The first impression is very 'meh'. A first that can slide down to '26, a 26 year old defender that most people consider a tweener and third/potential second rounder.
That all being said, I think all of Conroy's moves have to be looked at through to the end of the year and in their entirety.
He did turn 5 UFA's that 100% were not going to sign with this club unless wildly overpaid into a lot of assets and players.
Toffoli
Lindholm
Zadorov
Hanifin
Tanev
Was turned into:
NHL players:
Yegor Sharangovich
Kuzmenko
Miromanov
NHL Prospects:
Joni Jurmo
Hunter Brzustewicz
Artem Grushnikov
NHL Picks:
2023 3rd Rounder (Aydar Suniev)
2024 5th Round pick (Best of Vancouver or Chicago)
2024 1st Round pick (Van)
2024 4th Round pick * (Van, conditional 3rd round pick if Van gets to the conference finals, the 4th round is the better between NJD and Van)
2024 2nd Round pick (Dal)
2025 1st round pick * (Can slide to 2026, VGK)
2025 3rd round pick* (VGK, conditional 2nd if Vegas wins a round in 2024)
2026 3rd round pick *(If Dal makes the SCF in 2024)
I think one of the things that no one is talking about, is the Russians/Belarusians that they acquired as NHLers. None are signed for more than 2 years, and in reality none of them fit into our next contention window; meaning if he turns any of them into further assets, this will be some kind of managing from Conroy. Imagine turning Lindholm into 6 future assets.
I also fully believe Calgary WON'T be using the Vancouver 1st rounder this year, and that it will be used as further currency when the time comes.