2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[ForeverFlameFan]

The Stars are better off keeping Johnston/Robertson than acquiring Andersson. Andersson is likely a rental for them with how much he is wanting as a UFA. They still need to re-sign Robertson and Harley to new deals. Doubt they want to give up a lot for Andersson. I still think if they grab him it will be for a 1st with 50% retention, and obviously whatever else they need to add for Conroy to pull the trigger. They are likely the front runners because they know they won't be able to re-sign him.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

The Stars are better off keeping Johnston/Robertson than acquiring Andersson. Andersson is likely a rental for them with how much he is wanting as a UFA. They still need to re-sign Robertson and Harley to new deals. Doubt they want to give up a lot for Andersson. I still think if they grab him it will be for a 1st with 50% retention, and obviously whatever else they need to add for Conroy to pull the trigger. They are likely the front runners because they know they won't be able to re-sign him.

How does their inability to re-sign him make them the frontrunners?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

How does their inability to re-sign him make them the frontrunners?

In my opinion, the extension window is closed when you only have one rumored team that Andersson is willing to extend to. So, I think we are looking at a similar deal like the Hanifin deal.

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1947429590890373517

https://twitter.com/user/status/1947429733098262967

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by blankall

Depends how you define "upside". The most likely outcome is that Zary becomes a #2 centre. There's a chance he develops into a #1 centre, but it's far less likely than him becoming a #2 centre.

I define upside as a player that helps win games. I think he has a skill set that makes the team better, regardless of his line number or position.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

If last year is Andersson's peak, we are in big trouble.

The hope is that Andersson was over his head playing against the other team's best players, and that if he is more properly slotted as a 3-4 guy, his production will improve.

I said he just hit his peak, I did not say that last season was his peak. Defender's peak performance is typically between 27 and 34.

He doesn't need to be "more properly slotted". He needs to be "more properly supported". Hockey is a team game and when you sell off a quarter of your roster it dumps harder on the rest.

Originally Posted by FBI

If Andersson was at his peak last year with the -38 I think our defense is in good shape going forward because he wasn't that good.

Get off of the lame duck +/- stat. It is weak and doesn't mean anything and it is not worth the effort to debunk over and over again with meaningful stats.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

The Stars are better off keeping Johnston/Robertson than acquiring Andersson. Andersson is likely a rental for them with how much he is wanting as a UFA. They still need to re-sign Robertson and Harley to new deals. Doubt they want to give up a lot for Andersson. I still think if they grab him it will be for a 1st with 50% retention, and obviously whatever else they need to add for Conroy to pull the trigger. They are likely the front runners because they know they won't be able to re-sign him.

The Stars disagree with this assessment on the D side. They openly said RD is a weakness they need to address. But you are correct that it poses the problem that they cannot keep everyone.

I expect that if they go after him it is because then intend to extend him and solidify their D core for the next 4+ years.

No way Conroy settles for a late 1st for Andersson with retention. There are other teams who will beat that offer quickly and likely have a significantly better 1st to offer.

[Royle9]

All I can say is 3 way deals are so rare, I don’t think that’s what slowing down any trades.
I’ve also not heard any confirming report that McTavish is even available.
He wants to be there.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1947429733098262967

Isn't 3 years the exact term the team wants to avoid?

[Goriders]

So is the speculated trade Andersson/Zary for Robertson? Or something along those lines?

Guessing we’d have to absorb another player to make the salaries even.

If that’s the trade though goodbye Zary.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I said he just hit his peak, I did not say that last season was his peak. Defender's peak performance is typically between 27 and 34.

He doesn't need to be "more properly slotted". He needs to be "more properly supported". Hockey is a team game and when you sell off a quarter of your roster it dumps harder on the rest.



Get off of the lame duck +/- stat. It is weak and doesn't mean anything and it is not worth the effort to debunk over and over again with meaningful stats.

You can say that plus/minus is a weak stat, but -38 on a 96-point team, when the next worst was -17, is an indication that something is wrong. Aside from his first dozen games, he did not have a good season.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Isn't 3 years the exact term the team wants to avoid?

Yeah. Doesn’t that make him a UFA as early as possible? Why not pay him for his free agent years since the flames have the cap space. Is something like 5 years at $5 million AAV that crazy? Or say $5.85 million AAV for 6 years?

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Wolven

The Stars disagree with this assessment on the D side. They openly said RD is a weakness they need to address. But you are correct that it poses the problem that they cannot keep everyone.

I expect that if they go after him it is because then intend to extend him and solidify their D core for the next 4+ years.

No way Conroy settles for a late 1st for Andersson with retention. There are other teams who will beat that offer quickly and likely have a significantly better 1st to offer.

If he goes to the Stars my guess is for a 1st and Bichsel or Bourque if it happens in the offseason. Closer to the deadline and it’ll be the Hanifin return

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Bonded

If he goes to the Stars my guess is for a 1st and Bichsel or Bourque if it happens in the offseason. Closer to the deadline and it’ll be the Hanifin return

I think I would be fine with an unprotected 1st and either of those players as the return. The first likely being the 2027 unprotected first - removing the protection on the 2026 first round pick they gave Carolina.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Sandman

You can say that plus/minus is a weak stat, but -38 on a 96-point team, when the next worst was -17, is an indication that something is wrong. Aside from his first dozen games, he did not have a good season.

Funny part is after 15-20 games I remember saying that he was our best player.

I wasn’t saying that the last 20-30 games.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/1947429590890373517

https://twitter.com/user/status/1947429733098262967

Bro should take the 3.~ x 3

You sat out most of the year and weren't as effective as the previous season in the games you got into.

Take the bridge and prove you're worth the big AAV.

Not much leverage to be asking 4-5+

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Funny part is after 15-20 games I remember saying that he was our best player.

I wasn’t saying that the last 20-30 games.

He at least had the injury excuse for the last dozen (?) games…

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Sandman

He at least had the injury excuse for the last dozen (?) games…

I suspect that wasn't the only injury. It got reported, because he had it at year-end, but there were multiple times where injury was somewhat implied, or he was missing practice, or whatever. Pretty sure it was a multiple injury season.

At the beginning of the year, when he was healthy, he was looking like one of the best defensemen in the NHL. Players don't usually just forget how to hockey, mid-season.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Sandman

You can say that plus/minus is a weak stat, but -38 on a 96-point team, when the next worst was -17, is an indication that something is wrong. Aside from his first dozen games, he did not have a good season.

Yup not just -38 but he sure looked like crap after his great 15 game start.
Wasn’t he plus 7 at that point? So minus 45 to finish AND failing the eye test big time.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Bro should take the 3.~ x 3

You sat out most of the year and weren't as effective as the previous season in the games you got into.

Take the bridge and prove you're worth the big AAV.

Not much leverage to be asking 4-5+

Probably saw Coronato’s deal