Craig Conroy is returning to the team where he had his best NHL seasons.
The Los Angeles Kings today dealt Conroy back to the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Jamie Lundmark, a fourth round pick in the 2007 draft and a second round pick in 2008.
Conroy, long the subject of trade speculation this season, signed with the Kings as an unrestricted free agent in July 2004, scant weeks after helping the Flames to within one game of winning the 2004 Stanley Cup.
His first season with the Kings went well, potting 22 goals and 66 points with a +13 rating in 78 games, although his play couldn’t elevate the club into the post-season.
This season, however, has been a different story, as Conroy has struggled to a 5 goal, 16 point and –13 rating in 52 games.
The Flames are obviously counting on Conroy to regain his form, gambling that his problems in LA may have been playing for new Kings head coach Marc Crawford.
Calgary presently sits second in the Northwest Division and seventh overall in the Conference. The club has won 6 of its last ten game, despite the absence of leading scorer Jarome Iginla to injury over that time.
However, the Flames have the worst road record of all NHL teams, and there’s been concern over their scoring depth. Whether Conroy can help improve both categories for the Flames remains to be seen. Conroy had great chemistry with Iginla during his previous tenure with the Flames, but it’s doubtful that he’ll supplant Daymond Langkow from the first line.
This move might also signal that Kings GM Dean Lombardi intends to get started on rebuilding for next season, dumping the remainder of Conroy’s contract, which has another season at $2.394 million left on it.
Lundmark was once a highly touted prospect of the NY Rangers in the late 1990s but he’s since settled into the role of checking forward. With less than $300K remaining on his $600K contract for this season, he’s an affordable depth acquisition who shouldn’t cost the Kings much to re-sign as a restricted free agent this summer.
The key here for the Kings are the draft picks, which Lombardi can either use himself to restock his prospect depth or perhaps peddle as part of another deal.
It now remains to be seen which other veteran Kings could find themselves on the move in the coming weeks. Conroy’s trade could be the start of a veteran fire sale by Lombardi.
I'm not surprised Calgary ended up with Conroy, but Lundmark? I've been pleased with Dean Lombardi's plans to rebuild thus far, but couldn't we have at least gotten Nystrom and a second rounder in this year's draft? After all, the Kings don't have a secound rounder this year due to the Cloutier trade. Was this really the best offer Lombardi expected to get? Well, at least he freed up the payroll.
I gotta say the Kings won this deal. They free up 2.3 million for next season and picked up a good role player and a 2nd and 4th rounder. Not a bad pickup for what they gave up, an at-best 2nd line center who's been playing like a 3rd line center.
Picking the winner in this kind of deal is going to depend on how deep Calgary goes in the playoffs. If Calgary makes it to the Stanley Cup Final, they won the swap. If they lose in the first round, LA got the better of them. Personnally, I think the price was mighty steep for Conroy, but let's see what he brings to the table and how far Calgary can go. Whatever the case, Calgary certainly needed the offensive help.
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on January 29th at 5:07 PM.
It's about time Sutter traded for Conroy, the magic between Jarome Iginla and Conroy reminded me alot of the Gretzky/Kurri magic with Edmonton in their glory years.
Conroy needs a top winger to play with to have a big year. Last year he played with demertia almost the entire year. Once again Dean proovs to be DUMB! He could have waited 2 more weeks and got even more. He really did not free up much payroll Conroy was a walk away free agent at seasons end. I would much rather have Calgary's #1 then a journeyman roll player. We have enough roll players. But atleast O'Sullivan can move to his natural spot at center.
WWW.FIRELOMBARDI.COM
Is comming soon if anyone can help me put it together
Calgary should have never broke up the McAmmond-Iginla-Conroy firing squad. They'll definitely be looking for that old black magic again with Conroy setting up Iginla.
I think it's a good move by Calgary. They've had such a hard time getting quality forwards(who can play as well as they're suposed to *cough* Tanguay *cough*) and Conroy is a dude who worked well with Iggy. For a third line forward and a 4th line draft pick I'd say it was worth the gamble. Calgary is going to greatly benifit from this.
Good trade for both teams in my opinion. A change of scenery may be good for Lundmark, but I doubt it. Regardless, they free up almost 2.4 million to use this summer. Along with the second and fourth round picks, I think they did well. As for Calgary they get a player that has played very well before in Calgary, and he gives them added depth for a playoff run. I think both sides got what they wanted, I really doubt Lombardi could have gotten MUCH more than this deal. You must remember he sent away an aging veteran in Conroy whom is on the downside of his career, and at 2.3 million he is by no strech a bargain.
Last edited by hawks12 on January 29th at 7:13 PM.
This deal makes sense for both clubs. If Conroy can regain his form back in Calgary he can add some much needed offence for the stretch run. Kings fans need to be patient with Lombardi while they rebuild, it will take some time but in the long run they will be better off. Stop thinking about winning now. It isn't going to happen, give it three more years and you will have a playoff team again. Lombardi knows how to build a team and usually drafts well, he will use these picks to better the team.
True_Kings_Fan, you sound EXTREMELY ignorant. You call a man dumb and then say "proovs"??? You don't even have your fact straight about the contract, Conroy has one year left after this season @ 2.394mm. I don't know who Demertia is either, is that kind of like dementia? Oh well, I guess you're right though, $2.4 million in freed up cap space isn't enough.
Hopefully this trade will end up helping both teams and I wish CC all the luck in Calgary, he is ALL CLASS!
Also, "Mr. True Fan", what are you talking about we want to win now? We are finally building for the future, how has trying to win now worked out in the past for us?? Not too well. How has it worked for teams like Toronto?
Last edited by GoKings99 on January 29th at 10:02 PM.
I think this trade benefits the Kings more than Calgary. Dean Lombardi has the chance to make something out of the two acquired picks, and Lundmark is a player that is also capable of scoring the 16 points that Conroy has so far this season... And why hold on to C.C. when it's obvious that he's become useless for L.A.?! Calgary at the same time got an aging and expensive Center who MAYBE can find his scoring touch again. But what if he doesn't? I don't believe that any team would then take Conroy off the Flames' payroll.
1) This deal is NOT the balence of power tipper that some may have thought. Conroy is NOT the player he was 2-3 years ago. He will help some, but NOT enough to make the Flames a Cup favourite
2) That said, it may start the proverbial dominos to start to fall sooner rather than later. The only problem is too many teams are still technicly still in the playoff hunt. LA is one of only 6 teams that can be said is out of it. It may take a couple more weeks yet to add to that list and increase the number of available players for trade
That was a good one TKF. I am a season seat holder for the Ducks (don't throw stones) I love the Kings and I do know how GM's will lie right to the faces of season seat holders. GO KINGS AND DUCKS.
1) Most didn't see this Kings team as playoff bound before the season, but we along with some others did believe they would be more competative
2) We believe the signing of Cloutier was a BAD step in that direction. Dan is at best a good back up, not a guy who can/will carry a team to/win in the playoffs
Last edited by fauxrumors on January 30th at 9:58 AM.
Your "Fire Lombardi" comments remind me of the people who wanted Glen Sather canned when he didn't correct the good ship Rangers overnight. It takes time to build a winning culture. It takes time to assemble your people, build your staff, bring the type of players that you want into the organization. Oh, certainly, there are guys like Mike Keenan who can give you a quick turnaround with short-term gains, but afterward you're left with a smoking ruin from which it takes years to recover.
The Los Angeles Kings have a great deal of history in their dressing room but they don't have a lot of tradition, and that's all the difference in the world. If Lombardi has the opportunity to assemble the same sort of team in Los Angeles that he did for the people of San Jose, in a few years Kings fans will be very happy indeed. Give the man a chance. He's only been on the job a few months.
Just look at what Lombardi's done in San Jose and you'll see he knows what he's doing. He's probably freeing up space for next years big free agent, Sheldon Souray (he wants to move closer to his kid in California). Anaheim obviously won't take him, so that leaves San Jose and LA. The Sharks would probably need to get rid of Nabokov's and Malakov's contracts first, but Lombardi's making sure he has enough to at least make a bid for Souray. Lombardi got two picks, cap space for a big name signing next year, and a decent 3rd/4th liner for an old, unproductive, and over paid player. What more could you want?
This was another bad move for the kings. The problem is not Lombardi, but Crawford. Crawford has never won anything, don't tell me about Colorado because that was Joe Sakic and Roy leading that team. Pat Quinn set him up all the pieces in Vancouver with his draft choices, Crawford got them well they were in their prime, and he couldn't finish the job. So he comes to LA and what does he do brings in the goaltender that was looked at as their weakness for years in Vancouver. Next he ships Conroy to the end of the bench and wants to know why he is not producing. Any coach knows Conroy is not a #1 guy but is very productive in the right situation he showed in Calgary and he showed it here last year so that is not the player. So I would like the Fire Crawford website!
Spector: Love your blog first time commenting, but I am wondering has Crawford been around for any draft where he drafted the player and that guy developed into a top notch player under him?
I love this trade, not just because Conroy is coming back to Calgary, but also because it shows how much effort goes into making a deal like this happen.
I'm thinking in particular of Jamie Lundmark. Why was he in this deal? The guy's been awful this season, barely even putting in an effort. He does have talent, but is also one of those players who will make the simple things look difficult.
Moreover, when the going gets tough, Lundmark makes like an ostrige and sticks his head in the sand. His comment upon getting traded -- again -- went something like: "I gues that's the way it goes; I don't know why things didn't work out."
I know why: because you didn't try hard enough.
Surely Dean Lombardi knows this. Neither he nor any other GM (I'd like to think at least), would under normal circumstances touch Lundmark with a ten-foot pole.
So why trade for the guy?
My guess is Sutter made him. My theory about what transpired is as follows: Sutter tells Lombardi, "sure, I'll give you the draft picks, but you have to take Jamie Lundmark off my hands.
Any deal we make will have to include him."
For Lombardi, this couldn't have been such a tough choice. After all, he saves money and gets two draft picks. He won't loose any sleep over letting Conroy go, and if Lundmark remains goal-less throughout the rest of the season (which I feel is not as far-fetched as it sounds), he'll non-tender him during the summer.
Money -- and draft-picks -- in the bank for Lombardi.
As for Conroy, I'm certain he'll get to play with Iginla. If they click, which I hope, they'll b
I'm surprised at all of the Lombardi/Crawford haters that I keep reading about. Lombardi is doing a solid job as GM. I'll agree the trade for Cloutier was a mistake, but nobody could've expected it to turn out this bad. The Demitra trade and the acquisition of Jack Johnson are excellent moves for the future. As far as Crawford goes, I'll admit his coaching style is a little wide open, but he is giving the young guys the opportunity to play and contribute in key situations. I know the team is losing, but what I notice more than anything about this squad is the gradual maturation and increasing confidence in the play of Frolov, Brown and Camalleri. These three are really coming into their own this year and it is exciting to see Kopitar playing at the level he is at only 19. Lombardi was right about "turning heads" as long as those heads are willing to be patient and look at the positives. The Kings will have a quality young team and I believe it'll be sooner than people realize.
Kinger, I think you're looking at it the wrong way. The Kings are a long way away from "winning" anything of consequence. They're having enough trouble just winning a game. And with coaching tenures the way they are in the NHL these days, who knows if Crawford will even be there when the Kings are actually capable of winning anything. And if he is, and if the Kings stumble, then I'm sure whoever the GM is at that time won't hesitate to show Crawford the door.
Lombardi brought Crawford in as a teaching coach, someone to help the young talent in LA blossom into quality top level players. And Crawford has quite a list of players that either started with him as their coach or matured with him. Hejduk (who was drafted in '94, Crawford first year to answer your question specifically), Forsberg, Drury and Tanguay come to mind immediately. Now maybe he's not the reseason they became great players, but he certainly didn't hurt them either. He didn't have the same success in Vancouver, although the Sedins started under him, but the Canucks were a different team with Bertuzzi, Naslund, and all. They were looking to win the cup, which with Cloutier's help, he was unable to deliver. But again the Kings aren't looking to win, just grow.
I question parts of Crawford's coaching (particularly his handling of Conroy), but still believe he's a very good choice for the job, as it stands now.
Last edited by sixty8ight on January 30th at 2:11 PM.
The Kings haven't had a chance since Andy Murray was let go. Avery and the other cry babies got their wish and look what it has become. I hate to see Conroy go and I agree that he is not a top line center but he will thrive in Calgary.
Sixty8ight,
Very good post I do agree with you on most, and thanks for the list of players as well at least there is hope, but I don't know that the plan was put together well. When I think rebuild I think you start with a coach and a goaltender, now if the idea is to have a coach to cultivate these young guys then why not bring in a minor league coach there are plenty qualified (the ducks found one). they didn't need to bring in a bing name coach, especially when Crawford is known for pressing offensively and leaving several out numbered attacks. The players get cultivated to that system, and then they look for a coach to win with. The bottom line is I think Crawford was brought here not to win a cup or even make the playoffs, i believe he was brought here to keep them from where they are at right now (bottom of the barrel) and by those standards they fail. I don't know that people on here want a cup anytime soon but there is no need to be at the bottom...that where these guys have failed!
Give the Kings a year or two and a good goalie (maybe a top 5 pick in there) and you guys will be contenders again. That is if Los Angeles dones't forget about the Kings.
Who ever left the message saying that the Conroy trade is simular to the Joe Thorton trade and the results will be the same. You did yourself proud by not signing off on that one, One could be embarrassed making a statement like that. Your a genius.
Crawford won a cup in Colorado. Wow. any of us could have coached that team all the way. Lets remember 3 things about that win. 1. It was the time before a Cap. 2. You had a gm that could and would go out and get whatever they needed. 3. You had the Second best goaltender of all time in the crease. (Marty B. is the best alltime)
As fo Sean Avery,
He is beloved by most Kings fans and most girls between the ages of 16 and 30. They latched on to Avery after Lappy got the hell out of LA. But the fans that understand the game know he is worthless. If Dave Taylor was still in charge Avery would be skating with the Fresno Falcons.
Please remember Dean did not draft Kopitar, Cammy, Frolov or Brown. Who did. Dave Taylor. In Fact the Team felt so much that Taylor is in charge of player development.
Ask most Sharks fans and most will tell you they do not like Lombardi.
For those running down Lombardi, I wouldn't be so hasty if I were you. Yes, he told you the team would be competitive, and when their goaltending was actually healthy, they were competitive. The lack of healthy quality goaltending has hurt the Kings and I for one believe they'd be a much better team with better goaltending.
Someone earlier pointed to Lombardi's track record with the Sharks, and it's an apt point. The Sharks depth was primarily built by Lombardi. Sure, he made a few mistakes along the way. All GMs do, but I think he's working hard to build a competitive club that, within a couple of season, will be one Kings fans will be proud of.
As for those dissing Crawford by suggesting he's never done anything or won anything, check your history again, folks.
Crawford won a Stanley Cup in Colorado (with a rookie named Forsberg in his lineup, for those wondering about young players developing under his coaching), and did a great job in the renaissance of the Canucks earlier in this decade.
Give him time to work with these players. Kopitar certainly isn't hurting playing for Crawford. Neither is Cammalleri, Frolov, Brown or Visnovsky.
As Guns n Roses once sang, "All we need is just a little patience". If the Kings are still floundering in the cellar in two years time, fine, kick Crawford and Lombardi to the curb if there's been no real improvement. But give them time to at least try to bring that improvement about before handing them walking papers.
I know losing sucks, guys, but there's a promising corps of talent on the Kings. Give Lombardi and Crawford time to develop and work with it.
Spector,
Thank you for the perspective. Goaltending has been the Achille's heel, not the coaching.
True_kings_fan,
You're obviously very passionate about the Kings and I'm glad to see you remember the work Dave Taylor did for this organization, but that took many seasons for him to accomplish this. Don't you think Lombardi deserves more time? His tenure is in its infancy. I just don't see why you're so against the guy.
As for Avery, I'll agree he has been a problem in the past and I'm sure he's no daisy in the dressing room this year either, but the guy can play and he's been far more disciplined this year. If he was traded would I lose sleep over it? No. But to say the guy is worthless is nonsense.
The team was not that bad at seasons end. not bad enought to break it apart.
Some Cancers needed to be removed but low and behold they are still there.
your not in Staples when there are only 7000 there.
You have not lost for 40 years. We are at our wits end and with Disneyland winning down the freeway. They have accomplished more in 12 seasons then we have in 40. Lombardi was a bad hire and I said that from day one till the day he is fired. AEG needs to sell the team to a owner that cares. Our owner won't even show up to Luc's retirement or even have his picture in the Media Guide. Thats sad. Hey Mr McNall please buy the team back at least you had Guts. Our owners are to busy getting guys like David Beckham. The only thing good about that is Victoria is closer to me
TKF: Sorry to hear about your plight, but you're being very unrealistic. Building a winner doesn't happen overnight, or even over a season. It takes time.
Ask fans of the Lightning, who were league laughingstocks when your Kings were almost perennial playoff contenders several years ago, or fans of the Hurricanes how long it takes to build a champion.
You want to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and that just won't do.If you're expect miracles overnight, then you'd better find another team to cheer for.
By no means do I meen any disrespect. love what you do for us fans to even give us a forum to talk about thigs like this. Please keep up the great work.
I do have a ?
What is a good site to get a list of some of the top prospects for the upcomming draft in June and Where is the draft this year
True_kings_fan,
The 2007 Draft is being held in Columbus. Try www.hockeysfuture.com and click on ISS Top Ten at the top of the screen for a list of great young talent and some good archived articles regarding these up and comers. If you go www.wikipedia.org and search for 2007 NHL entry draft you can click onto some of these players and learn more about them. Hope this helps.
Also remember, the salary cap will be going up again this summer by a couple of million. So getting rid of Conroy's contract will free up even more cap space. The Kings have a good future. They're just taking their lumps now. I agree their goaltending has been atrocious this season. They'll most likely get a lottery pick this season in the top 10 area i hope. They did draft a promising goalie prospect last year, so hopefully he'll develop his promise and solve the Kings goaltending problems.
Last edited by TheStuntman on January 30th at 5:06 PM.
It's nice to see so many comments. There's a hardcore group of hockey fans in LA that don't get acknowledged as much as the traditional markets.
Anyway, I think most kings fans are ridiculous to expect the kings to win now. They've been a mediocre team for years. Remember the late 90s rebuilding? We had our #3 overall pick: oli jokinen, and our youth in aki berg, jamie storr, philipe boucher, pavel rosa, matt zultek, scott barney. The prospects either did not pan out or we traded them away. The point is the Kings had a history of very poor drafting and a management style that did not value the development of young players. Instead mgmt just wanted butts in the seat and put together a team that could make the playoffs but was never good enough to really compete for the cup.
I'm happy to see dean lombardi in LA and I still think he's doing a GREAT job. Our farm system has stunk for years. His evaluation was that our young forwards were our strength but we needed defenseman and goaltending. He drafts bernier and gets jack johnson. That's fantastic. Look at the make up of the team. The old guys on the Kings won't be able to make them competitive, they're there to teach the younger guys. This team relies on it's youth to win, and like any young developing team they need to go through growing pains. Watch the Kings (on tv if you don't think it's worth buying tickets for) and watch the young guys develop. They'll be solid in a few years as long as mgmt doesn't force a quick fix.
If you ask me, the true problem with the kings is AEG and Tim Liewiki. They
anyway, liewiki's agenda seems only to put butts in the seat. he's a typical business man, and liar. he talks up winning and tries to appeal to the fan base but it's pretty transparent to anyone with half a brain he's full of it. As the VP of the kings operations his job it to make sure they make money, so i have no doubt he's pressured the kings to make poor moves, not allowing them to build a true contender.
if you look at his history you'll see he did a terrible job with the NBA's denver nuggets when he held a simliar position there. the nuggets were awful under him, but now that he's left to the los angeles kings the nuggest have improved tremendously.
btw, the owner of the kings is a huge soccer guy, not a huge hockey guy, hence why they brought in beckham to the la galaxy.
anyway i'm glad dean's with los angeles. he's proven he is able to build a team and i think he's got enough 'nads to not be forced into making dumb moves from upper mgmt.
Watching the Kings/Flames tonight and it's abundantly clear that with a quality wing Conroy can be a great center. Like Iginla and Demitra has in the past Tanguay is making Conroy look stellar. Good for both of them. Conroy deserved better than he was getting in LA, and Tanguay needs to be better than he was in the first half.
Take it from a guy in a market who doesn't have any winning teams in any professional sports, you have to weather the storm and be patient, sometimes for years, while your younger players develop. If you cannot find something to be excited about even during a rebuilding year where you lose the majority of your games, you are a fairweather fan. Period.
I think our general manager, Doug MacLean, is a great businessman that has, especially in the last few years, made alot of great business decisions and come out on the winning end of most of his trades. He got alot of #### for some of them in the recent past (Darrell Sydor to TB for Alexander Svitov, Marc Denis to TB for Frederik Norrena and Frederik Modin), but as you can see, he definitely came out smelling like a rose a few years later.
Give your Kings some more time. If you give up on them now and don't give them your support, you don't deserve to be able to ride the high of the winning season that develops later.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
