Top 40 Calgary Flames: #24 Craig Conroy

This coming May is the 40th anniversary of the Atlanta Flames moving to Calgary. To commemorate this occasion, we’re counting down the Top 40 Calgary Flames in history.

Coming in at #24 is Craig Conroy.

C’mon, like Conroy wouldn’t be on this list?

One of the prime two-way centers of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Conroy was one of those players that was good at everything but wasn’t quite great at a lot of things. (Maybe face-offs.) But his amiable nature and hockey sense kept him in the NHL for 1,000 games, half of which he spent wearing the Flaming C.

Acquired for Cory Stillman in 2001, Conroy found his way onto Jarome Iginla’s line and became ingrained in two of the most productive trios in club history – with Iginla and Dean McAmmond, and with Iginla and Martin Gelinas. A savvy veteran, his first tenure with the club was punctuated by perennial Selke Trophy contendership and Conroy’s season and a half as captain – Conroy famously handed the C over to Iginla and remained an alternate captain for much of the rest of his career.

Aside from 130 games with Los Angeles after the lockout, Conroy cemented himself as a long-time Flame. He ate up the tough assignments. He worked hard and chipped in key points. He played special teams. He was one of just 17 players to play 500 or more games with the club, and one of just 15 captains in club history.

For his lengthy tenure, consistent strong play and handful of Selke near-misses, Conroy comes in at #24 on the list.

Top 40 Calgary Flames: HM Martin Gelinas | #40 Brad Marsh | #39 Matt Stajan | #38 Jiri Hudler | #37 Dion Phaneuf | #36 Guy Chouinard | #35 Phil Housley | #34 Matthew Tkachuk | #33 Cory Stillman | #32 Curtis Glencross | #31 Jamie Macoun | #30 Carey Wilson | #29 Reggie Lemelin | #28 TJ Brodie | #27 Alex Tanguay | #26 Daymond Langkow | #25 Sergei Makarov