MacKenzie Weegar gets honest about state of the Flames

Things are going to be looking much different for the Calgary Flames when they hit the ice this fall as compared to the team that failed to qualify for the playoffs last year, and that's just on the ice. Gone is general manager Brad Treliving, who has since resurfaced in the same role with the Toronto Maple Leafs; replacing him is former fan favorite Craig Conroy. 

And now, there's a new head coach behind the bench by the name of Ryan Huska, a longtime Flames assistant who was tapped to replace the terminated Darryl Sutter. Additionally, Tyler Toffoli was shipped to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Yegor Sharangovich. What's more, the future status of several players that include the likes of Noah Hanifin and Mikael Backlund remains up in the air. 

For defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, who was part of last summer's blockbuster trade that also brought Jonathan Huberdeau to the Flames in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk, he feels that things are trending in the right direction after what was a disappointing first year in Calgary. 

"I think with the two new hirings with Craig and 'Husk', I think that was already moving in the right direction," the defenseman told NHL.com before participating in the Rogers Legends of Hockey Charity Skins Game on Saturday. "There's lots of rumors of guys not wanting to be here or guys staying. To be honest, I kind of keep my head out of it and my nose out of it. I just want guys that want to be here. And I think Craig and Husk are on the same page.

"For me the turnover, it doesn't really affect me. All that matters is the guys that want to be here and guys that want to win here in Calgary and if you don't want to be a part of it, unfortunately you have to move on even if they're great friends and great guys. For me, you want to win and I think we want to win now. It starts with Craig and Husk at the helm."

Can the Flames make a return to the playoffs in 2024? 

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