Latest news with #Conroy
National Post
19 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Could the Calgary Flames move up in the NHL Draft?
If the Calgary Flames decide they wanted to move up in the first round of next Friday's NHL Draft, it might not be as hard as normal to find a willing trade partner this year. Article content That hasn't generally been the case in recent drafts, as teams have desperately clung on to their first-round picks. Article content Article content 'My first year, I don't think we had a player move or a team move up or down, it just didn't happen that year,' said Conroy, who started as the Flames GM just before the 2023 NHL Draft. 'People really liked that draft, and I'm not saying they don't like the draft this year, but they might be saying 'I can get the same player if I go from position A and move back four or five spots.' Article content 'They're willing to do that because no one is really locked in and feels like they know exactly the way this draft is going to go. There are good players, you're going to like these players, it's just a matter of which team likes them and where they're going to take them.' Article content Article content The Flames have two picks in the first round of Friday's draft, Nos. 18 and 32, and definitely could use a potential first-line centre if one was available. That's true of a lot of teams, of course, but for the Flames in particular. Article content If they were to package both of their first-rounders or include a player, they likely could build an intriguing package that could move them into the top-10 if someone they really liked was available. Article content Article content Working in their favour, as well, is the way the draft lottery played out. The Utah Mammoth, who are drafting fourth overall, the Seattle Kraken, at ninth, Columbus Blue Jackets, at 14, and a couple other teams are not strictly in rebuilding mode. They're trying to get better as soon as next season. Article content Article content 'Teams are looking to make trades and use those picks to get players to help their team right now,' Conroy explained. 'Everyone wants to make a push, it feels like, and they say they want to get better next year. With draft picks, they're going to take some time. You'd love to say they're going to play next year, but the reality is you see how many players do that every year and even in that second year, it's not easy. Article content 'It really is a three-, four- or five-year window before these guys are ready and some teams feel like they're closer and ready to make that push now, whether it's to get into the playoffs or take that next step in the playoffs.' Article content None of this is to say the Flames necessarily will make a move and the uncertainty of who will be picked – and when – might actually make it more challenging to pull off trades in advance.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
3-Star offensive lineman decommits from the Oklahoma Sooners
3-Star offensive lineman decommits from the Oklahoma Sooners The Oklahoma Sooners have seen a significant increase in the 2026 recruiting class over the last month, adding seven players since May 13. Ahead of a huge weekend with the ChampU BBQ, though, the Sooners saw a commit flip his pledge. Three-star interior offensive lineman Will Conroy flipped to North Carolina on Wednesday morning. Conroy initially committed to the Oklahoma Sooners back in December of 2024. But it's Bill Belichick who gets the IMG Academy prospect instead. The Sooners added a commitment from four-star offensive lineman Noah Best last week and are in a good position to land four-star offensive lineman Deacon Schmitt. Oklahoma has a young group of interior offensive linemen on campus. Heath Ozaeta, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Daniel Akinkunmi, Ryan Fodje, Owen Hollenbeck, and Sean Hutton make up a strong group to lead the Sooners into the future. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Israel-Iran conflict: Potential for US to intervene
Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy discusses the distinct factions of Republicanism and whether the US will intervene in the Israel-Iran conflict. 'The Republicans have always had a strand of them which is now magnified and strengthened by MAGA views – they're what we call isolationists,' Mr Conroy told Sky News host Paul Murray. 'Then there's always been … establishment Republicans, and they've always believed that the prosperity and the success and growth in economies have been based on the US's abilities to build alliances around the world to keep the world safe.'
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Case for AUKUS is overwhelming': Trump to review trilateral submarine pact
Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy discusses the undergoing review of AUKUS. This comes as world leaders arrive at the G7 summit in Canada. 'Australia will want to press the case that this is good for America, not just good for Australia,' Mr Conroy told Sky News Australia. 'The case for AUKUS is overwhelming. 'But I accept President Trump is mercurial.'
Edmonton Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
Peter Hanlon named Calgary Flames new assistant GM
Article content 'Peter will be involved in all areas of hockey operations including player evaluation, player recruitment and strategic planning,' Conroy said in a press release. 'Together with Assistant General Managers Dave Nonis and Brad Pascall, Peter will help us pursue our goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Calgary.' Hanlon has worked in the hockey world for over 30 years, beginning his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate, who were playing in St. John's, Nfld, at the time. He was then recruited to work at the AHL head office before joining the Flames. He has considerable experience at the international level, too, having been a part of Team Canada at the 2002 Olympics, multiple world championships and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. That's experience the Flames clearly put a lot of stock in. 'Peter has worked in professional hockey for over 30 years,' Maloney said. 'His knowledge and experience are a welcomed addition to our staff.'
