Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy has to determine deadline direction

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Craig Conroy has to make a tough call.

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Sitting two points behind the Edmonton Oilers for the final wild-card spot in the West heading into Tuesday night’s action, the Calgary Flames general manager is about seven weeks away from deciding if his unrestricted free agents on July 1 will stay with the club.

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All eyes are on what route Conroy takes with the likes of forward Elias Lindholm and defencemen Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev before the deadline on March 8 at 3 p.m. ET.

While there was talk earlier this year the Flames were talking about an extension with Hanifin, nobody is sure if that’s actually the case anymore because his camp is weighing what it could get on the open market before determining whether he should stay in Calgary.

Then there’s the 29-year-old Lindholm. He has eight goals and 28 points in 43 games with the Flames this season. Making US $4.85 million in the final year of his contract, there’s talk in league circles that Calgary would like to keep him but hasn’t been able to get a commitment yet.

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The fact the Flames are pushing for a playoff spot doesn’t make Conroy’s decision any easier. Just when you think Calgary is headed for another spring with no playoffs, the club gets its act together. The Flames went into Tuesday’s visit by Arizona with three straight wins.

“It’s too early for Conroy to decide,” a league executive said on Tuesday. “It’s going to depend on whether guys like Hanifin and Lindholm are willing to make a commitment by signing. If they aren’t, moving both players is something they have to think about.”

There’s no shortage of teams looking for help up front. It would be no surprise if the Vancouver Canucks have shown interest in Lindholm. The Canucks have made no secret of the fact they would like to add another forward — and Lindholm would fit the bill.

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WILL ELVIS LEAVE THE BUILDING?

Elvis Merzlikins is looking for a change of scenery.

The Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender confirmed after the club’s 4-3 shootout victory over the Canucks on Monday that he’s asked general manager Jarmo Kekalainen for a trade.

Merzlikins hadn’t suited up since Dec. 29 and improved his record to 8-8-0 with the win. He has a 3.22 goals-against average and a. 906 save percentage this season in 24 appearances.

“After my last interview (last Friday), everybody knows I requested (a) trade,” he told reporters after the win. “Everyone was still here, playing for me and blocking the shots for me. This was awesome. I really appreciate (his teammates). It wasn’t an easy game for me, and they made me feel easier.”

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There are teams looking for goaltending, and Merzlikins has three years left after this season on a deal that carries a cap hit of $5.4 million per year. There aren’t many teams that will be able to carry that kind of money and it’s unlikely the Jackets will want to pick up cash.

Merzlikins was a scratch four times in five games. He has found himself at the third goaltender behind Daniil Tarasov and Spencer Martin. Merzlikins said he’s trying to send a message by playing well.

Asked by reporters if he could find some consistency in his game, Merzlikins said: “Yes, because I’m really mad. I’m mad internally, and I’m just blowing out that monster and I’ve got to keep going.”

If Merzlikins continues to play “mad,” maybe rival GMs will get excited about acquiring him. We’re told the market is thin because teams with goaltending issues aren’t sure Merzlikins is the answer.

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THIS ‘N’ THAT

We’re told Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland has been looking for help on the back end. So has the Colorado Avalanche … Why was Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek listening to offers on winger Trevor Zegras before he had surgery to repair a broken ankle, sidelining him for six-to-eight weeks? The Ducks like Zegras’ skill a lot and know he’s a talented player, but Verbeek would like to shape a roster that’s a little bit bigger and tougher. The 22-year-old Zegras, a first-round pick in 2019, has 53 goals and 146 points in 200 career games. Verbeek wants a team that’s harder to play against, which is why defenceman Jamie Drysdale was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers for Cutter Gauthier.

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RUMOURS DU JOUR

Teams are doing their homework on winger Corey Perry after he was given clearance to return to the NHL. Sent packing earlier this year by the Chicago Blackhawks after an off-ice incident, Perry entered a program to get help for alcohol abuse and wants to resume playing. The Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are among several teams that have reached out to Perry’s representatives. The expectation is he’ll sign a team-friendly $775,000, one-year deal with a contender that’s looking for a hard-nosed competitor with playoff experience … Keep hearing the Winnipeg Jets wouldn’t mind a bit of an upgrade to their forward group heading into the playoffs. Some suggested to me the club has been sniffing around looking for some depth down the middle … Toronto GM Brad Treliving has been searching for a defenceman, but he wants to make a dollar-for-dollar deal. That’s not easy for anyone to do right now, but the Leafs been linked to Tanev, which makes sense because he was signed by Treliving in Calgary.

bgarrioch@postmedia.com

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