2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by stemit14

If the oilers missed the playoffs or are eliminated early, what would be the cost to get that pick from San Jose (assuming it does not jump up 10 spots from a lottery win)? Right now, the pick would be 16th overall. The Vegas pick that the flames have is currently sitting at 19th overall.

If those draft positions stayed the same as they are now, is there a realistic scenario where the flames could acquire that 16th overall pick without giving up the Vegas pick? Not looking to just jump up a few spots from the Vegas pick - I’m wondering if the flames could get another pick while keeping the Vegas pick.

San Jose is wanting to start getting better right now. They were apparently very interested in Whitecloud but the asking price was too high. I could imagine the flames wanted that Oilers pick but San Jose probably weren’t willing to part with it at the deadline since it is unprotected and there is a chance it could end up in the top 5 of the draft if the Oilers ended up missing the playoffs and the lottery went a certain way. In the scenario I’m proposing, the Sharks will know by then that the pick is outside the top 10.

Would Whitecloud + 2nd round pick be enough/too much? The flames seem to really want to keep him unless a really good offer came up. Would be pretty hilarious though to get the oiler’s pick in this draft and turn that prospect into an impact player in the NHL.

I’ll add to this: if the flames could somehow get the Oiler’s 1st round pick (16th overall) while keeping the Vegas pick (19th overall). Does packaging those picks together get the flames another pick in the top 10? The flames would also have the draft capital of the multiple 2nd round picks that they could use to sweeten an offer to get that pick in the top 10. Think if the flames managed to win the draft lottery and get McKenna and then also get one of Bjork or Malhotra.

Just using the calculator on puckpedia, picks 16 and 19 are about the value of 7th overall

[mile]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2033302222637863073

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/2033302222637863073

[JurassicTunga12]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/2033302222637863073

[prizefighterinferno]

Not sure Lebrun has any info here other than Colorado=good, and will ensure they have the cap space to give him an enormous offer. Doesn't necessarily mean Cale will sign if he really does want to come home, but hard to imagine him leaving unless/until it happens to most observers.

[Hackey]

The Flames are unfortunately to early in their rebuild IMO. If they had some high end players in place it might be enticing but right now there is a lot of question marks and the team is a ways away from being competitive even if things go well. Is playing in Calgary really that big of an incentive for Makar? It seems unlikely that matters more to him than everything else.

[BigThief]

Even in your wettest of hockey dreams Cal Makar ain't signing here unless there's a complete collapse in Colorado and even then I doubt it

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Just using the calculator on puckpedia, picks 16 and 19 are about the value of 7th overall

Would definitely be in range of getting Malhotra or Bjork in that scenario. Also a benefit that some teams that will have a pick in that range might want to get more quantity than quality this year because there are going to be a few that are pretty depleted in terms of prospect cupboards. Also, a team could really covet the Ruck twins so they could look at it as a win where they trade down and add extra assets while getting the twins.

[Roof-Daddy]

Hopefully LeBrun is wrong about Makar, but it is obviously the most likely outcome at this point that he signs a big extension with Avs in the summer.

[Mathgod]

It amazes me that there are still people who think the Rucks are going in the 2nd round. You can write it down in ink: they're going in the 1st round. Personally, I think they'll be taken before the 20s.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

It amazes me that there are still people who think the Rucks are going in the 2nd round. You can write it down in ink: they're going in the 1st round. Personally, I think they'll be taken before the 20s.

Agreed. Kindel had 99 points last year and went 11th overall.
Reschny had 92 points and went 18th overall. They finished 7th and 10th in WHL scoring.

With two games left Markus and Liam are 1st and 2nd in WHL scoring and have 102 and 99 points.

Obviously there are other factors involved, but to put those numbers up in their draft years I'll be shocked if they don't picked in round 1.

[Aarongavey]

Does Yzerman sit on his team again this offseason if they choke it out down the stretch and miss the playoffs?

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

It amazes me that there are still people who think the Rucks are going in the 2nd round. You can write it down in ink: they're going in the 1st round. Personally, I think they'll be taken before the 20s.

I would be pretty surprised to see Markus going in the teens, but its definitely going to be a fun draft.

I think Liam will be picked in the 18-25 range and Markus in the 29-35 range. It would definitely be a fun to pick both, but I think it's more of a gimmick since the Sedins were so iconic.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by mile

https://twitter.com/user/status/2033302222637863073

Good because we need to spend that much money to get him like we need a hole in the head. We already have a waste in the Huberdeau contract. I'm a "money ball" fan. Put together a very good team without paying huge amounts for a couple of super stars.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Good because we need to spend that much money to get him like we need a hole in the head. We already have a waste in the Huberdeau contract. I'm a "money ball" fan. Put together a very good team without paying huge amounts for a couple of super stars.

Comparing Makar to Huberdeau is a crime. If Makar even has an ounce of consideration to play for his hometown team, you pursue it. I understand and admire your philosophy, but we're talking Makar here.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Comparing Makar to Huberdeau is a crime. If Makar even has an ounce of consideration to play for his hometown team, you pursue it. I understand and admire your philosophy, but we're talking Makar here.

Yup, there's a non-frivolous argument he's the best player in the NHL. You don't turn up your nose at that.

I agree there's almost no chance he doesn't continue with the Avs (which IMO might not be his smartest move given I think the Avs window is shutting - this is their best chance for another cup right now). But if he does decide to test the market, I'm sure Calgary would be a consideration for him.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Comparing Makar to Huberdeau is a crime. If Makar even has an ounce of consideration to play for his hometown team, you pursue it. I understand and admire your philosophy, but we're talking Makar here.

Wasn't comparing Makar to anyone. I was writing about superstar contracts. Some of you think that if we get 1 or more superstars we'll be invincible. I'd prefer a well balanced team over a couple of so called superstars. Currently, I think the Flames are a top center and top defenseman (not superstars) away from being in the mix. You can spend huge amounts to get Makar. I prefer not to. It's the supporting cast that makes a winner.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Wasn't comparing Makar to anyone. I was writing about superstar contracts. Some of you think that if we get 1 or more superstars we'll be invincible. I'd prefer a well balanced team over a couple of so called superstars. Currently, I think the Flames are a top center and top defenseman (not superstars) away from being in the mix. You can spend huge amounts to get Makar. I prefer not to. It's the supporting cast that makes a winner.

Name me all SC winners that did not have elite-level scoring ability/defense. The only one that you could likely find are the Blues in 2019. Even then, it took them 7 games and Binnington/ROR going god mode, as well as a coaching change mid-season. Everything had to go right. Would rather not stick to an anomaly. We've been doing that for a very long time now. It's foolish thinking for us to have had the mentality of "make it in the playoffs and anything can happen." Maybe if you have the elite talent to do that, sure, like the Panthers. We don't have that at all.

If Makar is available, you've got to "waste" the cap on him in order to avoid the Huberdeau/Nurse contracts.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Name me all SC winners that did not have elite-level scoring ability/defense. The only one that you could likely find are the Blues in 2019. Even then, it took them 7 games and Binnington/ROR going god mode, as well as a coaching change mid-season. Everything had to go right. Would rather not stick to an anomaly. We've been doing that for a very long time now. It's foolish thinking for us to have had the mentality of "make it in the playoffs and anything can happen." Maybe if you have the elite talent to do that, sure, like the Panthers. We don't have that at all.

If Makar is available, you've got to "waste" the cap on him in order to avoid the Huberdeau/Nurse contracts.

In Teroy's defence, most of those winners had elite talent but quite often it was just before they gave them huge contracts. Chicago won during Kane/Toews EFC and relatively cheap RFA contracts. The Avs won with Mackinnon and Rantanen on great deals and Makar on his EFC. Florida had expensive, but not top of the league deals in Tkachuk and Barkov.

But I still think if Makar's available you get him. Like you say, you just have to spend wisely on the supporting cast. Makar + McKenna's RFA + a couple other really high salaries will be tough to manage though.