Flames GM Conroy Fleeced Devils in Bahl Acquisition

Craig Conroy didn’t waste any time putting his stamp on the Calgary Flames. After being promoted to the general manager (GM) position following the 2022-23 season, he knew that this team had to head in a different direction. Not long after being hired, he traded out several veterans in Tyler Toffoli, Nikita Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev, and Noah Hanifin. He wasn’t done there, either.

The next offseason, roughly one year after he’d been hired, Conroy elected to trade his starting goaltender, Jacob Markstrom, to the New Jersey Devils. Despite Markstrom coming off of a rather mediocre season, he was able to get quite the haul, bringing in a 2025 first-round pick and defenceman Kevin Bahl.

That first-round pick was the big get at the time, while Bahl was a relatively unknown defenceman. He’d played his first full NHL season in 2023-24, and was thought of by most as a project rather than a true difference maker. Whether it was a rapidly quick improvement or perhaps just a player needing more opportunity, he’s been an absolute stud since arriving in Calgary.

Bahl Serving as Flames’ Top Defenceman

Bahl, now 26, impressed right out of the gate with the Flames, proving to be a player who could play in nearly every situation without looking overwhelmed. His first season in Calgary was so impressive that it resulted in Conroy getting him signed to a six-year, $32.1 million extension that carries a cap hit of $5.35 million.

That signing is looking like an absolute bargain now, as Bahl’s play has only continued to get better. He was once again a ray of consistency on a struggling Flames team in 2025-26, and has been every bit as good, if not even better, in 2026-27.

Though other fan bases may not realize his impact since he isn’t a flashy, offensive-styled blueliner, Flames fans know just how valuable he has been. It seems any time that head coach Ryan Huska needs to try and get a player going, he chooses to place them on a pairing with Bahl. More often than not, the results wind up working out in the Flames’ favour.

This season, the two most important blueliners for Huska to develop are Zayne Parekh and Simon Nemec. Both are extremely talented, but are still getting adjusted to the NHL game. To no surprise, they’ve both spent time playing on a pairing with Bahl this season, as he’s best fit to help somewhat shelter them during these early stages of their respective careers.

On the flip side, you have Markstrom, who never really panned out the way the Devils had hoped. The 36-year-old struggled during his time in New Jersey, specifically in his second season where he finished with a disappointing 3.07 goals-against average (GAA) and a .883 save percentage (SV%) in 44 appearances. Likely due in large part to the rough season, he was traded this summer to the Florida Panthers.

So, in other words, the Flames were able to pick up a very steady top-four defenceman in exchange for an aging goaltender who hasn’t come anywhere close to the success he had in Calgary during the 2021-22 season. And, of course, Bahl isn’t the only piece that came over in that deal.

As mentioned, the Flames also received a 2025 first-round pick from the Devils, which they wound up using on Cole Reschny at 18th overall. The pick looks like a great one at this time, as Reschny had a ton of success in his freshman season with the University of North Dakota, putting up 35 points in 36 games. He’s been every bit as good early in the 2026-27 campaign with eight points in seven outings.

Conroy’s Trade Looking Better by the Day

When looking at the trade as a whole, it’s hard not to be impressed with what Conroy was able to pull off. Markstrom was coming off a season where he had shown some signs of decline, and the Flames were able to turn him into a young defenceman who has quickly become one of their most important players, along with a first-round pick who is looking like a very promising prospect.

There’s always a chance that things could change, especially with Reschny still having plenty of development ahead of him. But at this point, it’s hard to argue that the Flames didn’t get the better end of this deal. Bahl has already established himself as a legitimate top-four defenceman, and at just 26 years old, he should continue to be a big part of Calgary’s blue line for years to come.