Conroy: Flames 'earned' additions of Farabee, Frost

Calgary general manager Craig Conroy used Thursday's trade for forwards Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee as a way to reward the Flames for their competitive play this campaign.

"I definitely wanted to give the team something," he said after the deal. "They deserved it, they've earned it. To give them a boost, a shot in the arm, whatever it is."

The executive added, "We believe upstairs that these two players can help us get to our ultimate goal, which is to make the playoffs and then start winning playoff rounds."

The Flames entered Friday's slate in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a 25-18-7 record.

Conroy acquired Frost and Farabee from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for wingers Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a 2025 second-round pick, and a 2028 seventh-rounder.

The deal was completed in dramatic fashion surrounding the Flames' 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Calgary made Kuzmenko a late scratch for the contest and pulled Pelletier out of the game during the first intermission.

"I felt bad the way it went down tonight. ... Never want to do that, but just wanted to be sure that we got this deal done," Conroy said.

He added, "I do think when you're looking for that young center (in Frost), and you're looking for another piece in Joel, this was the time to do it. I don't think there's a perfect time for anything, it's just when it feels right. ... We've made the team better as of today."

Calgary head coach Ryan Huska wouldn't reveal where he'll play his two new additions when they join the lineup Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings, but he expects them both to help his team offensively.

"Frost, for one, is a skilled play-making center," Huska said. "He's been pretty good in the faceoff circle this year, which is something that we've struggled with. I think that's fairly well-known.

"Farabee's a guy that, I think he's a little untapped still. So we're hopeful that he's gonna turn into even more of a goal-scorer, but he does have an edge to his game."

Conroy, meanwhile, is hopeful he's earned some grace from overzealous Flames fans now that he's added up front.

"This fills a couple holes that I've been trying to find, maybe from the draft last year. I walk around the city, 'What are you doing? Does your phone not work?'" Conroy said with a laugh. "I understand that. People like to chirp me when I'm walking around."