Craig Conroy to the Abbotsford Heat?
It’s a small window, specifically 24 hours, but speculation is beginning to run amongst Abbotsford Heat fans about the possibility Craig Conroy could be joining the AHL team as soon as Wednesday afternoon.
Conroy, a 39-year-old NHLer of more than 1,000 games, was placed on waivers Tuesday afternoon by the Calgary Flames. As if this column, he has less than 24 hours to get claimed by another NHL team or he either gets sent down to the minors or retires.
Given his age, the fact he has played 18 games this season – and let’s not forget family – retirement seems to be the likeliest possibility. At least, that’s the feeling coming out of the Calgary media.
But so long as the window for speculation is still open, let’s throw a few scenarios out there and see what sticks to the wall.
According to Jim Playfair, who has a long history with Conroy dating back to their days in Calgary, the Heat head coach apparently spoke with the veteran centre about the possibility of getting back into game shape down in Abbotsford when the Flames were in town on Jan. 5 to play the Canucks.
“I talked to Connie [Conroy] the last time he was in Vancouver and asked him if he would come down for a week or two of conditioning,” Playfair said Tuesday night from San Antonio just hours before a date with the Rampage.
“He was very excited about that, very positive about that and now that it’s gotten to the process of putting him on waivers I think Connie’s got to look at it for himself going forward in the future.
“If it’s going to further his career, then I’m sure it’s something he would look at it. If he feels it wouldn’t further his career then he might not make the decision to come down.
Playfair also reiterated that Conroy’s presence alone in the Heat dressing room, which is still one of the youngest in the American Hockey League despite the addition of Quintin Laing in November, could only help the contingent of up and comers.
“He’d be a very solid player for us and be excellent for our young centre’s to learn all the details of how to be a top player.”
But if not, that’s OK too, said the coach.
“If this is the end of his National Hockey League career then he’s had a helluva career.”
We’ll find of Conroy’s future sometime tomorrow afternoon.
-
The Calgary Flames announced the signing of 15-year veteran Craig Conroy this week and helped... Read Full Story » -
Craig Conroy came to the Calgary Flames’ training camp with no guarantees he’d even make the... Read Full Story »
