2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[SuperMatt18]

If you believe we should be able to get a 1st including in part of the return for all of Kadri, Coleman, and Anderssson then I think ideally you could get 1 more 1st in 2026 and 2 more in 2027:

Means you would have a run of:

2024: 2 1sts
2025: 2 1sts
2026: 3 1sts
2027: 3 1sts

Those 10 1sts in a 4 year span are how you build a solid core that is around the same age and grows together.

[Ped]

The Kings have traded Akil Thomas to the Blues for Nikita Alexandrov. Looks like change-of-scenery type trade.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

If you believe we should be able to get a 1st including in part of the return for all of Kadri, Coleman, and Anderssson then I think ideally you could get 1 more 1st in 2026 and 2 more in 2027:

Means you would have a run of:

2024: 2 1sts
2025: 2 1sts
2026: 3 1sts
2027: 3 1sts

Those 10 1sts in a 4 year span are how you build a solid core that is around the same age and grows together.

It still depends on who we are trading with. If Carolina gets involved and offers the Stars 1st in 2026 vs if SJ makes a push to make the playoffs and offers Edmonton or their pick. For me, I would rather defer to future years than put big value into getting the Stars 1st.

Our prospect pool combined with Zary, Coronato, Frost, Huberdeau already is going to make it tough to add a guy like Gridin to the team and not have another player get less of a role as he pushes a player down.

Add in if we do end up with a top 3 pick and do get McKenna or Stenberg. Even though our forward group is weak right now, it's better to wait for a pick that could be 10-20 or better than get 30th OV in 2026. The 2024 draft has a few players that will be knocking on the door pretty quick and Reschny and Potter right behind them.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

1. Lindholm
2. Markstrom
3. Frost/Farabee
4. Mangiapane
5. Toffoli
6. Zadorov
7. Tanev
8. Hanifin
9. Okhotiuk

In terms of assets gained/lost compared to how I value said players with hindsight.

That is exactly my list, except I might push Hanifin up a bit, and maybe switch 4 and 5. But otherwise bang on, IMO.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Ashes

Right now the entire eastern conference (Maple Leafs in last place) are within 6 points of the last wild card spot.

Right now the entire western conference are within 6 points of the last wild card spot (except Nashville, 8 points out).

If thing stay super close right up to the deadline, I think this whole situation is will be a reason most teams don't bother being buyers, at least not giving up their 1st rounder.

[The Original FFIV]

Lian Bieschel is out long term in Dallas. Injuries piling up, will the Stars feel pressure to strike early?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

This is the way to go IMO. The Flames already have a ton of prospects to sort through as they have had extra picks and had a strong 2024 draft. There are only so many prime spots on the Wranglers, only so many spot in the top 6 on the Flames. We need top end talent, less depth. We are up picks in 2026 and have a bunch of prospects. Give them time to develop and have extra down the road. A team like Toronto is so thin on prospects and picks, at some point they could tank. I would wait for that and even if that pick is 15-20 OV, having time to sort through what we have now and move out vets over time will be beneficial for Conroy.

Kuznetsov is a prime example of a player playing very well but we had him on waivers a month ago and he could have been lost for nothing.

Zary's play will improve IMO as soon as we ship someone out and get him more ice.

Another indication from a year ago (guessing) that the team is in a rebuild was Conroy on 960 talking to Steinberg about Iginla's involvement in the team and he said something like "yeah Iggy was asking, like how many picks is too many picks?"

The natural age gap between draft years spaces out your system for blue chip prospects to a large degree, but you can't draft 36 junior hockey players in three years and not have to make decisions that you might regret.

[PizzaManTre]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Lian Bieschel is out long term in Dallas. Injuries piling up, will the Stars feel pressure to strike early?

Yeah I think we'll start to get some more trade chatter as the olympic break approaches. Especially for guys like Andersson - if he's a rental, you want him around earlier to get settled and it also gives the acquiring more time to convince him to extend.

I wonder if Bourque would be a target in a Dallas trade.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

If you believe we should be able to get a 1st including in part of the return for all of Kadri, Coleman, and Anderssson then I think ideally you could get 1 more 1st in 2026 and 2 more in 2027:

Means you would have a run of:

2024: 2 1sts
2025: 2 1sts
2026: 3 1sts
2027: 3 1sts

Those 10 1sts in a 4 year span are how you build a solid core that is around the same age and grows together.

Believe I heard that Chicago has had 11 first round picks in the last 4 years, we’re starting to see the fruits of that labour.

Perhaps the Flames should be taking that model as well as Dallas and Montreal into account. It to suggest these are the same, they’re not but there are nuances from each that could be beneficial.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Believe I heard that Chicago has had 11 first round picks in the last 4 years, we’re starting to see the fruits of that labour.

Perhaps the Flames should be taking that model as well as Dallas and Montreal into account. It to suggest these are the same, they’re not but there are nuances from each that could be beneficial.

They have had 11 firsts but I think their fruits are pretty much all on Bedard. I think in hindsight they would be farther ahead if they drafted differently.

2025 Frondell (3), Nestrasil (25), and West (29). Too early to tell with this lot
2024 Levchunov (2) 42 GP, Boisvert (18), and Vanacker (27). I honestly have not watched them a lot, but I think selecting Lechunov over Demidov was a mistake.
2023 Bedard (1) 175GP, Moore (19). Looking good
2022 Korchinski (7) 92GP, Nazar (13), 79GP. and Rinzel (25). Don't know enough about Korchinkski to tell if he was a good pick at 7.

Interesting thing with Chicago is they have not had any 2nd round picks the last couple drafts. 25 picks in the top 3 rounds in total going back to the 2022 draft.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Another indication from a year ago (guessing) that the team is in a rebuild was Conroy on 960 talking to Steinberg about Iginla's involvement in the team and he said something like "yeah Iggy was asking, like how many picks is too many picks?"

The natural age gap between draft years spaces out your system for blue chip prospects to a large degree, but you can't draft 36 junior hockey players in three years and not have to make decisions that you might regret.

Exactly. Drafting and developing players is not an exact science. So many factors on and off the ice and different development curves makes it impossible to know who to keep when you have a bunch of top 9 projected 22–25-year-olds and a bunch of 19-22 years old coming or making the club early and you can only keep a few before the hit waivers. Smartest hocky minds of all time do not bat 1000 on these decisions. Not even close.

I said several times in the off season we need to trade someone and if we can't trade Kadri or Coleman, Zary was my next pick. I was told that was a terrible suggestion and he is part of the future. I responded with he is good but how good matters to me and if we can get a good return, what is a realistic expectation. Some suggested PPG. He is pacing for 12 points.

Now it probably makes sense to keep him as his value seems low. But if we move him and he excels elsewhere, I blame not enough ice for this.

I'm not suggesting I'm right always, I suggested Ras would not increase his trade value, yet he has started well enough that you could say he has and I was wrong.

Too much at once is not a good thing IMO

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Exactly. Drafting and developing players is not an exact science. So many factors on and off the ice and different development curves makes it impossible to know who to keep when you have a bunch of top 9 projected 22–25-year-olds and a bunch of 19-22 years old coming or making the club early and you can only keep a few before the hit waivers. Smartest hocky minds of all time do not bat 1000 on these decisions. Not even close.

I said several times in the off season we need to trade someone and if we can't trade Kadri or Coleman, Zary was my next pick. I was told that was a terrible suggestion and he is part of the future. I responded with he is good but how good matters to me and if we can get a good return, what is a realistic expectation. Some suggested PPG. He is pacing for 12 points.

Now it probably makes sense to keep him as his value seems low. But if we move him and he excels elsewhere, I blame not enough ice for this.

I'm not suggesting I'm right always, I suggested Ras would not increase his trade value, yet he has started well enough that you could say he has and I was wrong.

Too much at once is not a good thing IMO

As long as you don't fall into a trap of penciling kids into a future lineup when the boom/bust rate suggests you still need quantity to get assurances.

The Flames have many of the could pop guys ... but all with what a 10% chance. Because there are a half dozen of them you probably get one that plays upper roster and another that is more a bottom 6 / bottom pairing ... plus the blue chippers.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Believe I heard that Chicago has had 11 first round picks in the last 4 years, we’re starting to see the fruits of that labour.

Perhaps the Flames should be taking that model as well as Dallas and Montreal into account. It to suggest these are the same, they’re not but there are nuances from each that could be beneficial.

I think Conroy is doing that already. This will be the third straight year they have had at least 2 picks in the first round. His plan seems pretty simple and straight forward to me, maximize prospects born between 2004-2010 (because I am assuming he is going to keep accumulating picks) and hope it works for the 2030’s.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Bingo

As long as you don't fall into a trap of penciling kids into a future lineup when the boom/bust rate suggests you still need quantity to get assurances.

The Flames have many of the could pop guys ... but all with what a 10% chance. Because there are a half dozen of them you probably get one that plays upper roster and another that is more a bottom 6 / bottom pairing ... plus the blue chippers.

Its true.
Everyone here assumes Parekh will be a #1D, with Brz & Mews shoring up the right side.

I don't think any of those assumptions are safe.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Believe I heard that Chicago has had 11 first round picks in the last 4 years, we’re starting to see the fruits of that labour.

Perhaps the Flames should be taking that model as well as Dallas and Montreal into account. It to suggest these are the same, they’re not but there are nuances from each that could be beneficial.

Other than Rinzel, all the picks that are playing and making an impact were in the top 20. The high impact players were drafted early.

We need to target teams that have been rebuilding for years and want to switch to win now mode. Teams loaded with young talent that aren't at the top. Problem is if Ras doesn't extend, these teams probably will pay for someone with control or term.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Its true.
Everyone here assumes Parekh will be a #1D, with Brz & Mews shoring up the right side.

I don't think any of those assumptions are safe.

That's why players near the top of the draft are generally a lot safer, although there is never any guarantee.

Look at the difference between Parekh and Schaefer. And this is no shot at Parekh who I think will end up being a great player. But Schaefer immediately stepped in and is playing great.

The players at the top of the draft generally are able to step in faster, and have higher ceilings and lower floors. That is why it is so crucial for us to get a high pick this year.

[Aarongavey]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/early...-trade-market/

I will say this too. I think that, in a perfect world, the Canucks get a young player back if they ever decide to go down this road as opposed to just a futures deal. Not easy to do with a pending UFA, but that’s something else to keep in mind as well.

Sounds like the open for business Canucks are in no rush to make trades and want young players and not picks/prospects in the deals.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

I think Conroy is doing that already. This will be the third straight year they have had at least 2 picks in the first round. His plan seems pretty simple and straight forward to me, maximize prospects born between 2004-2010 (because I am assuming he is going to keep accumulating picks) and hope it works for the 2030’s.

I think this can't be overstated enough and i will more than likely increase. If you look at the 24-26 drafts the Flames are sitting on 15 picks in the first 3 rounds without what may come down the pipe from this and future deadlines. Chicago had 25 picks in a 4 draft span. Flames will probably hit that number in the when looking back at the 24-27 drafts. That is a lot of picks in the top 100 in each years drafts and might including 7 to 10 first round picks.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Robbob

They have had 11 firsts but I think their fruits are pretty much all on Bedard. I think in hindsight they would be farther ahead if they drafted differently.

2025 Frondell (3), Nestrasil (25), and West (29). Too early to tell with this lot
2024 Levchunov (2) 42 GP, Boisvert (18), and Vanacker (27). I honestly have not watched them a lot, but I think selecting Lechunov over Demidov was a mistake.
2023 Bedard (1) 175GP, Moore (19). Looking good
2022 Korchinski (7) 92GP, Nazar (13), 79GP. and Rinzel (25). Don't know enough about Korchinkski to tell if he was a good pick at 7.

Interesting thing with Chicago is they have not had any 2nd round picks the last couple drafts. 25 picks in the top 3 rounds in total going back to the 2022 draft.

To me this just goes to show that your margin for error is a lot higher when you have a Bedard in tow. Don't need to draft perfectly to have a wagon of team. But if you do? Look out.

That's what excites me most about the Flames situation. I think this is an elite amateur scouting staff, so pairing a high pick or high picks with the potential to land franchise pieces alongside excess draft capital...sky is the limit.

[Monahammer]

I think y'all are seriously underestimating Chicago.

They are taking a slow roll approach to actually brining the drafted players into the NHL. This prolongs their time in bottom of standings and lets those guys stew. Lardis, Vanacker, Frondell, Kantserov, Behm, Boisvert are all producing extremely well in their respective leagues. Knight in net is a boon.

They need a few really solid D prospects or a big signing, but I think those are achievable goals for them to work on. They are probably a team that really regrets not trying to pick up Kuz.