New move in Calgary is bad news for Brad Treliving's trade plans

The Calgary Flames are one team that reports have linked as potential early season sellers after sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings towards the end of November.

With the Flames having less than stellar results early, attention has turned to potential deals that Calgary could make, but it would appear that the team is committing to their current team.

According to Elliotte Friedman, Flames GM Craig Conroy is having his contract extended by the team, with Flames reporter Eric Francis saying the deal is for two-years.

With players such as Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri floated as possible trade pieces, the extension of Conroy aligns with what the Flames have indicated is a reluctance to commit to a rebuild, and a preference to compete.

The extension of Craig Conroy adds to the signal that the Calgary Flames have been sending this season, that despite whatever happens, the team doesn't want to be sellers.

Flames ownership had said earlier in the season that the team didn't want to be trading away Nazem Kadri and the Calgary core, despite being outside of the playoffs as it currently stands.

Calgary doesn't want to be a rebuilding team, even if they're in the position to be in last place, and having a built core in place for a top prospect.

The idea has shown success recently with Macklin Celebrini in San Jose and Matthew Schaefer with the Islanders as examples of rookies who have benefited with a veteran group, and on the flip side, Connor Bedard took longer to become a top point producer with an inexperienced Blackhawks roster.

Already players with value, if the Calgary Flames are committing to building with their core, regardless if they're winning this season or not, it could influence how Calgary views Kadri and Andersson, and the right price that allows them to reconsider.

Despite a friendly history between the Calgary Flames and their former General Manager Brad Treliving, it would be unlikely to see the Leafs get an easier path for it.

Wanting to build a roster for themselves, the Flames would likely want immediate roster help of their own for a Kadri or Andersson, a goal that aligns with Treliving's previous comments about making "roster" deals both ways.

The Leafs have a lack of top-end prospects and picks. Toronto has already traded their next two first round picks, and Easton Cowan is a player the Leafs have said they'd rather not trade.

Ben Danford would be the top name prospect wise, but the Leafs lack defensive depth and Danford is the only one who projects as a potential top-four defenseman.

Frank Seravalli reported that any deal for Kadri would have to be "significant enough" for Calgary to entertain a trade.

A roster player plus a young prospect might would be evaluated against potential stronger offers from other teams, and it's why a roster trade is one that could be the best path for Toronto to take.