from Damien Cox of Sportsnet,

The Flames are stunning the hockey industry with their strong season, and today team president Brian Burke made it clear the team is more than willing to start spending some of the more than $19 million in available cap space to make the team even more of a playoff threat.

"You can quote me on this. We are budgeted as a full cap team," said Burke today at the conclusion of the NHL’s board of governors meetings.

"The only reason we haven’t been a cap team so far is we haven’t seen the value. But the second we do, (general manager) Brad Treliving is authorized to go right to the cap."

Right now, the Flames are 29th in NHL payrolls at about $50 million. The room they have could translate into contracts worth tens of millions by the March deadline if they choose to spend it.

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