November 7, 2023 | 2:35pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

FLAMES EVALUATING DEFENCE MARKET

Chris Tanev, defenceman

Off to a surprisingly disappointing 3-7-1 start to the 2023-24 season, the Calgary Flames are starting to make calls and get a head start on the trade market.

While a move is not imminent, sources have told TFP that the Flames are gauging the trade market for such players as defencemen Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov and Dennis Gilbert, all of whom are on expiring contracts.

Multiple media outlets have also suggested the Flames are monitoring the rest of the league.

The Flames and Hanifin had re-engaged in contract extension discussions at the beginning of the season, but those conversations have since cooled and have been put on the backburner. The same can be said for star centre Elias Lindholm and his contractual status.

The Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs are among the teams believed to have interest in Tanev, as TFP’s David Pagnotta reported on Saturday on “The Hot Stove” and again on Monday on “The Powerplay” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio.

Tanev owns a 10-team no-trade list as part of his contract, while Hanifin has an eight-team no-trade list as part of his deal.

A move is not expected to go down in the near future as the Flames are merely in the exploratory stage should they not turn their season around. But if the club continues to slip and not gain any traction in the standings over the next month or so, Flames GM Craig Conroy could begin to make deals well ahead of the March 8 trade deadline.