DALLAS – The Calgary Flames are unfazed by Friday’s looming trade deadline, a stark contrast to a season ago when the club was subject of plenty of speculation surrounding its free agents and No. 1 goalie Jacob Markstrom.

A year later, sitting in the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot, the mood around the group is entirely different.

“This year, totally different than other years,” head coach Ryan Huska said after the team’s morning skate in Dallas. “It doesn’t even feel like it’s happening for our team, which I quite like.”

Captain Mikael Backlund admitted that last season’s noise took its toll on the club.

“It was hard last year, all year,” he said. “Especially after Christmas, with all the rumours and everything going on. It was tough and after the deadline last year too. We lost a lot of good teammates and players. It was tough around the deadline and after. It feels a lot better this year.”

Stars head coach Pete DeBoer called it the hardest time of the year for the players.

“You........

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