2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[kyuss275]

The problem with not retaining on Kadri and trading him is he is not going to be happy sticking around next year . That’s not good

[Monahammer]

I agree time of the retention has lots to do with it too. But, I don't see a huge risk. With Kadri gone and huberdeau trending towards LTIR-tirement, I don't see big needs for the slots in the next 3 years.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Both are only 1 year retentions, and sub 2.5 mil.

They retained on Markstrom for multiple seasons

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

The problem with not retaining on Kadri and trading him is he is not going to be happy sticking around next year . That’s not good

Good news is you still have all summer.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Samiz

IMO its not about the money but about the retention slots. Having a slot locked up for Kadri during prime rebuilding years could limit what the Flames can do down the road

Flames will regain 2 of their retention slots after this season

I can't see another player other than Kadri where retention is a factor.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

After Kadri and Coleman , there isn’t much left to retain

If I get a 1st for Kadri, I would take it and run

Originally Posted by flambers

Flames will regain 2 of their retention slots after this season

I can't see another player other than Kadri where retention is a factor.

That depends on who they sign and trade for in the offseason. I'm sure the Flames are planning to be deadline sellers next season, too.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

The problem with not retaining on Kadri and trading him is he is not going to be happy sticking around next year . That’s not good

They don't want to retain on him TODAY unless its worth it. They get two spots back this summer. I'm telling you the Colemen offers upgrade with retention and that obviously factors in.

If the Kadri return is meh now upgrade the Coleman return. You can trade Kadri for meh at anytime

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dino7c

the retention spot matters, especially when you aren't trying to compete. They can retain on a number of players...including Coleman tomorrow. Anyone they trade over the next 3 seasons.

I think the only important thing is the last retention spot right now.

Kadri eating a spot for the next 3 seasons after this one isn't a huge deal, because I doubt Flames are retaining for anyone that's not a pending UFA after this season - especially with Weegar traded already.

If the difference is something like a 2nds for Coleman with retention vs a 1st without. Vs trading Kadri all together. Then I lean towards trading Kadri and keeping Coleman and just hoping you get a 1st next deadline with retention.

Kadri is the piece that has way more risk of losing value the longer you wait.

If Montreal meets your without retention asking price (let's say it's 1st + Zharkovsky) but requires $1.5M of retention to facilitate that, then you make that trade IMO.

If a team wants 50% they'd have to pay up. And if the offers without retention are kind of soft (the picks Colorado offered would qualify IMO) then sure don't make that deal. But if the offer is good then you have to think about retaining without an extra sweetener.

In the end if they have to keep one of these players past the deadline tomorrow...I think I'd actually prefer it be Coleman. Think he's the better leader.

[Jiggy_12]

Flames may be planning to take on some bad contracts and may want those retention spots available for offloading those

[Samiz]

Originally Posted by flambers

Flames will regain 2 of their retention slots after this season

I can't see another player other than Kadri where retention is a factor.

That's fair but I think the org would feel a lot better about their options if they have 9 retention slots in the next 3 years as opposed to 6.

There's a good chance the Flames may look to use cap space on UFAs to a) hit the cap floor, and b) later flip with retention for asset/etc.

[Burning Beard]

No one saw Weegar going so maybe we see Kadri go to a team no one has thought about either. He would look good in a Bruins uniform.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

The problem with not retaining on Kadri and trading him is he is not going to be happy sticking around next year . That’s not good

Well if that's the case he can open up his trade list. Reportedly he has not budged on that (as is his right). But that restricts the market further.

[iloveicedhockey]

Not to keep coming back to a deal that happened a while ago, but Marleau's $6M deal for one year got a first back. If that value still holds true (big assumption), if we retain 7.5M on Kadri (it's just 2.5M a year, right!) and get a first back, we're paying to dump the contract, which is not how we see Kadri.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Samiz

That's fair but I think the org would feel a lot better about their options if they have 9 retention slots in the next 3 years as opposed to 6.

There's a good chance the Flames may look to use cap space on UFAs to a) hit the cap floor, and b) later flip with retention for asset/etc.

exactly...they probably flip one of the dman they got this year next deadline

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Sure, they can move Kadri in his age 36/37 seasons but getting a 1st+ at that time seems ambitious.

Yea this feels like the right time to get out of the Kadri business. 30 goal pace per 82 the past 4 seasons, this year on pace for basically half that.

Guy may have already turned from high level producer to veteran depth scorer before our eyes. Not exactly sure the market will be there this time next year or even in the summer. Right now they have the mask of "this team stinks, nobody is scoring" but this time next year if he's 36 sitting at 12 goals then the Flames might need a sweetener to move him at all.

Would be a big mistake not to get value while you can now, regardless of holding up a retention spot.

[868904]

I’m starting to think they made the Weegar deal because they weren’t getting the offers they wanted for Kadri and Coleman.

[dino7c]

Flip Coleman with retention tomorrow
Flip Kadri with retention in the summer

unless someone pays up on Kadri this is what will happen IMO

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Samiz

That's fair but I think the org would feel a lot better about their options if they have 9 retention slots in the next 3 years as opposed to 6.

There's a good chance the Flames may look to use cap space on UFAs to a) hit the cap floor, and b) later flip with retention for asset/etc.

I think that's very unlikely

Flames have used their retention very few times in the past (Markstrom and Andersson)

As for cap floor remember Wolf's cap hit next season is $7.5m

[Royle9]

I think it’s been said all along that almost every Kadri deal is surrounded in retention.
Theres deals to be made if the Flames will retain, so far it seems they don’t want to eat any money.

Personally I think it’s a mistake.
But I also thought we should have traded him last deadline.
If he goes past this one, it’s going to be even tougher to move him.

For me the biggest issue is the Flames approached him about being traded over a month and a half ago, he agreed he’d expand his list and help them facilitate even though he was comfortable staying. Around the Andersson trade he approached management and said he too would like to be traded.

We’re now risking holding onto a guy you approached for a trade, he agreed too and you held onto all this time and may have jeopardized his value by doing so, coupled with refusing to retain salary.

It’s not a good look again, I wouldn’t say it’s Markstrom bad but it’s just not a good look.
Time will tell here, but I’m getting less and less confident as the hours go by.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

This is a complete guess but if Nichushkin was involved in the deal, maybe Flames didn't want to take on his money/contract.

Which I would totally get. Taking on that player and contract has problems written all over it.