Tyler Toffoli may be the only Calgary Flames player to have had a strong 2022-23 season under the unpopular Darryl Sutter. Despite the departure of his mentor, the forward welcomes the arrival of Craig Conroy as CEO.
The former Montreal Canadiens, who set a career-high 34 goals and 73 points last season, has been a keen observer of recent developments at the Flames, even though an ocean separates him from North America. Toffoli is representing Canada at the IIHF World Championships in Finland and Latvia, but that hasn’t stopped him from congratulating Conroy.
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“I’m happy for him,” he told the French National Hockey League website on Thursday. He’s been in business for a long time. It’s going to be really fun.”
Conroy himself wore the Flames uniform for nine years. He knows exactly what kind of culture of success the organization needs, which has clearly stalled under CEO Brad Treliving and Sutter.
“[Conroy] invested in his work, Toffoli added. He has played many games and got to know the management side over the many years he has held various positions. I think he deserves it and I think everyone is very happy for him.
Back on track
In an interview on the Empty Netters podcast last March, Toffoli mentioned that his favorite coach was Sutter. He was with the Los Angeles Kings when the winger made his NHL debut in 2012-13, and the following year they won the Stanley Cup together.
Will Toffoli, who appreciates the veteran coach’s sometimes harsh methods, be one of those to suffer in this departure? When Sutter was fired earlier this month, chief executive Don Maloney hinted that the next general manager would decide which coach to work with.
Hopefully there will be good communication with the new driver for the Ontario native, but at least his relationship with Conroy is already off to a good start.
“Every time he was with us, he created a good atmosphere in the dressing room,” he said of the former striker. He’s a very energetic guy. He was like that when he played. I’ve met him over the past year and a half and he’s been great with me. I hope we can raise the bar.”
There will be no shortage of candidates for the head coach position. Rumors include the names of Kirk Muller, Alex Tanguay, Gerard Gallant, Mitch Love and even Patrick Roy.