2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Monahammer]

Kadri+Coleman for Anderson+Hage ...

Please

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Kadri+Coleman for Anderson+Hage ...

Please

That is a stinkin' lot for Hage.

I'd sooner not do that. No way.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Kadri is the best of the three right now, but the gap between him and motivated stamkos is nill or reversed, and O'Reilly has more chops as a 3rd line C if they want more defensive/possession game. Schenn somewhere below the other 3.

It is unfortunate that more options to compete with Kadri's value have emerged.

That was always bound to happen, but between NMC and NTC choices, may limit - for any team - where someone can or will move. Lots of pieces on the chessboard still.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Hackey

I don't think they need to PR spin anything. I think fans would appreciate honesty more than a PR spin. Having a strong long term plan and sticking to it is far more reassuring.

On the other hand, the people those messages are geared towards are probably the most at risk segment of their paying customers.

The response was heavily negative from the more dedicated segment of the fanbase, but even then, there was zero consequences. The strongest response they got was a bunch of people suggesting they may consider not renewing seasons tickets if they actually go down that path, but nobody was actually doing anything meaningful just because they said it.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That is a stinkin' lot for Hage.

I'd sooner not do that. No way.

I would do that in a microsecond. That's not a stinking lot for a guy trending on being a top line C.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I would do that in a microsecond. That's not a stinking lot for a guy trending on being a top line C.

Is he?

I think that's a pretty optimistic outlook on him, and if he is? Then he's not getting traded.

If that's the belief around him, then we already have a top line in the books with Reschny...and again, I think that's an overly optimistic view. (granted I have no idea how to weigh NCHC vs. Big-10)

[stemit14]

I think the Habs are too smartly run to trade Hage at this point. Everything he has shown indicates he is on track to be a 1-2 center at the NHL level. You don’t trade that unless it’s for a superstar.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Is he?

I think that's a pretty optimistic outlook on him, and if he is? Then he's not getting traded.

If that's the belief around him, then we already have a top line in the books with Reschny...and again, I think that's an overly optimistic view.

I think he projects more to a 2C but even those are really hard to acquire.
I would do the deal you proposed. These deals tend to be quality (the player) for quantity (the prospects and picks). If you can give more to get an actual blue chip prospect, I do that all day long.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I would do that in a microsecond. That's not a stinking lot for a guy trending on being a top line C.

Its no guarantee though and I'm not sold on moving your top two assets for single a lottery ticket.

He started off on fire but now has 9 points in his last 10.

For a draft + 2 player in the NCAA that's not remarkable and PPG on draft + 1 isn't crazy production either.

I think he's likely a top 6 center but not sure he's a true 1st line guy.

Personally I think Coleman is worth a 1st. Kadri should be worth at least a 1st + top prospect alone. So if you're making that deal you're pretty much saying Hage is worth 2 1sts and a top prospect right now and I don't think that's the case.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think he projects more to a 2C but even those are really hard to acquire.
I would do the deal you proposed. These deals tend to be quality (the player) for quantity (the prospects and picks). If you can give more to get an actual blue chip prospect, I do that all day long.

I'm all for quantity for quality (assuming we receive the quality), especially when age sits THAT aggressively in favour of the quality, I don't know I just don't have the view that Hage is that quality, but I can't speak specifically to him this year. I generally viewed him as a middle-six centre, which is great considering his draft spot.

...but for Coleman and Kadri, in individual trades, I'd almost sooner bank on taking two picks and drafting two players ourselves in that range of the draft (I think each Coleman and Kadri would return later 1st round picks, if not more with Kadri).

I've got some faith in our drafting ability.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

On the other hand, the people those messages are geared towards are probably the most at risk segment of their paying customers.

The response was heavily negative from the more dedicated segment of the fanbase, but even then, there was zero consequences. The strongest response they got was a bunch of people suggesting they may consider not renewing seasons tickets if they actually go down that path, but nobody was actually doing anything meaningful just because they said it.

McLennan did make reference to the Young Guns Era. Though I wasn't around for that, he mentioned the marketing was towards a youth movement and the building was like half full on a lot of nights. It is easy for some people to say they will still go to games, but that night not be true for a lot of the fan base.

He was just pointing to that as an example of why you might not want to tell people you are rebuilding. Especially with uncertainty in the economy, it is much easier to market it as a retool even if that's not actually what this is.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I'm all for quantity for quality (assuming we receive the quality), especially when age sits THAT aggressively in favour of the quality, I don't know I just don't have the view that Hage is that quality, but I can't speak specifically to him this year. I generally viewed him as a middle-six centre, which is great considering his draft spot.

...but for Coleman and Kadri, in individual trades, I'd almost sooner bank on taking two picks and drafting two players ourselves in that range of the draft (I think each Coleman and Kadri would return later 1st round picks, if not more with Kadri).

I've got some faith in our drafting ability.

If he is more likely to be a middle-six center, I think the trade works if Montreal adds a 1st round pick to the package.

[ComixZone]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1993724429319417965

Count me in on happy we didn't pull Hague as our major piece with VGK. I'd assume it would have been Hague + 2027 1st, and then we'd have Bahl and Hague as bottom-4 LHD.

...would have supressed Kuznetsov as well.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

McLennan did make reference to the Young Guns Era. Though I wasn't around for that, he mentioned the marketing was towards a youth movement and the building was like half full on a lot of nights. It is easy for some people to say they will still go to games, but that night not be true for a lot of the fan base.

He was just pointing to that as an example of why you might not want to tell people you are rebuilding. Especially with uncertainty in the economy, it is much easier to market it as a retool even if that's not actually what this is.

The one thing I picked up on listening to Kyper and Bourne talk to Bukula yesterday was not planning to be good for year 1 of Scotia Place but year 2 they will want to start to really compete.

The new building and some young high end talent will fill that rink regardless in year 1 but the following year there will need to be some real improvement. They all agreed Calgary could put themselves in such a great spot for that depending on what they do this year (they agreed trading vets and picking high was what is needed)

[Harry Lime]

Hage has cooled down after his hot start. 20 points in 16, now. Started with 9 in 4. Also, jumping leagues is no small thing. Jusso Parsinnen was dominant in Liiga before coming over, and projected as a 2C, but now he's on waivers and could land on his fourth team in one year.

Ice time is also a huge factor. Klapka looks like the destroyer of worlds when given 15+, but as a 8 minute fourth liner, he is not a factor. I think that it's a few years before Hage sees 2nd line minutes, and if he doesn't WOW on the fourth line, he may never get there.

Kadri is a guaranteed asset. IMO, he is worth at least Hage.

[Monahammer]

I think we need to be cautious though. IMO Nashville is probably less sticky about getting someone like Hage and would more happily accept lesser prospect like Beck + Pick.

Hage or similar prospect should be the target, and if we have to add assets to acquire it we should be open to it.

We can't think of Coleman and Kadri's value separately too hard. They are unlikely to both be traded this season according to many. But if the value of the two combined can get you talking about a prospect like Hage, that is a great option. It also satisfies the build back faster crowd, as Hage has a few development years under belt.

[SuperMatt18]

If the trade was Kadri for Hage with some type of cap dump or retention then I'm not even sure I'd love that as a 1:1 deal, but I'd understand it.

Throwing Coleman on top is crazy.

You need to maximize the total value of the return - not fall in love with specific players.

[HighLifeMan]

Hage much like most if not all Montreal prospects before him get's far too much hype.

Don't get me wrong - he's a strong prospect with a good skillset, but he's 3rd in scoring on Michigan, and doesn't even rank in the top three in faceoffs taken on that team. Projecting him as a 1st line center in the NHL is a massive, massive stretch at this point.

Should he really be valued much differently than a prospect like Calum Ritchie who was only a partial piece in the Brock Nelson trade or is it just media and fan biases that boost his value?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think he projects more to a 2C but even those are really hard to acquire.
I would do the deal you proposed. These deals tend to be quality (the player) for quantity (the prospects and picks). If you can give more to get an actual blue chip prospect, I do that all day long.

If the actual market for Ryan O’Reilly is a first and an A level prospect (rumoured return that Nashville wants for him) the market for Kadri is theoretically higher. In draft pick terms (no prospects) let’s say that it is the equivalent of 2 first round picks for Kadri. If Coleman is also worth a first round pick you are basically trading 3 firsts for Hage (significantly more draft capital than we gave up for Dougie Hamilton who was far more established and had a better pedigree than Hage.

I would say Kadri straight up for Hage is more than fair. No need to throw in Coleman.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

Hage much like most if not all Montreal prospects before him get's far too much hype.

Don't get me wrong - he's a strong prospect with a good skillset, but he's 3rd in scoring on Michigan, and doesn't even rank in the top three in faceoffs taken on that team. Projecting him as a 1st line center in the NHL is a massive, massive stretch at this point.

Should he really be valued much differently than a prospect like Calum Ritchie who was only a partial piece in the Brock Nelson trade or is it just media and fan biases that boost his value?

Exactly this. He is behind Will Horcoff in scoring on that team. Doubt we would give up Kadri and Coleman for Will Horcoff.

Plus we already drafted a forward who is better than Hage in the same draft that he was drafted in.