By: Steven Smirfitt
It’s been an interesting past week in Calgary. The Flames organization has made several headlines this past week.
First came a report on NHL.com, that the Flames were discussing moving up from the fourth overall spot in the 2014 draft.
But the kicker was that the team was looking into moving up to the first overall, A position the Flames organization has never drafted at, fourth overal pick represents the highest spot in the draft team has held since it resided in Atlanta during the 1970’s.
When pressed on the subject Flames General Manager Brad Treviling was quoted by in article by NHL.com as stating the following:
“Now is the time that all of those conversations are happening,” Treliving said. “We’re going to keep pounding away and try to get a sense of what other teams are thinking. For the most part, teams have gotten through their meetings. They’ve done their preparation for the draft. The talk between managers is increasing. We’ll see where it goes.”
Local Calgary Newspaper The Calgary Herald reported that the team had promoted former Flames star player Craig Conroy to assistant general manager, and hired Brad Pascall as another assistant general manager.
Pascall is a former vice president of hockey operations/national teams with Hockey Canada. Pascall is also the husband of perhaps the most well known female hockey player from Canada, Cassie Campbell-Pascall.
Conroy servered the past three season since retiring with the Flames as a special assistant to the previous general managers.
Also announced was the signing of Former NHL player Troy Crowder as a member of the player development department where he will work alongside Ron Sutter.
Finally the biggest noise was made when Flames President Briank Burke offered up his opinion on the state of the Saddledome.
In a speech at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce this past Thursday, Burke made several points regarding just why he felt the Saddledome was outdated.
Burke highlight the current configuration of the Saddledome’s lower bowl which currently seats 6000 people as an issue by stating “A building has to do two things. It has to generate NHL economics which our building does not. Lower bowl in a new arena, the new generation of arenas, is 9,000 seats minimum.”
Burke went on to say that the Saddledome constructed over 30 years ago in 1983, was no longer an attractive option for special events and concerts to be held in. Stating that several famous musician’s had turned down offer to play in Calgary because of the Saddledome.
Burke went on to state:
“It’s not just what a hockey team gets and what it adds for a hockey team. It’s what it does to a downtown core and we need a new building in Calgary. There’s absolutely no reason we should watch a new building going up in Edmonton and we’ve got to play in a 1988 building here.”
Burke also made claims that the Saddledome was second worse venue currently in the NHL, ranking only the Nassau Coliseum in which the New York Islanders played this season as being worse.
As of right now there have been no proposal made to the City of Calgary but the Flames organization or Construction companies pitching a new arena in Calgary.
Smirfitts Speech 