2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[NegativeSpace]

I think Dino may be right. There are some truly awful teams in the NHL this season, many of which are trying to compete. Buffalo for example is just terrible. The offensive juggernaut Flames looked like world beaters against them.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Niemo

There are 3 factors that don't get brought up enough when it comes to trade value between off season and trade deadline:

1. In the offseason, 1st round pick with very light or no protection are available and 'unknown' in terms of placement. I say unknown because you can trade with a strong team from last year and they could have a bad season. Look at NYR, VAN, BOS from last year and FLA and TOR of this year as an example. It's not guaranteed, but it's a better chance at a better pick that trading for a 1st at the deadline that is pretty much guaranteed to be 25>.

2. Our own picks moving down in the draft. Look at the cost to move up - from say 10th to 4th Overall. Every year we spend the full month leading up to the draft working very hard at moving up to top 5 and every year we hear at the draft that the price is too high. Will we really get that much more at the deadline to make up enough assets to bridge the gap between 10th and 4th overall (arbitrary example)? Not to mention injury risks.

3. There are much more sellers at the deadline and less buyers. In the offseason, there are typically less sellers and more buyers. (supply vs demand).

So pure speculation as an example:

If Rasmus Andersson was worth a 1st + 3rd in the offseason and he is worth a 1st + 2 2nds at the deadline and Nazem Kadri was worth a 1st + 2nd at the offseason and he is now worth 1st + 2 2nds at the deadline.

If having Ras + Kadri = 10th Overall vs starting the season without Ras and Kadri = 4th Overall......

Does 3 2nds (minus a 3rd and the chance at slightly worse 1st rounders) get us from 10th OV to 4th OV? No......it does not. Not even close.

I don't know if #3 is true, including because while there are buyers in the off-season there is also the option of signing players without having to give up assets. So that takes away from the demand side.

On this...

"Does 3 2nds (minus a 3rd and the chance at slightly worse 1st rounders) get us from 10th OV to 4th OV? No......it does not. Not even close."

Valid but if you are doing the math, you have to factor in probabilities. For each player you are selling what is the % probability it moves you up from 10ish to 4ish. It's not 100%. It's something less than that. So you can't say does that equal us going from 10th to 4th OV, it's more like is that worth it relative to a x% chance of going from 10th to 4th.

I assume the team thinks through all this.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

This is the problem the Flames ran into with Andersson this offseason TBH

Nobody wants to pay a premium for a player with 1 year left on their deal in the offseason, especially if they don't want to commit to re-signing.

When guys have term left, like the first Chychrun trade they will command a premium.

Once guys have 1 year or less left, you're probably better off waiting until in the season like the Flames did here, because if they won't sign an extension you're probably better off waiting until closer to the deadline to try to get a bidding war between a couple teams.

First, you make trading a player sound easier than it actually is. Arizona was shopping Chychrun for a year and a half before they finally managed to trade him.

Second, the appetite for said trade largely depends on what players you have on your roster. In 2024, I actually remember discussing Andersson trades with opposing fans quite a bit, and almost all contenders were set for RD.

Take a look at the top teams in 2023-24, on day 1 of the 2024 season:
1. Rangers

Miller($3.8M) - Fox($9.5M)
Lindgren($4.5M) - Trouba($8.0M)
Schneider($2.2M)

Cap space: $0.7M
D spending: $22.2M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st, 26' 1st, 26' 3rd

2. Stars

Lindell($5.8M) - Heiskanen($8.5M)
Harley($4.0M) - Dumba($3.8)
Lyubushkin($3.3M) - Ceci($3.3M)

Cap space: $0.7M
D spending: $23.5M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st, 25' 3rd, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd, 26' 3rd

3. Canes

Slavin($5.3M) - Burns($5.3M)
Orlov($7.8M) - Walker($3.6M)
Ghostisbehere($3.2M) - Chatfield($3.0M)

Cap space: -$0.8M LTIR
D spending: $28.1M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st, 25' 2nd, 25' 3rd x 2, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd

4. Jets

Morrissey($6.3M) - Pionk($5.9M)
Samberg($1.4M) - DeMelo($4.9M)

Cap space: $3.3M
D spending: $20.7M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st, 25' 3rd, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd, 26' 3rd

5. Panthers

Frosling($5.8M) - Ekblad($7.5M)
Kulikov($1.15M) - Mikkola($2.5M)
*Traded Knight + 1st for Seth Jones +4th at the TD mid-season

Cap space: -0.2M LTIR
D spending: $20.1M
Available draft picks: 26' 1st, 26' 2nd

6. Canucks

Hughes($7.9M) - Hronek($7.3M)
Soucy($3.3M) - Myers($3.0M)
Desharnais($2.0M)
* Traded Desharnais + 1st for M. Petersson(LD) mid-season after moving JT Miller.

Cap space: $0.09M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st, 25' 2nd, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd

7. Bruins

Lindholm($6.5M) - McAvoy($9.5M)
Zadorov($5.0M) - Carlo($4.1M)
Peeke($2.8M)

Cap space: $0.3M after signing Swayman
D spending: $29.6M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st, 25' 3rd, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd, 26' 3rd

8. Avalanche

Towes($7.3M) - Makar($9.0M)
Girard($5.0M) - Manson($4.5M)

Cap space: -4.8M LTIR
D spending: $28.3M
Available draft picks: 25' 2nd, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd

9. Oilers top 4 suck, but Andersson wasn't going there.

10. Leafs

Rielly($7.5M) - Tanev($4.5M)
OEL($3.5M) - Liljegren($3.0M)
McCabe($2.0M) - Hakanpaa($1.5M)

Cap space: $0.03M
D spending: $25.3M
Available draft picks: 25' 2nd, 26' 1st, 26' 3rd

11. Predators

Josi($9.0M) - Carrier($3.8M)
Skjei($7.0M) - Schenn($2.8M
Lauzon($2.0M) - Fabbro($2.5M)

Cap space: $1.5M
D spending: $27.0M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st x 2, 25' 2nd x 2 25' 3rd x 3, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd, 26' 3rd

12. Kings

Gavrikov($5.8M) - Doughty($11.0M)
Anderson($4.1M) - Edmundson($3.9M)

Cap space: $1.3M
D spending: $27.7M
Available draft picks: 25' 1st, 25' 3rd, 26' 1st, 26' 2nd, 26' 3rd

I think you get my point. There's still the Lightning and Knights, etc, but most teams either didn't have a spot for a RD, or the capspace/assets. I think a better return for Andersson would've required some desperation for a top pairing RD, which I didn't see much of in the 2024 off-season.

Source for the capspaces/rosters

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't know if #3 is true, including because while there are buyers in the off-season there is also the option of signing players without having to give up assets. So that takes away from the demand side.

On this...

"Does 3 2nds (minus a 3rd and the chance at slightly worse 1st rounders) get us from 10th OV to 4th OV? No......it does not. Not even close."

Valid but if you are doing the math, you have to factor in probabilities. For each player you are selling what is the % probability it moves you up from 10ish to 4ish. It's not 100%. It's something less than that. So you can't say does that equal us going from 10th to 4th OV, it's more like is that worth it relative to a x% chance of going from 10th to 4th.

I assume the team thinks through all this.

Yes, I agree the whole thing is just a big probability model and that's honestly the best a team can do at this point. We seem to fight it and think that we can be the 3% that can beat and crush the odds even if they are stacked against us.

I'm just crossing my fingers that players actually ask out soon. Seems to be the only way something quick happens.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Niemo

Yes, I agree the whole thing is just a big probability model and that's honestly the best a team can do at this point. We seem to fight it and think that we can be the 3% that can beat and crush the odds even if they are stacked against us.

I'm just crossing my fingers that players actually ask out soon. Seems to be the only way something quick happens.

You can cross your fingers but I can tell you that Kadri and Coleman are almost certainly not going to ask out. If Conroy gets a really good offer he might approach them but both those guys are pretty content where they are.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Yes, if you trade them all before the Christmas trade freeze, that would really help us so much.

Praying Maloney and Edwards will approve this.

Well, that’s a pretty interesting fantasy. Might be somewhat delusional. This is approaching the level of E=NG.

Is it “possible”? Sure. So is BTC hitting $1M in the next week.

Seems unlikely to me.

Pray on, though.

Andy…maybe, but all three?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

I think Dino may be right. There are some truly awful teams in the NHL this season, many of which are trying to compete. Buffalo for example is just terrible. The offensive juggernaut Flames looked like world beaters against them.

The flames are on a heater right now. They were truly an awful team in October and have got themselves right back to the mediocre team we all know who are having their best stretch right now

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Yes, if you trade them all before the Christmas trade freeze, that would really help us so much.

Praying Maloney and Edwards will approve this.

I want them to trade these guys but moving all three before Christmas was never feasible.

I think Maybe you could have moved one before Christmas. But really the likelihood was always more that things pick up in January and maybe you move two by the Olympic break, and then maybe one more after:

Overall I still think maybe 2 get moved this year and I'd be surprised if all 3 get moved, which is a bit frustrating but I just don't see them being that proactive with both Kadri and Coleman.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

IF the Flames are one of the teams Anderson is willing to sign with you could always sign him and deal Weegar

Or …. Handshake agreement with Anderson to come back in offseason and deal them both 😏

Pulling a Dougie Weight and being traded and then coming back in the offseason would be almost ideal. Flames would have the cap space to make it happen too. Dare to dream.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

The flames are on a heater right now. They were truly an awful team in October and have got themselves right back to the mediocre team we all know who are having their best stretch right now

Probably one is the low end and one is the high end.

So lets say they're a .500 team with those guys.

that puts them at 79 points, which would of had them picking 7th/8th last year.

I got some WAR data for each of them, no idea how accurate:

Coleman: 1.5
Kadri: 2.7
Andersson: 2.2


Keep:

play averages at .500 for rest of season
79 points
picking 7 or 8 (Based on last season)


Trade all at deadline:

Prorated WAR
Kadri: 0.72
Coleman: 0.4
Andersson: 0.6

1.71 wins lost
76 points
Has them tied picking 4-6


Traded now:

Prorated WAR
Kadri: 1.71
Coleman: 0.95
Andersson: 1.40

4 wins lost
71 points
picking 4th



So based on my napkin math:
- Keeping them is +8 points verse trading them now and +5 points verse trading them at the deadline.
- We're probably not picking top 3.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I want them to trade these guys but moving all three before Christmas was never feasible.

I think Maybe you could have moved one before Christmas. But really the likelihood was always more that things pick up in January and maybe you move two by the Olympic break, and then maybe one more after:

Overall I still think maybe 2 get moved this year and I'd be surprised if all 3 get moved, which is a bit frustrating but I just don't see them being that proactive with both Kadri and Coleman.

We will see with Kadri but Coleman basically can give himself a NMC and has a baby on the way. I’d be pretty surprised if he is gone this year

[Rhett44]

There was an opportunity cost in not trading those 3 players after we cratered in the standings. And as a result we have moved way up and are at risk of not finishing in the bottom 5 at all now.

I really hope the potential added returns we get at the deadline were worth not getting a top 3 pick. But I really doubt it.

And I know people will say "you can't force a trade". Well from what we have been told none of these players have even been on the trade market except maybe Andersson. So I don't even know if we are going to make any trades at this point which is frustrating.

[Red Potato Standing By]

Probably because their contracts aren’t expiring so don’t feel like they have to rush it( and probably have a different opinion than you)

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

I think Dino may be right. There are some truly awful teams in the NHL this season, many of which are trying to compete. Buffalo for example is just terrible. The offensive juggernaut Flames looked like world beaters against them.

They did not look like world beaters. They looked a bit better than BUF.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

There was an opportunity cost in not trading those 3 players after we cratered in the standings. And as a result we have moved way up and are at risk of not finishing in the bottom 5 at all now.

I really hope the potential added returns we get at the deadline were worth not getting a top 3 pick. But I really doubt it.

And I know people will say "you can't force a trade". Well from what we have been told none of these players have even been on the trade market except maybe Andersson. So I don't even know if we are going to make any trades at this point which is frustrating.

“Moved way up”

They’re 29 out of 32 teams (bottom 5!) and have played more games than anyone else in the bottom 10.

But I’m guessing facts aren’t really important when seeking something to complain about.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

“Moved way up”

They’re 29 out of 32 teams (bottom 5!) and have played more games than anyone else in the bottom 10.

But I’m guessing facts aren’t really important when seeking something to complain about.

We have gained significant ground on every team above us. When you are winning at around a 75% rate lately, you are moving up from the position you were at.

I am not sure how you think this is not a fact. It is simple math.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

There was an opportunity cost in not trading those 3 players after we cratered in the standings. And as a result we have moved way up and are at risk of not finishing in the bottom 5 at all now.

I really hope the potential added returns we get at the deadline were worth not getting a top 3 pick. But I really doubt it.

And I know people will say "you can't force a trade". Well from what we have been told none of these players have even been on the trade market except maybe Andersson. So I don't even know if we are going to make any trades at this point which is frustrating.

Keep in mind that just because the Flames are not actively shopping certain players does not mean they are not taking calls on them. I understand the frustration thigh.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Keep in mind that just because the Flames are not actively shopping certain players does not mean they are not taking calls on them. I understand the frustration thigh.

I am just saying you don't know what your best offer is for a player until you put them on the trade market. Sure, there might be some other gms calling with interest but from my understanding the Flames have not even told teams Kadri or Coleman are available.

And my frustration is not even with Conroy, he isn't a dummy and knows this is not a contender. But will Murray Edwards and Maloney allow us to trade players if we are now in the playoff race? Probably not, these dinosaurs have been keeping us mid for a long time.

So in my mind, we absolutely screwed ourselves with this hot streak. Because the dinosaurs will now think we can sneak in again and go on a magical run. Keeping us mid forever.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I am just saying you don't know what your best offer is for a player until you put them on the trade market. Sure, there might be some other gms calling with interest but from my understanding the Flames have not even told teams Kadri or Coleman are available.

And my frustration is not even with Conroy, he isn't a dummy and knows this is not a contender. But will Murray Edwards and Maloney allow us to trade players if we are now in the playoff race? Probably not, these dinosaurs have been keeping us mid for a long time.

So in my mind, we absolutely screwed ourselves with this hot streak. Because the dinosaurs will now think we can sneak in again and go on a magical run. Keeping us mid forever.

Since we are making up hypothetical scenarios, I genuinely am curious, what would your reaction be if the team traded Kadri, Coleman, Andersson, got an NHL ready prospect in return that immediately makes an impact, Andersson gives Parekh a permanent spot and he begins to thrive, and the team doesn't lose every game and instead plays around a .500 pace? Whats next for you then?

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Groot

Since we are making up hypothetical scenarios, I genuinely am curious, what would your reaction be if the team traded Kadri, Coleman, Andersson, got an NHL ready prospect in return that immediately makes an impact, Andersson gives Parekh a permanent spot and he begins to thrive, and the team doesn't lose every game and instead plays around a .500 pace? Whats next for you then?

This would not happen as the team would fall if they traded their #1 center, #1dman and one of their better wingers.

But I would be ecstatic if Parekh started playing great and some of our other prospects.