Report: Calgary Flames facing departures of Backlund, Lindholm and Hanifin

The Calgary Flames are facing some difficult decisions as three players have either indicated they do not intend on re-signing with the club or are leaning that way, according to a report by Frank Seravalli of dailyfaceoff.com.

Veteran centres Mikael Backlund and Elias Lindholm are both favouring not returning to the club in a year's time when they become unrestricted free agents, according to Seravalli, while defenceman Noah Hanifin has made it clear he will not be coming back.

"Lindholm's decision is the linchpin to a lot of this," said Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman Thursday on The Jeff Marek Show. "We already know Hanifin has indicted he's not going to re-sign and I think the decision from Lindholm is going to really determine a lot of where Calgary is going here."

Lindholm (64) and Backlund (56) were second and third in points on the team last season, while Hanifin (38) was second among Flames defencemen.

"I think that Lindholm wanted to make sure it wasn't going to be a rebuild," added Friedman. "I think he understands that some of the young kids are going to have to play, but he didn't want a rebuild. ... I had heard they weren't pressuring him, they didn't necessarily need (his decision) before the draft, but whenever Lindholm makes his choice, I think that's going to determine a lot of what happens in Calgary."

Sportsnet's Elliotte Freidman has also reported that the Flames have made forward Tyler Toffoli available for a trade. The 31-year-old has one year remaining on his four-year, $16 million contract.

The team has undergone extensive changes at the coaching and executive level, with the resignation of general manager Brad Treliving and firing of head coach Darryl Sutter at the end of the season. Craig Conroy and Ryan Huska, respectively, have been installed to replace them in recent weeks.