As I arrive in Calgary for the Heritage Classic on Friday, I shake my head at how the host Flames have completely transformed their storyline from just two months ago.

In mid-December, the outdoor game between Calgary and the visiting Montreal Canadiens had you wishing the league could have moved the event to another location.

You wondered whether Flames captain Jarome Iginla would even be around for the outdoor game. And if he was, was it because the organization didn't want to be embarrassed and not have its longtime poster player be a part of it?

And surely the Flames' rebuild would have started by now, before the puck drops Sunday at McMahon Stadium.

Well, never mind all those thoughts. Never mind big-mouth LeBrun saying, during a Hot Stove segment on "Hockey Night in Canada," that the Flames were crazy if they didn't try to trade Iginla to kick start the rebuild. Just forget any of that happened, because what has transpired over the past two months is simply mind-blowing.

In the 25 games since GM Darryl Sutter was pushed aside Dec. 28, the Flames have played at a clip that would make the 1989 Cup-winning squad proud. Try a .740 winning percentage over that stretch in the middle of a crazy Western race, with a shot at fourth place in the conference.

Truly amazing.

"It sure is," interim GM Jay Feaster told ESPN.com on Thursday. "It's an example of what can happen when you have an entire group that has bought in to the system, that has bought in to the team concept and that is bringing the work ethic on a nightly basis.

"I said for a long time that when we follow the system and we work hard, that we can beat anybody in the National Hockey League," Feaster added. "When we don't follow the system or when we try to take short cuts and don't work hard, then we're in trouble. We can't just rely on our talent alone. It has to be our talent level supported by our work ethic. And that's really what has happened over the last couple of months."

Which brings us to the Feb. 28 trade deadline. When Feaster took over in late December, he was thinking of which parts he would sell off. Now, those parts are staying. UFAs-to-be Curtis Glencross, Brendan Morrison and Alex Tanguay, all of whom could have been trade bait had the Flames continue their losing ways, are here for the playoff push.

"The mission here is to make the playoffs," Feaster said. "We'll deal with the free agency when we have to deal with it."

Sellers just two months ago, now they're possible buyers.

"Yes, if we can add in a way that makes sense, and by that I mean part of it will depend on the pricing," Feaster said of trying to add a player.

The thing is, the Flames don't have a second- or third-round pick in the June draft, and that limits their options. Furthermore, Feaster doesn't want to move future high picks, either.

"We have to stop the deficit spending," he said. "I don't want to be sitting here at the same time next year and say, 'We don't have a second- and third-round pick in 2012. We have to, at some point, stop that cycle. So if the right player is available and we can pay that price, we will. But again, we have to be judicious about how we approach that."

Sunday's Heritage Classic? Couldn't be in a better place. The hottest team in Canada was the right club to host it after all. Who knew.