2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

This is just wrong. Everyone watching his stats and play knew he had generational potential. There were even plenty of people on this board who wanted to start the tank for him specifically.

I thought Bedard would be better but both looked like world beaters pre draft. They are paying out now.

Gavin is of the same make imo.

He was not considered generational leading up the draft. He was considered a 1st pick with high potential, but he wasn't hyped up like Bedard was.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Well that's not the question I was trying to answer, but we can follow up.
A poster put out a thought that the majority of Flames fans don't think the Flames are re-building. So I was finding out if that was true.

One person takes an extreme approach but really the crux of the matter that has this board divided is not if they are rebuilding but how they are rebuilding.

People on the extreme side likely feel the reactionary moves they have made and large portion of inactivity from the end of the 24 season until the Andersson trade do not point to a true vision or thoughtful plan. Having an executive say rebiggle because he can’t use the word rebuild and hearing a very similar tone from management that was heard from previous regimes about not wanting to pick high

People on the other side see a lack of free agent signings, ample cap space, younger players getting spots, multiple 1st rounders several drafts in a row as a clear plan that they are prioritizing getting younger and rebuilding through the draft. Missing their own first last year was never part of the plan which is why they prioritized moving out Markstrom.


Myself personally I am far more comfortable now than I was when they got to .500 before the new year. I like the Andersson trade despite the picks being years out. I am happy with the record in January that is keeping them bottom 5. I am happy to hear they are listening on all vets and may move out Kadri and Coleman. I was definitely concerned for the period of time between the Maloney interviews and the end of 2025 about where this team was headed

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

He was not considered generational leading up the draft. He was considered a 1st pick with high potential, but he wasn't hyped up like Bedard was.

Go vote in the poll, it was basically made for you

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Go vote in the poll, it was basically made for you

I don't have an option I can select. My answer would be maybe, wait until the deadline to find out.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Well, considering the responses on here and arguing back and forth, I don't think there is a clear direction. Otherwise, the large majority would agree it is a rebuild.

lol aged well

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I don't have an option I can select. My answer would be maybe, wait until the deadline to find out.

Then it is a no for you lol. What they do this deadline doesn’t change my vote

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I don't have an option I can select. My answer would be maybe, wait until the deadline to find out.

Very well handled to preserve your ability to complain either way.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I don't have an option I can select. My answer would be maybe, wait until the deadline to find out.

lol coward

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Very well handled to preserve your ability to complain either way.

Isn't that a fair answer though? If they trade Kadri and Whitecloud or Coleman for example then yes. If they keep everyone then no.

I am on the fence if it is a rebuild.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

He was not considered generational leading up the draft. He was considered a 1st pick with high potential, but he wasn't hyped up like Bedard was.

https://www.nhl.com/news/macklin-cel...oews-as-rookie

here's an NHL.com article where the staff writer speculates how Celebrini as a rookie could impact a team like Jonathan Toews. Toews isn't generational, but to say a rookie could have an impact like him during his Hawks tenure certainly says what people thought about his talents pre-nhl.

[dino7c]

Over 90% of CP thinks its a rebuild...so maybe, just maybe we have a very vocal minority

[Toast_Man]

edit - wrong thread.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Isn't that a fair answer though? If they trade Kadri and Whitecloud or Coleman for example then yes. If they keep everyone then no.

I am on the fence if it is a rebuild.

If you are going to base it on future moves it can always be a maybe.
As we sit here today, based on the moves they've made, are they re-building? And if you don't feel that's a clear thing, it's OK to say no.

[PepsiFree]

The Sharks are a bit glamourized because of their luck in the draft, but I do think the Flames this year are a fair comparable to around the 2022-23 Sharks in terms of moves made, draft position over the past two years, vets remaining, etc.

It’s not like the Sharks were masters of asset management in the way people here think the Flames should be, either. If you look at a lot of their trades, the trees are super complicated (in cases like Karlsson) or underwhelming (Burns). A guy like Hertl went for a similar return to Andersson, but they had to dump two 3rd round picks and eat a boatload of salary to get it.

If you want to be like the Sharks you’re essentially hoping for a whole lot of luck. Because good asset management did not get them to where they are.

[dino7c]

Chicago should have traded Kane and Domi earlier...they would have probably finished last not 3rd last

but they wouldn't have won the lottery...luck is such a massive factor

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

https://www.nhl.com/news/macklin-cel...oews-as-rookie

here's an NHL.com article where the staff writer speculates how Celebrini as a rookie could impact a team like Jonathan Toews. Toews isn't generational, but to say a rookie could have an impact like him during his Hawks tenure certainly says what people thought about his talents pre-nhl.

I thought Celebrini and Bedard were close, and there were some whispers of stylistic similarities between the former and Crosby. But I didn't seem him being as close to Crosby as he is at this point. I can't recall a prospect that has come along that has reminded me of Crosby like he does.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

If you are going to base it on future moves it can always be a maybe.
As we sit here today, based on the moves they've made, are they re-building? And if you don't feel that's a clear thing, it's OK to say no.

I believe they are going to trade Kadri, so I would say yes. But my answer will change if they don't make any moves at the deadline.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Royle9

This says it all, LOL.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I believe they are going to trade Kadri, so I would say yes. But my answer will change if they don't make any moves at the deadline.

The poll was made because you said if it was a rebuld opinions wouldn't be so split. They aren't.

So using your own logic I think you need to admit they are in a rebuild. Rebuild or not doesn't hinge on Kadri...he has 3 years left, what if nobody wants to pay to take his contract for that long? Should the Flames pay to move him just so you can call it a rebuild.

Also, Whitecloud has value...Vegas also needed to move the contract in order to fit Ras into their cap situation. It had nothing to do with "trying to compete"

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I believe they are going to trade Kadri, so I would say yes. But my answer will change if they don't make any moves at the deadline.

If they are trying to trade him but can't finalize a good deal, how does that change what they are doing? To exaggerate - if the best achievable offer is a 4th are they suddenly not rebuilding if they don't make that deal? What if they've asked every other team in the league what they'd offer?