2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

“Welcome to Evander Kanes discount marching powder and child support emporium! Unlike my exes, these prices can’t be beat!”

That was low. But probably an accurate portrayal.

[browna]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1962928820031221852

https://www.thefourthperiod.com/pagn...tember-arrives

Backlund would help the club if someone wanted him as a deadline rental for basically anything in return. And then sign back here in July.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yup and reduces the benefit of waiting to make move until the trade deadline since accruing cap is almost useless now that you need to be under the cap for the playoff roster

A little odd that they will be having two different salary cap’s now (presuming you cannot accrue space in the playoffs).

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Perfect year for a Vegas flop from a Flames perspective…. Fingers crossed.

If they stay healthy I doubt it, but they have a couple players that miss games yearly and questionable goaltending.

IMO Shea Theodore can't miss games. If he does, that d is very weak without him.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by browna

Backlund would help the club if someone wanted him as a deadline rental for basically anything in return. And then sign back here in July.

Doug Weight did that a few times. Backlund would only have to move away from a few months and then sign back. The extra picks could help him win a cup in Calgary too.

[getbak]

The whole point of Backlund only ever playing for one team is that he won't ever play for another team.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by blankall

The new salary cap rules for the playoffs are coming into effect this season. Could be good for the Flames, if they are selling. Now teams will have to send cap back, which is going to limit which teams they can make trades with. The Flames have lots of cap so could take advantage.

Most veterans in the NHL earning $4mil+ have trade protection. These changes will suppress deadline deals, full-stop.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Most veterans in the NHL earning $4mil+ have trade protection. These changes will suppress deadline deals, full-stop.

That’s what he said.

It will limit which teams can make deals, as deals will more often require retained salary or an exchange of cap hits.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

That’s what he said.

It will limit which teams can make deals, as deals will more often require retained salary or an exchange of cap hits.

The Flames being able to take on salary isn’t of much help if most of the players that might come back as a cap dump can nix a deal.

The main reason deadline deals are almost always picks for players isn’t because sellers don’t have cap space (they usually have lots of it). It’s because vet-for-vet deals are really hard to orchestrate in today’s NHL. And the fact teams gearing up for a playoff run feel they can never have enough veterans, and are reluctant to trade away even 3rd pairing D and depth forwards.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The Flames being able to take on salary isn’t of much help if most of the players that might come back as a cap dump can nix a deal.

The main reason deadline deals are almost always picks for players isn’t because sellers don’t have cap space (they usually have lots of it). It’s because vet-for-vet deals are really hard to orchestrate in today’s NHL. And the fact teams gearing up for a playoff run feel they can never have enough veterans, and are reluctant to trade away even 3rd pairing D and depth forwards.

A lot of time teams don't want to give up a vet for a vet because they do not have to. They can add and add with RS and double RS and do not have to worry about a playoff salary cap.

I think things are going to change. Players traded to teams full salary for a player with RS. More player for player moves and more young players moving as they do not have NTC and less picks moving.

[Macho0978]

I also think these new rules favour teams with depth vs top end talent. Teams could easily fill holes in the roster. Now it will be harder to load up.

[The Cobra]

The main result of the requirement of teams needing to be cap compliant come playoff time is less deadline deals.

What's the use of bringing in a top player for the playoffs if you need to sit some players due to cap restrictions.

And who will suffer from that?

The bottom feeder teams trying to dump UFA's to be for draft picks.

Oh I expect the Andersson's can be easily moved because they are good, but the more marginal players probably cannot be moved.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by blankall

IMO this will end up more limiting to our competitors. If the Flames are selling top 4 d-man and have cap space to take a cap dump back, they have an advantage over sellers who can't take a cap dump back.

If someone wants Andersson, for more than a rental, they will need to have the cap space to sign him next season anyways. For this season, they'll need to unload some cap. The Flames can take that cap. Will probably cost extra though.

Cap, in general, is likely to have a lot of value this season, as several teams had likely already factored in LTIR into their playoff drive (Vegas I'm looking at you) and will now need to unload cap.

I honestly have a hard time picking a would be seller as a team that can't take a cap dump back.

Moreover, if we're talking about trading Andersson with 50% retention at the TD then all but 6 teams can take on that contract, without sending any salary back. Out of those 6 teams 2 are MTL(Price LTIR), and PHI. That leaves a total of 4 capped out contenders: VGK, FLA, EDM, DAL.

As things stand 24 teams will have more than $5M of cap space at the trade deadline. Many of whom would love to get assets for a cap dump.

Finally, my understanding is that the playoff cap would apply to the players a team gets to ice on a per game basis. In that case a team would be replacing a 3rd pairing D likely making $1M-1.5M with a $2.2M Andersson, so I don't see it being too much of an issue compared to Kucherov($9.5M) or Stone($9.5M) returning for the playoffs.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I honestly have a hard time picking a would be seller as a team that can't take a cap dump back.

Moreover, if we're talking about trading Andersson with 50% retention then all but 6 teams can take acquire anyone back. Out of those 6 teams 2 are MTL(Price LTIR), and PHI. That leaves a total of 4 capped out contenders: VGK, FLA, EDM, DAL.

As things stand 24 teams will have more than $5M of cap space at the trade deadline. Many of whom would love to get assets for a cap dump.

Finally, my understanding is that the playoff cap would apply to the players a team gets to ice on a per game basis. In that case a team would be replacing a 3rd pairing D likely making $1M-1.5M with a $2.2M Andersson, so I don't see it being too much of an issue compared to Kucherov($9.5M) or Stone($9.5M) returning for the playoffs.

I haven't read the deal, just going by what people are saying here, and this was my impression as well - if wrong, con someone please jump in.

But if that is the case, then I don't think it dampens trade deadline deals as mush as some are suggesting. All a team requires is that they acquire someone that they would rather dress, over someone else on the roster. So instead of having to trade away that $4M benchwarmer, they would simply leave them off the playoff roster. And they would still have that player available in case of other injuries, so it is actually a net benefit.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

The main result of the requirement of teams needing to be cap compliant come playoff time is less deadline deals.

What's the use of bringing in a top player for the playoffs if you need to sit some players due to cap restrictions.

And who will suffer from that?

The bottom feeder teams trying to dump UFA's to be for draft picks.

Oh I expect the Andersson's can be easily moved because they are good, but the more marginal players probably cannot be moved.

Or teams make different moves. For example, the Marchand trade. Boston got a 2nd and did not RS. Maybe Florida under the current rules still does a trade but the trade is Marchand 50% RS for Luostarinen and a 2nd. Trade might need to happen earlier in the year and Florida might have to do another deal like this to get under, but they might have to make 2 trades adding players with RS and give up players they don't want to and picks.

Also, the off season we finally might see players signing with different teams other than Vegas as Vegas is going to run out of options to add and add.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Or teams make different moves. For example, the Marchand trade. Boston got a 2nd and did not RS. Maybe Florida under the current rules still does a trade but the trade is Marchand 50% RS for Luostarinen and a 2nd. Trade might need to happen earlier in the year and Florida might have to do another deal like this to get under, but they might have to make 2 trades adding players with RS and give up players they don't want to and picks.

Also, the off season we finally might see players signing with different teams other than Vegas as Vegas is going to run out of options to add and add.

Agreed. The biggest change is how these deals are completed, not how often imo. Teams being able to upgrade a depth defenceman with a much better defenceman 50% retained is still going to be appealing, it just changes the equation. And instead of every just the most capped out, over-filled rosters adding (Vegas) you’re going to get more teams on the outside of that small circle able to add and load up. Teams like Jersey, Utah, Winnipeg, Carolina, etc.

Should be fun.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

A lot of time teams don't want to give up a vet for a vet because they do not have to. They can add and add with RS and double RS and do not have to worry about a playoff salary cap.

I think things are going to change. Players traded to teams full salary for a player with RS. More player for player moves and more young players moving as they do not have NTC and less picks moving.

The appeal of a rental declines if the team acquiring it has to sacrifice depth. Most deadline buyers are pushing their chips in for a run. They don’t want to lose a reliable 3rd pairing d-man to bring in a 2nd pairing guy.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

The main result of the requirement of teams needing to be cap compliant come playoff time is less deadline deals.

What's the use of bringing in a top player for the playoffs if you need to sit some players due to cap restrictions.

And who will suffer from that?

The bottom feeder teams trying to dump UFA's to be for draft picks.

Oh I expect the Andersson's can be easily moved because they are good, but the more marginal players probably cannot be moved.

If you have a hurt player you're going to activate at playoff time then sure you can't add.

But how common was that?

Most teams acquire players in the first week of March that play immediately and are part of the same cap they'll be held to at playoff time.

The accrued space won't change.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Bingo

If you have a hurt player you're going to activate at playoff time then sure you can't add.

But how common was that?

Most teams acquire players in the first week of March that play immediately and are part of the same cap they'll be held to at playoff time.

The accrued space won't change.

Isn't that why they changed the rules? Weren't all of the SC winners since Tampa and Kucherov in 21 over the cap during the playoffs?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Bingo

If you have a hurt player you're going to activate at playoff time then sure you can't add.

But how common was that?

Most teams acquire players in the first week of March that play immediately and are part of the same cap they'll be held to at playoff time.

The accrued space won't change.

The accrued space does change doesn't it?

My understanding is "full-season cap hits" are what count in the playoff cap, so a player making $7M counts as $7M to your playoff cap, not whatever his accrued cap hit is at the deadline (like $3M)

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/report-nhl-to...ason-1.2354490