Calgary Flames' Craig Conroy...One More Year!

After a summer full of surprise free agent pickups and signings, long time Calgary Flame, Craig Conroy, was wondering about his future with the Flames organization. The 123 overall pick in the 1990 entry draft was in need of a new contract.

Conroy made his Flame debut in 2001, after being part of a controversial trade with Cory Stillman. The skilled center was soon named the captain of the Flames, a title he held until the beginning of the 03-04 season, when Jarome Iginla took the leadership. Conroy remained an assistant captain until he was picked up from the free agent market by Los Angeles in July of 2004.

He would not stay away for long. As the Los Angeles Kings embarked on a road trip through Alberta (starting in Edmonton) in late January, 2007, the GM's of the two teams were working out a deal. After a 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings jumped on a bus and headed south on Highway 2. They would stop in the small city of Red Deer, and Conroy would be left behind.

The news that Conroy would be donning the flaming 'C' once again was filled with mixed emotion. He was elated to be coming to the city he had called home for years, but didn't know how he was going to get there! Luckily long time friend and teamate, Jarome Iginla made the trip to pick him up and he was ready to play on the January 30.

Perhaps as a bit of vengeance for the team that abandoned him on the side of the highway, he scored 2 goals and 1 assist in a Calgary victory. The night ended with chants of 'Conroy' from the 19000 plus fans in attendance. He was visibly moved on the bench and knew he was home.

In the summer of 2010, after a dissapointing season, he was hoping to sign a new contract with the Flames. That happened on August 11, where he signed a league minimum $500 000/ 1 year deal that would probably see him retire as a Flame.

As an added bonus, he needs only to play 9 more games to reach the 1000 game milestone. A feat he did not think he would ever reach.

A humble, friendly and chatty man, Craig Conroy is the go to guy for interviews in the Flame locker room, and some reporters joked that he may take their jobs in broadcasting when he retires.

He has been a long time fan favorite, and one of the kindest people you will ever meet, he is never too busy to sign autographs or just chat with fans. As a long time Flames fan personally, I couldn't be happier to see him spend his final seasons in the Flames organization, and perhaps one day in the future we will see 'number 24' hanging from the rafters, high above the Saddledome Ice

Chris Smallman