NHL Trade Deadline: Calgary Flames

February 25 2011 Last updated at 02:15 PM ET

About six weeks ago, most teams in the NHL were probably looking ahead with anticipation to see what gems the Calgary Flames would be offering up for sale at trade deadline time. Not anymore.

With an amazing resurgence -- which coincided with the turfing of general manager Darryl Sutter -- the Flames are among the hottest teams in the league, jockeying for position in the ever-shifting West Division standings. With 70 points in 62 games, Calgary is currently in eighth spot, but just two up on three teams, all of whom have games in hand. So, despite their dramatic turnaround, their situation is still precarious.

Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, who had his own little stretch of mediocrity, is back being the major stopper for the team, while offence has come from varied sources, most recently off the stick of winger Curtis Glencross. Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay have been consistent through this last stretch, while Mark Giordano and Robyn Regehr have anchored the defence steadfastly.

Making the playoffs, after last year's dismal 10th place finish, is paramount.

NEEDS

There is no question the Flames have needs -- the wish list includes another top nine forward and depth on defense -- but even if they wanted to acquire someone, they'd have to make room under the salary cap and that is what acting GM Jay Feaster has been trying to do since he took charge: unload some costly dead weight. The Flames placed three players on waivers -- Craig Conroy, Ales Kotalik and Niklas Hagman -- with varying results. Conroy retired, Kotalik is in the AHL and Hagman is still in Calgary, the latter two each picking up a cool $3 million. Shedding some of the hefty long-term contracts that Sutter doled out is one of Feaster's considerations.

Calgary also has one pick in the top 100 at this year's draft and there are no blue-chip prospects on the farm, so the Flames need to replenish their supply of draft picks. Moving one of their UFAs, someone like Glencross or Tanguay, might still be an option.

THE VERDICT

A team that was a certain seller will be neither at trade deadline time because the mandate is to make the playoffs and the Flames are too close to that goal to tinker with their chemistry. However, just making the playoffs may be the worse thing that could happen, since the assets which could have brought them something in return -- the Iginlas, the Kiprusoffs or the Regehrs -- will be back next year, just one year older. Will the Flames short-term strategy be their long-term downfall?

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