The Calgary Flames could still make the playoffs — even if they sell at the deadline

Even after trading Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks, the Calgary Flames remain within striking distance of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

After defeating the Edmonton Oilers by a 6-3 score on Saturday night, the Flames moved within five points of the Nashville Predators for the eighth and final playoff position.

The Flames have a 28-25-5 record with 24 games remaining in the 2023-24 regular season. They have plenty of time to gain the requisite ground, but their odds may become longer if general manager Craig Conroy follows through on his rumored commitment to trading pending free agents Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev.

The odds of the Flames catching up to the likes of the L.A. Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Vegas Golden Knights for a Pacific Division playoff spot are extremely long. But Nashville may be in their sights, and Frank Seravalli dug into that possibility in response to a listener question on Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff Live.

Frank Seravalli: I think there’s maybe a chance that they could have their cake and eat it, too. They could trade away their pending UFAs and, if they keep Jacob Markstrom, he’s played well enough to seemingly be able to carry them into the postseason, why not the Flames? It’s a straight-up pillow fight for that eighth seed in the Western Conference. The Preds are there now, they’ve created a little bit of a gap but they’ve played more games than everyone else. I think the Wild are strongly considered for that eighth spot as well and they should be with how well they’ve played over the last couple weeks. But I wouldn’t be ready to count out the Flames to do something like what Nashville almost pulled off last year as well, trading away all those guys and Saros still almost dragging them in.

Watch the full episode here: