2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[SuperMatt18]

Like seriously if I'm another GM and I call to enquire about Kadri, or Coleman, and Conroy's answer is "we aren't interested in moving those players" then what do you expect me to do.

Do you expect me to call back and go "Oh Mr.Conroy please re-consider, I will offer you anything to get this player".

Or do I just hang up and go "Sounds like the Flames are being about clueless again and think they can just Wild Card their way to contender status"

I know I certainly am not calling back with a richer offer. I'm probably more laughing at how clueless the Flames organization is that they wouldn't be willing to talk trades for guys that are 34+ years old when they are in last place.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I know I certainly am not calling back with a richer offer. I'm probably more laughing at how clueless the Flames organization is that they wouldn't be willing to talk trades for guys that are 34+ years old when they are in last place.

Great. Then you're never getting any of those players.

GMs don't improve their teams by hanging up the phone and laughing at each other.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Great. Then you're never getting any of those players.

GMs don't improve their teams by hanging up the phone and laughing at each other.

GMs don't improve their teams by saying "I'm not willing to move those players" when teams call to inquire about potential trade options.

If you want to get good value you need to help create a market, not close it down.

The point is there is absolutely no benefit in saying "we aren't willing to trade the player" unless there is only 1 team a player is willing to be traded to and you need to play a bit of chicken.

People can act like this is some masterclass in negotiation by Conroy but I'm not.

Instead I'm going to take what all of Steinberg, Francis, Dreger, Friedman, LeBron, Pagnotta, etc have said at face value. Literally every one of those insiders has said the Flames aren't willing to move those players unless they ask to moved, and that the Flames believe this is a 1 year abberation.

My guess is that info isn't neccessary coming just from the Flames side of things, but also from the side of the other GMs who have inquired and have likely been promptly shut down on those players availability.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Like seriously if I'm another GM and I call to enquire about Kadri, or Coleman, and Conroy's answer is "we aren't interested in moving those players" then what do you expect me to do.

Do you expect me to call back and go "Oh Mr.Conroy please re-consider, I will offer you anything to get this player".

Or do I just hang up and go "Sounds like the Flames are being about clueless again and think they can just Wild Card their way to contender status"

I know I certainly am not calling back with a richer offer. I'm probably more laughing at how clueless the Flames organization is that they wouldn't be willing to talk trades for guys that are 34+ years old when they are in last place.

Why do you assume that’s how Conroy is responding?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Why do you assume that’s how Conroy is responding?

Because that is literally what every single insider has said, including Steinberg the last three weeks now where every single afternoon he's said the Flames will only move Kadri and Coleman if they ask for a trade.

Steinberg is for sure a mouthpiece for Flames management so I have no doubt what he's saying is true, what other reason would he have to put that out there on local Flames media.

And for the national insiders do you think they are only reporting what the Flames have told them?

Or do you think they are hearing from other GMs who have inquired and been told "we aren't willing to move those players"

I don't think the report of GMs telling Lebrun "we inquired about Coleman and were told he's not available, but informed the Flames to keep us in mind if those plans change" only came from the Flames side of things.

Other GMs are for sure telling these insiders that they've reached out to the Flames and have been told the players are not available. Which is why those insiders then went digging and got the "Flames believe this is a one year face plant" talking point that's been pushed for the last 10 days.

In the weeks leading up to Kadri's 1000th game there was lots of talk about Flames needing to rebuild, including from Eric Francis. And the talk was "nothing would happen before game 1000"

The morning after game 1000 is when Dreger came out with the "Flames don't want to move Kadri, Edwards doesn't want to rebuild" media hit. The timing of that bucket of cold water wasn't just a coincidence.

And since that time it's been a full court press on media members shutting down any talk of a rebuild, Steinberg saying that they'd only move Kadri and Coleman if they ask for a trade literally every day, Francis penning the "one year faceplant article", insiders sayings other GMs have been told Kadri and Coleman are not being shopped, and now all of Friedman, LeBron, and Pagnotta also reinforcing those players aren't available and Flames want to push for playoffs again next year.

I personally don't think all of that is just some coincidence and just media talking points. I think it's the reality of what ownership wants the Flames management to do.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Why do you assume that’s how Conroy is responding?

Because it's more fun to assume he's stupid?

I suspect in reality, Conroy and his staff have set a price on every asset in the organization, including Wolf, this year's 1st-round pick, and Conroy's office chair. If anyone comes close to offering any of those prices, they'll talk. So far, nothing.

What we have at the moment is not a seller's market, because while there are few sellers, there are no real buyers either. I suspect everyone is waiting for the schmozzle in the Eastern Conference to start sorting itself out. No sense blowing assets to try to improve in November if you might be ten points out of a playoff spot in March. There's never a situation where 15 teams in a 16-team conference see themselves as buyers.

The West is a little more open, but not hugely so, and both buyers and sellers will want to talk to those Eastern teams before making a major deal.

The only specific trade talk we know about so far is that Treliving tried to acquire Andersson and didn't offer enough. With no more assets than the Leafs have available to trade, that's not surprising—

‘Hey, Craig! Long time no see. I hear you have a nice cow for sale. I'll offer you a big glass of milk for it.’

*CLICK*

With all the noise in the media, particularly about Kadri (whom they want to keep happy for whatever length of time he's here), it's no wonder that Conroy is feeding the local reporters his best Frank Drebin act:



That doesn't actually mean there's nothing to see here. It means find something else to yawp about.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Because it's more fun to assume he's stupid?

It's not assuming Conroy is stupid.

It's assuming that what media members have said is true is true. And that Murray Edwards does not want to punt on the 26-27 season from now.

Move Kadri and Coleman and you're writing that season off, it's just reality.

I believe Edwards would rather play it season by season, not move those guys now, and wait to see how next season starts at least before making that decision.

Edwards didn't want to punt on the 25-26 season either, I've heard from a source I trust that Edwards fully expected the playoffs this year and that them being 32nd has really caught him by surprise / frustrated him.

Them not wanting to punt on this season is why the Andersson trade didn't happen in the offseason because they needed an NHL dman coming back. It's why names like Hague and Byram were connected to those rumours, because the Flames weren't really looking for a purely futures trade.

Originally Posted by Jay Random

I suspect in reality, Conroy and his staff have set a price on every asset in the organization, including Wolf, this year's 1st-round pick, and Conroy's office chair. If anyone comes close to offering any of those prices, they'll talk. So far, nothing.

I'm sure they do, but if you don't tell team's what your asks are then how do they know? Teams are not going to negotiate against themselves if you don't open the door to even start negotiations.

If the leaks were "We inquired about Kadri and Coleman but the Flames asks were way too high" then I'd be perfectly fine with that right now. The asks should be high in November with 5 months left until the deadline.

But that is not the same thing as "We inquired about Kadri and Coleman and the Flames said they are not available right now"

The former is what we should be hearing about the Flames, but it seems like other GMs are telling insiders it's the latter. And that's the issue, Flames don't need to pull the trigger right now but they should be at least setting inflated prices at this point and being open to negotiating.

I don't get why teams like Nashville and St.Louis seem to be able to say "yeah we are open to offers for any of our players and are open to negotiations" but for some reason everything around the Flames is just media posturing and Conroy is playing 5D chess.

I don't know maybe what every media member is saying, including Steinberg who generally isn't the type to just make things up is actually the truth and Flames aren't going to move these guys unless they ask to be moved.

[TOfan]

Trade board from CJ this morning. Flames players checking in at 1,4,&21 for Andersson, Coleman and Kadri.

Personally I think Andersson moves, Colman Kadri are maybes but I also expect Conroy to move out one of our wingers. (Farabee, Posposil, Zary)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...chenn-oreilly/

[Erick Estrada]

It's not even US Thanksgiving. I think most big deals happen closer to the trade deadline. I don't see why fans are panicking because the Flames haven't moved any players at the 1/4 mark of the season. Maybe it's the sign of the times where people have no patience and want everything now, but I don't see the point in getting all antsy on the trade front when there's still 3/4 of the season to go.

[Flames_F.T.W]

We're dead last and have aging vets with value that could fall off a cliff or get injured at any time. The fact that half the league is hard for Kadri seems like an ideal time to try and move him while his value is high. Also moving veterans like Kadri, Andersson and Coleman frees up roster spots for young players AND helps keep us firmly in the basement.

Maybe Conroy has it all figured out and has set high prices and is happy to move guys for the right price... But based on everything reported that they're NOT interested in moving out vets like Kadri and Coleman, it seems justified that some of us are concerned about the lack of movement

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Trade board from CJ this morning. Flames players checking in at 1,4,&21 for Andersson, Coleman and Kadri.

Personally I think Andersson moves, Colman Kadri are maybes but I also expect Conroy to move out one of our wingers. (Farabee, Posposil, Zary)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...chenn-oreilly/

If you move Coleman, I believe that Farabee simply takes his spot. They are somewhat similar but Coleman is better at finishing his chances and is better defensively. Farabee still has time to grow though.

I also believe that the Flames have little to no choice when it comes to Andersson. You have to move him out at this point.

[CliffFletcher]

As EE says, it’s rare for significant trades to happen this early in the season. So it’s early to panic.

However, unless there’s a wide-reaching media conspiracy (unlikely), or the Flames braintrust are playing some kind of weird head-fake game by seeding deceptive rumours about the unavailability of players (which I’ve honestly never heard of an NHL franchise doing), then it seems ownership are highly reluctant to move any veteran players who want to be here.

There are too many comments from too many sources over too many years to just dismiss the assessment that Edwards does not believe this franchise can endure a multi-year run at the bottom of the standings. The Flames seem desperate with anxiety that nobody will want to play here, so they won’t move significant roster players who have a contract and want to stay. They don’t have the confidence in the market or the city’s desirability to ruthlessly gut the roster the way teams like Chicago, Arizona/Utah, Anaheim, and San Jose have done in recent years.

Originally Posted by Freeway

Not for the prices they're being offered.

And there are the seeds for the acceptance of the Flames failing to move Andersson, Kadri, or Coleman this season. The old “it’s better to not trade them at all than accept lowball* offers” excuse for letting declining assets devalue even further.

* Since there’s no objective way to measure the value of a player on the trade market, any offer can be dismissed as lowball. But really, the only way to measure the value of player (or anything else) is what someone actually pays. If nobody will pay a first for a player, then they aren’t worth a first.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Like seriously if I'm another GM and I call to enquire about Kadri, or Coleman, and Conroy's answer is "we aren't interested in moving those players" then what do you expect me to do.

Do you expect me to call back and go "Oh Mr.Conroy please re-consider, I will offer you anything to get this player".

Or do I just hang up and go "Sounds like the Flames are being about clueless again and think they can just Wild Card their way to contender status"

I know I certainly am not calling back with a richer offer. I'm probably more laughing at how clueless the Flames organization is that they wouldn't be willing to talk trades for guys that are 34+ years old when they are in last place.

Whoa, if my GM rolled over like that and didn’t make an offer for a player that could help us in the playoffs I’d fire them. That’s a wild take, that any human would respond like that on either end of the call. These are adults working in the top jobs of their industry.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

We're dead last and have aging vets with value that could fall off a cliff or get injured at any time. The fact that half the league is hard for Kadri seems like an ideal time to try and move him while his value is high. Also moving veterans like Kadri, Andersson and Coleman frees up roster spots for young players AND helps keep us firmly in the basement.

Maybe Conroy has it all figured out and has set high prices and is happy to move guys for the right price... But based on everything reported that they're NOT interested in moving out vets like Kadri and Coleman, it seems justified that some of us are concerned about the lack of movement

I get the frustration, but let it play out.

Expect trades closer to Olympic break or trade deadline. For now, just ride out the season and find the ‘wins’ in watching a team plummeting straight towards a rebuild.

If the team doesn’t move the vets I think allll kind of scrutinizing is fair game, but trades simply aren’t happening right now.

[Morozee]

You'd think the trade deadline is next week the way people talk around here.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Morozee

You'd think the trade deadline is next week the way people talk around here.

No no. We want there to be trades. There's a difference.

[Macho0978]

Even though I think trading Kadri and Coleman is the right thing to do, and we could get a ton, it's not the only option.

If the Flames refuse to move those 2, Ras and Frost should be on the block. Ras is a UFA and Frost does not have trade protection. Frost return won't be as good, but those returns are overrated. #1 CGY 26 should be the main focus.

We can trade Kadri and Coleman next year as well.

Conroy needs to find value is some players and needs to make moves to keep us at the bottom of the standings.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's not even US Thanksgiving. I think most big deals happen closer to the trade deadline. I don't see why fans are panicking because the Flames haven't moved any players at the 1/4 mark of the season. Maybe it's the sign of the times where people have no patience and want everything now, but I don't see the point in getting all antsy on the trade front when there's still 3/4 of the season to go.

Simple: It's a race for the bottom.

If Nashville and/or St. Louis pulls the trigger before Calgary, or if Calgary abstains from pulling the trigger, then Nashville/St. Louis will likely win the race the to the bottom, and Calgary would likely lose value in their most valuable asset: their own 1st round pick and current best odds to win the lottery.

Speed of execution absolutely matters. Conroy can put his finger on the scale, and inaction can have consequences. This legitimately becomes the difference between drafting top-3 and drafting 4th, 5th, 6th - and the difference in drafting in those positions is franchise altering.

The Flames should be proactive, because that's what it will take to give themselves the best chance.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Whoa, if my GM rolled over like that and didn’t make an offer for a player that could help us in the playoffs I’d fire them. That’s a wild take, that any human would respond like that on either end of the call. These are adults working in the top jobs of their industry.

Rolled Over? These aren't children playing EA 26

Gm's aren't out there lying to each other and trying to trick them about a players availability

If you called a GM to inquire about a player and they say they are not trading them - Especially a player with movement clauses - A normal professional response is "Ok, let me know if the situation changes"

Sure around the deadline you might re-check in, but it's not like you will be texting and bugging CC nightly trying to get him to change his mind, or throwing out better trade offer daily hoping he changes his mind.

And i'm sure behind closed doors a lot of organizations have negative views of how certain organizations are run.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's not even US Thanksgiving. I think most big deals happen closer to the trade deadline. I don't see why fans are panicking because the Flames haven't moved any players at the 1/4 mark of the season. Maybe it's the sign of the times where people have no patience and want everything now, but I don't see the point in getting all antsy on the trade front when there's still 3/4 of the season to go.

Are people panicking because the Flames haven't moved any players, or are people frustrated by the constant media narrative including from those that are generally closest to the team (Steinberg) that is stating the Flames are not shopping or even really listening to trade offers on Coleman and Kadri, that ownership views this as a 1 year face plant, and they likely won't move those players unless those players ask for a trade?

Those aren't the same thing.

And maybe it's all just media posturing but I don't really see the benefit in that either, and it's tough to think it's just media posturing knowing Edwards never wanted to do a scorched earth rebuild.