Flames Face Crucial Month in Efforts to Re-Sign Lindholm and Hanifin

Contract talks are reportedly on hold between the Calgary Flames and their pending free agents. What could be their approach if they don't climb the standings?

Earlier this week, we pondered what effect the Calgary Flames' poor start could have on their contract extension talks with Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin.

We didn't have to wait long to find out. On Tuesday, Sportsnet's Eric Francis reported their negotiations with all their pending free agents had been put on hold.

Francis speculated the Flames could be on the verge of taking a radical new approach if their fortunes fail to improve. Rather than a major roster rebuild, it could be a retooling involving Lindholm and Hanifin as trade chips. He also suggested the club's recent poor performance may have those two rethinking their futures in Calgary.

That seems to be the case for Hanifin. On Wednesday, TSN's Darren Dreger reported the 26-year-old defenseman decided to call a timeout on his negotiations as he evaluated the club's direction.

Lindholm and Hanifin wouldn't be the Flames' only trade chips. Francis speculated they could peddle backup goaltender Dan Vladar to make room for the promising Dustin Wolf and make some hard decisions regarding pending UFAs Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov.

Much will depend on the Flames' performance throughout November.

If they string some wins together and rise in the standings, management could stay the course in the hope of renewing contract talks with Lindholm and Hanifin. Should they continue to struggle, however, we can expect the trade rumors regarding those two and their fellow Flames free agents to increase as the season rolls along.