2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Robbob

listening to the radio yesterday they had a conversation and talking about Alex Tuch and how he could get 10+M in FA. With the cap going up, I am really having trouble with player values and cap hits. If Tuch is getting Huberdeau or more money, is Huidreau's contract really that bad?

The first few years of Huberdeau contract were always going to be tough to work around. But it was also going to level out because they knew the cap was rising substantially over the term of his contract.

.no, right now and moving forward, Huberdeaus contract isn't bad. But that'll be an argument for a bit here.

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

When does the trade freeze end?

Dec 28th

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Thanks for reporting, and not casting shade as you are the messenger.

From the past few years though, the cost to move up has been under estimated by this management group and the previous. If theyre talking about our own pick, we can just lose which is kinda free, if theyre talking about pairing with the Vegas pick, other teams have the math too, and its doubtful we can get into the top 10 with out giving up 3 assets.

For a team trying to accumulate skill this seems counter productive to just trading a few players and kicking the legs out.

Frustrating to hear.

I read - or rather interpreted - that are aiming high (?low?) with their own pick - a la Lawrence - but still wanting ( naive perhaps ) to bump the Vegas pick to get into a 2nd tier they like

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Thanks for reporting, and not casting shade as you are the messenger.

From the past few years though, the cost to move up has been under estimated by this management group and the previous. If theyre talking about our own pick, we can just lose which is kinda free, if theyre talking about pairing with the Vegas pick, other teams have the math too, and its doubtful we can get into the top 10 with out giving up 3 assets.

For a team trying to accumulate skill this seems counter productive to just trading a few players and kicking the legs out.

Frustrating to hear.

Agreed. Every year it seems like Connie spends the whole month leading up to the draft trying to move up and nothing happens due to price. I hope they just lose out so our own pick can be the Tynan Lawrence pick. They can then use the Vegas pick plus the newly acquired pick or picks to move into the early teens for a 2nd tier guy.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Robbob

listening to the radio yesterday they had a conversation and talking about Alex Tuch and how he could get 10+M in FA. With the cap going up, I am really having trouble with player values and cap hits. If Tuch is getting Huberdeau or more money, is Huberdeau's contract really that bad?

Well, he hasn't gotten it yet.

Also, Huberdeau is an aging player getting worse. His contract is buyout proof and bad.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Well, he hasn't gotten it yet.

Also, Huberdeau is an aging player getting worse. His contract is buyout proof and bad.

Very bad.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Huberdeau is 14th on the Flames in hits. This is a case of focusing on a player so much that you remember all of their hits but don't notice what else happens on the ice.

He is second among all forwards in giveaways behind only Kadri. Given how little Huberdeau carries the puck compared to some of the forwards, that is awful. Rarely starts in the defensive zone. By my eye test, conditioning still seems like an issue.

The Huberdeau hate has generally stopped for the most part thankfully. The guy has accepted his role and he obviously cares. And he still has talent.

But to praise him for hitting and defensive awareness is a bridge too far. And the common excuse is that his teammate's drag down his offensive production. Shouldn't he be elevating his teammate's offensive production?

As discussed in the game threads, the biggest drop is PP and the reason for that is not that he isn't passing well, it's that the design seems not to use him very well. Lots of powerplays seem to be a little triangle between Kadri, Frost and Andersson.

As for elevating his teammates, maybe he is. Maybe they just aren't very good at all and he's getting the very best out of them.

No one is saying he's a star because he hits and has upped his defensive game. But those are an improvement that he has developed. That's it. Not sure why you have to exaggerate to argue a point. And giveaways? He has two more than Coleman, three less than Kadri. It's not a bad stat for him, he's not exactly at the top of the league in them (that'd be Mackinnon). His advanced stats are very good. He's the best forward on the team for on ice goal differential. Second for on ice expected goal differential. 4th in created goals but has the lowest created goals v. expected goals ratio, which means his line is in fact letting him down. Corsi and Fenwick are very good.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Niemo

Agreed. Every year it seems like Connie spends the whole month leading up to the draft trying to move up and nothing happens due to price. I hope they just lose out so our own pick can be the Tynan Lawrence pick. They can then use the Vegas pick plus the newly acquired pick or picks to move into the early teens for a 2nd tier guy.

I don’t know why it’s frustrating
It’s like anything. They should have a set value for moving up and if the value matches what a team wants to move down, then a trade happens
If not…it doesn’t
Why is that frustrating?

I agree moving up is hard but doesn’t mean you don’t try

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

As discussed in the game threads, the biggest drop is PP and the reason for that is not that he isn't passing well, it's that the design seems not to use him very well. Lots of powerplays seem to be a little triangle between Kadri, Frost and Andersson.

As for elevating his teammates, maybe he is. Maybe they just aren't very good at all and he's getting the very best out of them.

No one is saying he's a star because he hits and has upped his defensive game. But those are an improvement that he has developed. That's it. Not sure why you have to exaggerate to argue a point.

I’m not exaggerating. I’m sure you would agree that you focus a lot on Huberdeau, I don’t think anyone posts about him more in the game threads and elsewhere.

I don’t agree on focusing on the PP design for his poor play. His 5x5 points are down significantly too. As for elevating other players, who is getting more production playing on his line vs. other lines or their previous teams?

In any case, nothing wrong with liking a player. At least he tries.

[Aarongavey]

https://www.tsn.ca/nba/article/repor...g-n1-47398198/

This is on the NBA to combat some of their gambling problems but they are all good ideas imo

Limiting pick protections to either top four or 14 and higher, which would eliminate the problematic mid-lottery protections.

• No longer allowing a team to draft in the top four two years in a row.

• Locking lottery positions after March 1.

Really like the last two, having teams draft near the top for 3-5 straight years ain’t a great thing.

[bigrangy]

It’s not worth (rightfully) complaining about Huberdeau. He’s stuck here, and will be for a long time. The Flames aren’t trying to be good so it really doesn’t matter if he’s good or not.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I’m not exaggerating. I’m sure you would agree that you focus a lot on Huberdeau, I don’t think anyone posts about him more in the game threads and elsewhere.

I don’t agree on focusing on the PP design for his poor play. His 5x5 points are down significantly too. As for elevating other players, who is getting more production playing on his line vs. other lines or their previous teams?

In any case, nothing wrong with liking a player. At least he tries.

It's not about focusing the PP design to help Huberdeau. The PP sucks now because they aren't using him right. The goals they do score - usually ebcause he's been directing the play. His 5x5 is down but nowhere near his PP production.

His previous lines on other teams? Bennett had his best year with him, and Duclair dropped off the map after Huberdeau left. Kadri had his second and third best year playing with Huberdeau. Frost is way better with Huberdeau this year than without him last season.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

It’s not worth (rightfully) complaining about Huberdeau. He’s stuck here, and will be for a long time. The Flames aren’t trying to be good so it really doesn’t matter if he’s good or not.

100%. I’m mostly glad he is actually trying at this rate and isn’t a Neal

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don’t know why it’s frustrating
It’s like anything. They should have a set value for moving up and if the value matches what a team wants to move down, then a trade happens
If not…it doesn’t
Why is that frustrating?

I agree moving up is hard but doesn’t mean you don’t try

Trying is fine. You have to. Basing your strategy on something that hasnt worked is the frustrating part when there is a more guaranteed way.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Robbob

listening to the radio yesterday they had a conversation and talking about Alex Tuch and how he could get 10+M in FA. With the cap going up, I am really having trouble with player values and cap hits. If Tuch is getting Huberdeau or more money, is Huidreau's contract really that bad?

IMO, people will be blown away at what kind of players get $10 million contracts. The global economy largely went through a period of 30-40% inflation over the last 5 years. Add on expansion of the NHL and increased revenues and salary inflation is going to be big.

Kaprisov getting $17 million/year is the start. When the dust settles, stars will be getting $20 million/year. Higher end 2nd liners will be getting around $10 million/year.

And unless Huberdeau finds a way to start putting up 70+points per year, his contract is still awful. Buyout proof too. Extra awful as he ages.

As for Tuch, I can see him getting $10 million/year based on his current play (30 goals and 70 points). The issue is he's turning 30, so whoever sings him long term to that is going to regret it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by blankall

IMO, people will be blown away at what kind of players get $10 million contracts. The global economy largely went through a period of 30-40% inflation over the last 5 years. Add on expansion of the NHL and increased revenues and salary inflation is going to be big.

Kaprisov getting $17 million/year is the start. When the dust settles, stars will be getting $20 million/year. Higher end 2nd liners will be getting around $10 million/year.

And unless Huberdeau finds a way to start putting up 70+points per year, his contract is still awful. Buyout proof too. Extra awful as he ages.

As for Tuch, I can see him getting $10 million/year based on his current play (30 goals and 70 points). The issue is he's turning 30, so whoever sings him long term to that is going to regret it.

Some posters thought Gio's contract was nuts.

[traptor]

I only see Tuch getting 10 from the Sabres if theyre desperate.
But even if he does, Tuch is currently a better player then Huberdeau.


Kempe is the recent winger to get 10s. And he is currently a way better player then Huberdeau.


Huberdeau is still a very bad contract.


As others have said though, it doesn't matter much right now. But it probably will in years 6,7 and 8

[looooob]

Originally Posted by traptor

I only see Tuch getting 10 from the Sabres if theyre desperate.
But even if he does, Tuch is currently a better player then Huberdeau.


Kempe is the recent winger to get 10s. And he is currently a way better player then Huberdeau.


Huberdeau is still a very bad contract.

probably true, but Kempe's deal hasn't even started yet- will kick in at 30, and I don't think it's clear how much better he'll be and or when his regression will start

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by traptor

I only see Tuch getting 10 from the Sabres if theyre desperate.
But even if he does, Tuch is currently a better player then Huberdeau.


Kempe is the recent winger to get 10s. And he is currently a way better player then Huberdeau.


Huberdeau is still a very bad contract.


As others have said though, it doesn't matter much right now. But it probably will in years 6,7 and 8

It would ONLY matter if the Flames still had him on board AND if they were otherwise cap-constrained, and the latter seems unlikely IMO...because without raising prices at the new arena to an unrealistic amount, I can't see them having enough cash flow to max out on cap. IIRC in order to max out, the increase is already something like $30M US (so $40-45M CDN) by 27-28.


Maybe, if Edwards doesn't cheap out, fans sell out the new place and the Flames have a super-comptetive team.

[Ped]

According to Greg Wyshynski, Marc-Andre Fleury would consider coming back, and there are teams that have been reaching out. He assumes, probably correctly, that the Oilers might be one of those teams.