Total chaos in Calgary: Several players in the organization want to leave

Damn it.

That’s probably what Craig Conroy, the Flames’ new GM, is thinking right now.

After all, let’s just say that his first few weeks at the team’s helm haven’t been too restful. He had to find a new coach, and the current situation with some of his players is turning into a real fiasco.

We knew that Noah Hanifin wanted to leave the team. He will be eligible for full autonomy after next season, in the summer of 2024.

But today, Frank Seravalli revealed two new pieces of information that will certainly not please fans.

I raised the possibility of Elias Lindholm’s departure in a recent article, and it seems that this possibility is becoming increasingly real.

According to the Daily Faceoff tipster, the Flames have pulled out all the stops by offering the center forward a mega-contract, and he has yet to give his GM his answer.

Chances are, however, that he will refuse the offer and execute the same plan as Noah Hanifin by leaving the organization. He too will become a free agent in the summer of 2024.

#Flames update: CGY recently made a big pitch, rolled out the red carpet ($) to try to re-sign C Elias Lindholm.

CGY is waiting on a response from Lindholm and haven’t been given definitive answer yet. But general league speculation is he’s leaning toward not re-signing w/ CGY.

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 22, 2023

Yikes. Let’s just say it’s not necessarily ideal because Lindholm and Hanifin are two of Calgary’s most important players.

I’m not saying they’ll never recover. It will be difficult, very difficult to replace them.

And then…

Seeing all the chaos this is leaving behind, it seems that Mikael Backlund, who spent 15 years in Alberta, would also like to follow suit by choosing to leave the Flames.

Backlund has been the team’s second center for ages.

So we’re talking about three guys the Flames love… But we’re talking about three guys who don’t really seem to love the Flames anymore.

Finally, on #Flames: Bit of a surprise. Told Mikael Backlund is also leaning toward not re-signing in Calgary.

That could change, and Flames hope it does. He’s been a staple for 15 years.

Nonetheless, Craig Conroy has decisions to make.

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 22, 2023

I don’t know who started it, but Backlund is also eligible for full autonomy in the summer of 2024.

The same applies to Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev. Will they too decide to pack their bags and test the free agent market?

Craig Conroy will have some choices to make. Very important choices.

I hope for his sake that he was prepared to experience so many emotions in such a short time, when he was finally accepted for the general manager position in Calgary. Hehe.

Breaking news

– Interesting stuff.

Russian defenseman Dmitri Simashev will be popular in Nashville.

Agent Dan Milstein says 24 teams including the #Canucks have asked for a meeting with Simashev in Nashville next week at the NHL draft.

Simashev is 1 of the top prospects for defenseman in the draft.

– Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) June 22, 2023

– Really?

Hearing @HockeyCanada and @IIHFHockey are set to announce Ottawa as host of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

– Kenzie Lalonde (@KenzieTSN) June 22, 2023

– It’s all part of the game.

New: Sources said Marcus Smart was completely shocked by last night’s trade and is still trying to process it today.

“Marcus loves Boston. He thought he was going to retire there. He wanted to retire there.“https://t.co/J22eOZvpe5

– Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) June 22, 2023

– A great career.

An athlete who fought for what he believed in. Here’s his story! Thank you @hugo_barrette for your confidence! 🙏🏻@RC_Sports https://t.co/R3DnuuOCPu

– Geneviève Tardif (@tardifgen) June 22, 2023