The Weegar trademark represents organizational changes for the Flames.

CALGARY — Craig Conroy may not be ready to talk yet, but the moves he made Wednesday afternoon represent a significant change from his approach over the past few years.

It was the kind of systemic shock that Calgary Flames fans had been waiting for years but never believed would come.

Gone is 32-year-old MacKenzie Weegar, a pillar of the blue line, heartthrob of the room and future captain.

And with that comes the fantasy that this team is still trying to straddle two timelines.

This was the day the Flames finally chose their lane.

The message is unmistakable. What was unthinkable just a few weeks ago became a reality as the Flames brokered a five-contract deal with Utah. Weegar waived his no-trade clause, opening the door to huge profits.

A few days ago, the lovable leader everyone called “Weegs” was still considered a foundational veteran in a reorganization aimed at getting younger with the help of players like him.

But the Flames finally saw fit to create an overhaul, an accelerator, and more to revitalize the stalled program.

Conroy knew it. The room knew it. Now the league knows it.

“It’s hard to talk about a reorganization,” Conroy told Sportsnet.

“Maybe, but this is what I think will make us better people in the future.”

Weegar didn’t ask. He wasn’t sour. He didn’t stop in the city or on the top of the mountain. He recognized the reality that Conroy had finally taken action. The Flames aren’t close and time isn’t slowing down for anyone.

“We haven’t been actively shopping Weegs,” Conroy said by phone after the deal was announced.

“But when the call came, we got it and were looking into it. The conclusion this morning was that this was a deal we were harming if we didn’t bring it to Weegs. It was never an easy conversation, but he understood.”

Weegar never saw a deal coming, but told Sportsnet earlier in the week that he would consider it given his age and situation.

“He’s 32 years old and he wants to make the playoffs.” said Conroy, who praised the substitute captain as a top professional throughout an emotional day.

“I think both parties are very happy with this deal.”

Utah paid a premium by sending 31-year-old defenseman Olli Maatta, three 2026 second-round picks (his own, the Rangers and Ottawa’s) and 20-year-old Cornell center Jonathan Castagna, who has 14 goals and 32 points in 29 NCAA games.

Weegar’s retained salary for the remaining five years was $6.25 million. That alone leaves the door open for further moves involving Nazem Kadri or Blake Coleman.

It’s a great return for a club that has two first-round picks, four second-round picks and two third-round picks at its disposal this year.

Maatta had to give up his trade embargo protections to come to Calgary. He’s a consistent left-shooting defenseman who can play on either wing and helps stabilize a blue line that suddenly looks very different.

The acquisition of Zach Whitecloud for Rasmus Andersson earlier this year made the Weegar trade possible and gave the Flames enough veteran insulation to open the door for prospects like Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz to push for more NHL time.

Castagna is a key element for an organization that lacks a center.

“He plays hard, can score, is excellent in the faceoff circle, has good size, skates, and finishes checks,” said Conroy, who has been keeping an eye on the 6-foot-1, 183-pound Toronto player for some time.

“I just spoke to him and everything is positive so I don’t think there will be any problem signing him.”

He will sign and is almost certain to join the Flames at the end of this season, when his third year at Cornell ends.

“We’ve been rebuilding, renovating, or whatever you want to call it, for the last three years,” Conroy said.

“But unfortunately, where we are this year and where we need to go, we’ve had to continue down that path.”

Translation: Hybrid Rebuild is on life support, if not dead.

With Weegar leaving and Andersson moving on earlier, the leadership group the team assembled was cut. Kadri’s desire to relocate is likely to increase, and Coleman is most likely to be relocated by Friday.

Could Ryan Lomberg, Brayden Pachal or Joel Hanley be far behind?

This is what a full rebuild looks like.

This is not a half-measure. It’s not patchwork. No waiting for a core that never existed.

“I don’t know if it’s a change, but it’s something I think will make us better in the future.”

“It may not make us better now, but it will in the future.”

Call it whatever you want. Flames fans know what they saw.

A direction has been selected.