2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

For the record I'm completely fine with Conroy as GM, hope to god he gets extended and has the autonomy needed to do what he wants to do.

I'm just saying, is there a tremendous value add of having hockey lifers with no rings like Maloney or Nonis in that room? Do we know what Hanlon is doing in his new role as AGM? Maybe they're great guys and doing good work, genuinely don't mean this as personal attacks.

That being said, plenty of guys with a wealth of experience losing in that mix.

I would actually trust Conroy more to make decisions alone than getting advice from some of these guys. Especially after Maloney had his interview where it is clear he thinks he is the smartest guy in the room.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I said I was ok with the specific example I gave you.

Not yours to then just take that and paint me with "Maybe you and others are A-OK with simply making the playoffs, that’s fine if that’s the result you’ve deemed acceptable."

Not even close to what I said.

There is an evolution in team building and often the first season back in the playoffs doesn't result in a cup win or a long run, but an experience gathering session with a first round loss.

And now we’ve blurred things. How many years of mediocrity is acceptable to you as part of team building? We know the answer is at least one year, how about 2? How about 5? How about 20?

To some extent flames are where they are because of mentalities like this. Maybe it’s like Cliff said, as long as the seasons tickets are selling and the beer is flowing, that’s success.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I would actually trust Conroy more to make decisions alone than getting advice from some of these guys. Especially after Maloney had his interview where it is clear he thinks he is the smartest guy in the room.

Genuinely have to wonder the conversations they have.

Conroy: "Man this Stenberg kid is playing really well as well, some unreal talent high in this draft, even if we pick 3 we might get a franchise changer."

Maloney: *mid Vietnam flashback* "DYLAN STROME ONLY SCORED 7 GOALS AS A COYOTE"

[NegativeSpace]

I mean I know it's the internet and a sewer, but that just seems totally unnecessary.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

And now we’ve blurred things. How many years of mediocrity is acceptable to you as part of team building? We know the answer is at least one year, how about 2? How about 5? How about 20?

To some extent flames are where they are because of mentalities like this. Maybe it’s like Cliff said, as long as the seasons tickets are selling and the beer is flowing, that’s success.

I haven't blurred anything.

You made a statement, I offered an example of why the statement was too black and white, you countered by doubling down on the statement.

I think every year has to be taken in context when a team is building. If you're on a path where making the playoffs and getting ousted in the first round is expected, then you're happy. But the improvement needs to ratchet up from there.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

Not that previous success is the be all/end all of management but it's surprising to me how there seems to be a ton of cooks in the kitchen and yet none of them have really won anything at the NHL level.

Maloney - WCF appearance, 2010 GM of the year
Conroy - Rookie GM, some AGM experience
Nonis - Traded for Luongo in Vancouver, got the Leafs into the playoffs in 2013?
Pascall - Lots of Hockey Canada success, nothing in the NHL
Hanlon - Lots of communications success, nothing in hockey ops
Iginla - No track record

Is this really the best mix of experience that understands how to build a winner and/or a winning culture?

Originally Posted by Rhett44

The only two i trust to get this right are the 2 with almost no track record, Conroy and Iggy.

Sometimes a lot of experience isn't necessarily good experience. And sometimes people can get stuck in old ways of thinking where I think Conroy gives a fresh view point. And for someone who talks to fans as much as he does, he knows what the fans want more than the dinosaurs in the group.

Agree with the second point.

The guy I trust the least in that group is Maloney and he has the most experience and most success.

Based on how Conroy has talked about having extra picks, and how much he loves the drafts I trust he knows that's the best way to build this team.

I just don't trust the two guys above him have the patience or mindset to let that play out.

[Rhett44]

It depends how you get to the first round loss. If you're a team like Anaheim who has rebuilt and loses in the 1st round this year, the year is still overall a big success. And you have given your guys playoff experience.

If you're a vet team sneaking into 8th and then losing in the 1st round every couple years, then your organization is a failure and you should probably rebuild or retool or do something about it.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I haven't blurred anything.

You made a statement, I offered an example of why the statement was too black and white, you countered by doubling down on the statement.

I think every year has to be taken in context when a team is building. If you're on a path where making the playoffs and getting ousted in the first round is expected, then you're happy. But the improvement needs to ratchet up from there.

Maybe you don’t feel like it, but you did muddy things up by putting in unnecessary conditions. How many years in a row of first round knockouts are acceptable? Maybe we had an up and coming roster for 2 years, so losing then is ok. Then maybe you get the injury bug for a couple years, so we can excuse those too. Then maybe your star forward bolts in free agency. The excuses really pile up quickly and now we’ve got a roster of losers 3 soon to be 4 years in a row with no elite talent among the forwards or prospects.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The Flames have been selling and accumulating draft picks and prospects for 2.5 years now. As long as they keep doing that the rest is all just noise.

But did they do it willingly or under duress? Plus it has been established that those picks and prospects do not count towards a rebuild. Also we feel like there is a chance they may be trying to compete because they made the cap floor with actual able bodied players. When you look at it that way you can see through the noise and discover they are not rebuilding.