢kindest individuals in the sport. Yet, this friendly demeanor sometimes conceals ⁢his⁢ fierce competitive spirit.

“That’s true,” ​Conroy laughed. “We have a​ significant hockey ⁢tournament at the end of ​the year, and I no longer participate because‍ I can’t switch off. ⁣I ‌remember (former CEO) John Bean telling me, ‘You’re making me uncomfortable with some of your actions out there.’ I really can’t turn it off. My

wife asks, ‘Why do you reveal⁢ that aspect of yourself⁣ to others?’ But it’s‍ simply my competitive spirit.

“During the summer, when we’re enjoying games at the cottage,‌ winning every game is⁢ a must for me, ⁤even against my kids. However, now ⁢they can actually win against me. ‍And they know that when they do, they genuinely earned it. That’s the way I’ve always approached things. So, when people ‌suggest, ‘Perhaps you should consider ⁤losing ⁤for a while,’ I firmly disagree. If someone thinks that way, I wouldn’t​ want them on my team.

“Whether we‌ win or lose, our goal is to compete every night — and that’s all I ask for. That’s the message I want to convey ⁤to ⁤the ‍younger players. Losing is not acceptable. We will be frustrated about it. Others ​might have different philosophies and may⁤ lead their teams as they ⁣see fit. But ⁤for me, it’s hard to believe that you ‌can‌ simply switch gears and ⁤decide that after⁤ many years‌ of losing, it’s finally time to win.”

Conroy emphasized that this win-or-else mentality is inherent in all the ⁣great players, even if it isn’t ⁢always visible to the casual hockey viewer. He pointed out how the new⁤ series “Faceoff: Inside ‍The‌ NHL” on Amazon Prime has shifted perceptions about the Oilers’ Connor McDavid by ⁢showcasing, in the most raw form, just how deeply ⁤McDavid desires to ‍win. To further illustrate this, Conroy shared a personal anecdote from his own playing days.

“I had the privilege to train once with Sidney Crosby and witnessed his incredible work ethic ​as a young player in the league,” Conroy recalled. “This was back in 2010-11 during ⁢the Andy O’Brien training camp in Vail.‍ We would have morning workouts ‍and then hit the ice to skate. Even 40 minutes ⁣after we were done, I was still ⁢out there, focusing on faceoffs and additional practice. When ⁤I finished, took‌ a shower, and returned, Sid was still on the ice. I ​commented, ‘You’re really putting ⁤in a long day.’ He was working ⁣on his⁣ shot and mentioned, ‘I want to score more goals this ‌season.’ Apparently, some people had critiqued his ‌goal-scoring and he was determined to improve.”

“As you may recall, he had an amazing⁣ start that ⁣season, netting 31 goals in ⁣42 games before his concussion. He ‍was essentially saying, ‘I’m going to prove I can ​score goals.’ I didn’t know ​him well, but witnessing ‌exceptional individuals like him, it’s clear why they succeed. You need players like that in the locker room — and none of them ever accept losing. The idea of securing a draft pick? It doesn’t concern⁢ them at all.

“During ‌my playing days, I never thought about draft picks. That was someone else’s responsibility. As ⁤for ‍the first pick? My goal was to have the last pick (which ⁤would indicate they’d won the Stanley Cup).”

Speaking of Crosby …

The aging trajectory of elite‌ NHL players always intrigues me, especially in an era with 32 teams, where the emphasis often shifts ‌to emerging‍ young talents and prospects. This ‍sometimes leads us to overlook the remarkable achievements Crosby is making at 37, ⁤in his 20th NHL season.

On Wednesday, Crosby and his longtime teammate ​Evgeni Malkin celebrated significant milestones during a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory against ⁢the Buffalo Sabres.

Crosby, who netted the game-winner, became the 10th⁤ player ​in‌ NHL history to reach 1,600 points. Malkin, who assisted on both the game-tying and winning goals,‍ earlier marked the 500th goal of his career. Now 38, Malkin was the ‍second player drafted in 2004, following‍ Alex Ovechkin, and — as of Thursday morning‌ — led the NHL in scoring with 11 points from five games. This marks ⁣the first time ⁤he has held the outright scoring lead ‍since — brace yourself — ​April 2012, the last day​ of the season when he won the Art Ross Trophy. Despite their differing ⁢personalities and playing styles, the fact that both continue to excel is noteworthy.

Maintaining an elite level of‍ play at this stage in their remarkable careers is a feat that is truly extraordinary — and nearly unheard of.

Wayne Gretzky, the highest scorer in NHL history, hung up his skates at the end of the 1998-99 season. At the start of that season, he was⁤ 37, celebrated his‍ birthday midseason, and ultimately recorded a modest total ​of 62⁢ points in 70 games ‍during his final year.

Mark‍ Messier, who played alongside Gretzky for many‌ years in Edmonton‍ and New York, was with ​Vancouver during the​ 1998-99 season, which marked his second of‌ three seasons with the Canucks. He ​managed to put up 48 points in 59 ⁢games. After⁢ that season, Messier continued⁢ to​ play for another five years before retiring,‍ but similar to Gretzky, he was no longer that impactful ‍player he had been in his prime.

In the case of ​Sidney Crosby, it appears he shows no signs of decline yet. Last season, ⁣he finished 12th in the scoring race with 94 ⁢points across 82 games and seems fully capable of maintaining at ⁣least a point-per-game average this year. Crosby indicated his plans​ to play for at least two more seasons after this one when he signed a contract extension with the Penguins during the offseason, ensuring he will remain with the team until 2026-27. Thus, this season,⁣ plus two more, will unfold ⁣before he contemplates retirement.

How⁢ high can he ascend on the points leaderboard?

Currently sitting at 10th in career scoring, he is expected to surpass Joe Sakic (1,641 points) at some point ⁢during the season. If he remains healthy and maintains his ‍performance level,​ he will likely pass Penguins owner‌ Mario Lemieux (eighth all-time with 1,723) by the middle of next year.

Following that, he has to aim for Steve Yzerman (1,755), Marcel Dionne (1,771), Ron Francis (1,798), and Gordie Howe (1,850). Averaging around 85 points per season for three years would elevate him past Howe‌ into the fourth position all-time. Should Crosby choose to continue beyond his current contract, similar to ⁤Messier, the potential⁢ of reaching​ 2,000⁣ career points — a milestone achieved only by​ Gretzky — is indeed⁣ plausible. It can be overwhelming to consider those statistics, but what Crosby is accomplishing — and the manner in which he plays with almost ⁣no signs of decline at his age — is truly remarkable.

The vibes at PPG Paints Arena 📣 pic.twitter.com/57IvxSgEfJ

— Pittsburgh Penguins ⁢(@penguins) October 17, 2024

Rocky Mountain⁢ Low

In the ⁣NHL,⁤ panicky decisions seldom yield positive outcomes, and for Colorado—having lost all four of ⁤their⁤ season’s opening games—they still⁤ have ample time to steer things back⁤ on course. Nonetheless, my colleagues Jesse Granger and Eric​ Stephens posed an intriguing question on Thursday: should the⁣ Avalanche consider trading for John Gibson of the ⁢Ducks? The answer is ‌a resounding yes. In ‍fact, it ⁣likely should have happened some time ago. For instance, acquiring⁢ a goalie from a rebuilding team proved successful for them once before: Darcy Kuemper was traded from the ‌Arizona Coyotes, and he provided solid goaltending that led to the 2022 Stanley Cup victory. This sets a solid precedent.

The expense—a first-round pick—initially appeared steep, but it seemed far⁣ more justifiable in⁣ hindsight.

Currently, Gibson is recuperating from an emergency appendectomy that he underwent during training ‍camp ‌but is nearing a‍ return. While his recent performance has waned, he was once a contender for the Vezina Trophy not too ⁢long ago. Navigating⁢ the salary⁤ cap can be⁤ challenging, especially for Colorado, as they eventually need to fit Gabriel Landeskog, ‌Artturi Lehkonen, and potentially Valeri Nichushkin onto the payroll. However, this can be accomplished if the Ducks agree to retain some ⁤salary and if they also send Alexandar Georgiev, along with his expiring contract, back to Anaheim. The Avalanche has ⁤conceded 25 goals in just four games and has held the lead for less than five minutes in total (just 4:59).

They have yet to lead in a game at all after​

So far this season, they have permitted an empty-net goal‍ in every game, totaling four. The only other​ team to surrender four empty-net goals in the first four games of a season was the⁢ Minnesota Wild in ‍2019-20. This is not a record you want to⁣ hold, as it indicates you’re perpetually playing from a deficit.

The Avalanche​ still appear to be excessively‌ reliant on their top players, and the absence of Devon Toews and Jonathan Drouin ‍due to injuries does not ​help matters. The talent is undoubtedly present, and the ‌high-end skill is exceptional. However, acquiring a goalie mid-season ⁢can be challenging, particularly if you envision that player as your starting goaltender.

They will likely adopt a cautious and conservative strategy to address this situation. Yet, sometimes opting for a bold and aggressive approach is the more effective route.

Final thoughts⁤ on Flames

Conroy spent over a decade preparing for this role before ascending to the top position⁢ after Brad Treliving⁤ and the team parted ways amicably.

During Conroy’s tenure, the Flames have undergone a near-total transformation by NHL standards.

I pondered whether he could​ identify the moment⁣ when his new position started to feel like the norm.

“To be honest, it took the duration from my first draft to my second draft for me to feel that way — because there was always something new on the horizon,”⁤ Conroy shared. “You couldn’t predict everything — staff matters, travel complications, hockey trades. While you might think as an assistant GM ⁤that you have an ​understanding, the reality is that until you take on that role, you don’t⁣ grasp⁤ the full scope. Observing Tre (Treliving), Jay Feaster, Don Maloney, and Brian Burke can provide insights, but ‌you⁤ truly don’t know until you’re in the position. I would say it took a full ​year to acclimate and for everything to feel routine. This is the job, and this is the next step.”

Now there seems to ​be a newfound comfort and confidence for Conroy⁢ that may not have existed previously, ‍right?

“Absolutely, and it’s interesting because while I was watching (coach) Ryan Huska the other day, I realized that he’s experiencing something similar,” Conroy reflected. “His‍ authority and‍ interaction with the coaching staff and players show‍ he knows what he wants. He seems more relaxed in his second⁢ year, fully focused⁢ on his objectives and how to achieve them. I feel the same way now; I have that⁢ comfort level.”

“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of support around me​ — plus, having been with the organization for so long means I know‍ the prospects, the players, and ⁣the marketing team, as well as⁢ other departments. That background gave me a head start and allowed me to concentrate on the job at hand.”

Even for morale, both internally and externally, witnessing a⁣ successful first week ⁤has been beneficial.

But what defines a successful season for‌ the Flames?‍ Does it necessitate making the playoffs?

“Playoffs are always the objective,” Conroy replied. “But primarily, I want to​ see our young players develop and ⁢our veteran players progress as well. It’s about overall growth and establishing our culture. What do we ​want the Calgary Flames to represent? That opening game was an excellent first step. We aim to attract individuals who want to ‌be in Calgary, who are committed to winning here. This city is fantastic.”

(Photo of Sidney Crosby: Charles LeClaire / Imagn ​Images)