When the Calgary Flames signed Nazem Kadri to a long-term deal in 2022, it looked as if they were in a win-today mode.

Things might appear differently a little more than a year later. Calgary has lost three of its past four right after trading defenseman Nikita Zadorov to Vancouver. Now the Flames travel to Colorado to face the Avalanche on Monday night with the chance other players could be moved.

Calgary is trying to rebuild on the fly, not give up on the season, but rumors have circulated about the possibility that Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin or Chris Tanev could be traded. Tanev, a mainstay of the defensive corps, has publicly stated he wants to remain with the Flames.

"I want to win here," Tanev, who is in his fourth season in Calgary, told Sportsnet recently. "I've said I would stay. It is sort of all going to depend on which way the organization wants to go."

The Flames have played a little more than a quarter of the season and have 25 points, which would leave them on the outside of the playoffs if that doesn't change.

They face a difficult stretch of the schedule and begin a three-game road trip in Colorado before playing at Vegas and Minnesota.

How they do in that stretch could determine what moves the front office will make, but Tanev's teammates don't want to see him go.

"If there's anyone who should be untouchable, it's Chris Tanev," Rasmus Andersson told Sportsnet. "He's the best."

The Avalanche aren't concerned with Calgary's roster. They are just trying to get back on the winning track after dropping two straight games amid their season-long, five-game homestand. After beating Anaheim on Tuesday night, Colorado has lost to Winnipeg and Philadelphia and is 1-3-2 in its past six games.

The Avalanche were hoping to have captain Gabriel Landeskog back around the team to provide a boost. Landeskog has not played since Game 6 of the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals and is expected to miss a second straight season after having knee cartilage replacement surgery.

Despite not having Landeskog, Colorado won the Northwest Division last season and sits atop it again this year.

"We have a high standard," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "It's not always going to come together for you, but I do feel like the messaging from our team and coaching staff has been really consistent. They take a lot of ownership in that. We give them a big voice in there, in meetings and even game-planning if they see things.

"We're trying to be a family, and we feel like the bigger voice that the players have, the more they will take ownership of it."

Nathan MacKinnon has led by example, especially at home where he has at least one point in all 13 games there. He also has an 11-game point streak, which is the longest current in the NHL.

Colorado's lineup got a boost when Valeri Nichushkin returned Saturday after missing the previous two games with an illness.

- Field Level Media

Quickchart Matchup

Calgary Off vs  Colorado Def

2.91 GF 2.81 GA 32.1 Shots 28.2 Shots 8 PP 10 PK

Colorado Off vs  Calgary Def

3.76 GF 3.27 GA 32.1 Shots 29.6 Shots 17 PP 12 PK