Flames ownership release a statement on Nazem Kadri

With the Calgary Flames struggling out of the gate to start the season and with the team offloading veteran players over the past few seasons, rumors have been swirling like crazy around center man Nazem Kadri.

There have been been multiple rumor reports indicating that the Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks are all interested in Kadri, who is in year four of a seven year deal that pays him $7 million annually.

Today though, Flames owner Murray Edwards delivered a statement through TSN insider Darren Dreger indicating that the team will not be trading Kadri.

From Dreger:

"Murray Edwards, the owner of the Calgary Flames, is telling people that he has no interest in trading Nazem Kadri, in fact he doesn't want to trade Nazem Kadri, he loves the core of this team. I think it is important to note that Nazem Kadri loves Calgary, he wants to win in Calgary."

If I'm a skeptic... which I am... that's exactly what I'd say to drive up the value of Kadri on the trade market. Conspiracy?