2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

With the cap increasing does that allow the leafs to wiggle in Marner long term? If he did reach UFA he’d be another high end right handed winger to become available.

Taveres is a free agent, they have tons of space. They around $70 mil and 17 guys signed. $25 mil space for Marner (if they sign him) and probably $13 mil to fill out roster.

Tavares is having a good year though so maybe they keep him for much cheaper and use the cap space on D.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Quoted you, but didn't aim the 'hinge' comment at you specifically.

With the chatter from Leslie etc., I just think any hopes of building our core via free agency is a) not a sound strategy, and b) wishful thinking and not attuned to the reality of Canadian small market teams like the Flames.

But it happens that a #1 center is available via trade. The Flames have tons of assets and if Parekh is a star and Wolf is too, they might only need 1 star center to have elite level players down the middle.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Someone on the Fan960 postgame brought up the idea of going after Zellweger in Anaheim. Thoughts on what that would cost? 12 points in 39 games this year. 21 year old LD from Calgary

I think he has alot of untapped offensive potential. If we could acquire him that would be amazing and boost our PP but I have a hard time thinking Anaheim would move him.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

But it happens that a #1 center is available via trade. The Flames have tons of assets and if Parekh is a star and Wolf is too, they might only need 1 star center to have elite level players down the middle.

The continued development of other young players will definitely give them some options and hopefully have them dealing from a position of strength if they've not been able to meaningfully address center through the draft.

I personally think the organization is a couple drafts away from having the prospect pipeline depth in order to acquire an asset like a number one center, for the rare occasions those trades are available.

[SilverKast]

I think everyone needs to give up on the whole Makar pipedream. Sure he's a Calgary kid and it'd make a nice story, but he's simply too valuable for Colorado to let go of. Even if he does head to free agency they'll simply flip him like they did Rantanen to someone who'll pay him big $$$.

Better to focus on what we do have, like Parekh, and build on what we can count on instead of dreaming about something that's never going to happen.

[Erick Estrada]

Letting Rantanen go clearly shows that the Avs intend on paying Makar whatever it takes x 8 years.

[Toonage]

Yeah I think Flames fans are getting way ahead of themselves. Chances are pretty high Makar just stays put.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by SilverKast

I think everyone needs to give up on the whole Makar pipedream. Sure he's a Calgary kid and it'd make a nice story, but he's simply too valuable for Colorado to let go of. Even if he does head to free agency they'll simply flip him like they did Rantanen to someone who'll pay him big $$$.

Better to focus on what we do have, like Parekh, and build on what we can count on instead of dreaming about something that's never going to happen.

Not saying you are wrong but having already won a Cup and a new arena coming gives many hope.

I think alot of Canadian kids dream about playing for their hometown team. How many Ontario boys end up in TO?

Its not likely but the odds aren't zero.

[saillias]

I think the opposite, anecdotally to me it seems like NHLers DON'T want to play for their hometown team, at least not in their prime, maybe near the end as a victory lap. Ontario kids were the exact example I was thinking of too. Every year Leaf fans think they're picking up every single star UFA from Ontario - almost never happens. Tavares was the anomaly not the norm. Habs fans are the same with French players and so on.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by SilverKast

I think everyone needs to give up on the whole Makar pipedream. Sure he's a Calgary kid and it'd make a nice story, but he's simply too valuable for Colorado to let go of. Even if he does head to free agency they'll simply flip him like they did Rantanen to someone who'll pay him big $$$.

Better to focus on what we do have, like Parekh, and build on what we can count on instead of dreaming about something that's never going to happen.

You never know. My guess is that Colorado is going to be in a very different position at the end of the 2026/27 season. MacKinnon and Lehkonen will be turning 32. Rantanen is gone. That potentially looks like a rebuilding team, that Makar may not want to commit to for another 8 years. The Avs also have some kind of internal budget that resulted in them moving Rantanen.

It's also telling that Makar signed a 6 year deal that brought him too, but not beyond UFA status. That tells me Makar wants to consider his options going forward. He's already won a cup, and he likely grew up in Flames pajamas.

I don't think anyone is stating the club should focus on Makar over Parekh, but Makar becoming available is a possibility.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by saillias

I think the opposite, anecdotally to me it seems like NHLers DON'T want to play for their hometown team, at least not in their prime, maybe near the end as a victory lap. Ontario kids were the exact example I was thinking of too. Every year Leaf fans think they're picking up every single star UFA from Ontario - almost never happens. Tavares was the anomaly not the norm. Habs fans are the same with French players and so on.

Toronto is perpetually cash strapped and rarely has the space to sign UFAs anything close to market value. Players born in the Toronto region want to be there, but the Leafs spend so much money, they have trouble holding onto their existing players. Look at Kadri. He went out of his way to try and block the move away from Toronto. Budget considerations forced the Leafs' hands.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

The continued development of other young players will definitely give them some options and hopefully have them dealing from a position of strength if they've not been able to meaningfully address center through the draft.

I personally think the organization is a couple drafts away from having the prospect pipeline depth in order to acquire an asset like a number one center, for the rare occasions those trades are available.

It depends on the situation and who you call a #1 center, but the Flames have the picks and cap space to match trades that landed JT Miller or Jack Eichel.

Also, lots have said we have 0 chance at a top center in the draft mainly because Wolf is too good.

Jacob Markstrom was the #1 goalie prospect in the NHL and has had a good career but has had years where Flames fans wanted to run him out of town

Carey Price got booed in Montreal and Halak was the talk of the town.

Luongo had his ups and downs.

Shesterkin and Vasilevskiy has had their ups and downs.

Kipper had his ups and downs too.

It's really hard to say the Flames will have no chance at a top 5 pick because of 1 player and that player being a goalie.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

It depends on the situation and who you call a #1 center, but the Flames have the picks and cap space to match trades that landed JT Miller or Jack Eichel.

Also, lots have said we have 0 chance at a top center in the draft mainly because Wolf is too good.

Jacob Markstrom was the #1 goalie prospect in the NHL and has had a good career but has had years where Flames fans wanted to run him out of town

Carey Price got booed in Montreal and Halak was the talk of the town.

Luongo had his ups and downs.

Shesterkin and Vasilevskiy has had their ups and downs.

Kipper had his ups and downs too.

It's really hard to say the Flames will have no chance at a top 5 pick because of 1 player and that player being a goalie.

Yeah a Wolf sophomore slump while still being very good could have us in lottery range. It's not impossible.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by blankall

You never know. My guess is that Colorado is going to be in a very different position at the end of the 2026/27 season. MacKinnon and Lehkonen will be turning 32. Rantanen is gone. That potentially looks like a rebuilding team, that Makar may not want to commit to for another 8 years. The Avs also have some kind of internal budget that resulted in them moving Rantanen.

It's also telling that Makar signed a 6 year deal that brought him too, but not beyond UFA status. That tells me Makar wants to consider his options going forward. He's already won a cup, and he likely grew up in Flames pajamas.

I don't think anyone is stating the club should focus on Makar over Parekh, but Makar becoming available is a possibility.

Colorado is in danger of being the 89 Flames. A great team before they won the cup, put it all together, and then blew the next few POs while slowly losing a lot of their players from that team.

[camm13]

Originally Posted by blankall

You never know. My guess is that Colorado is going to be in a very different position at the end of the 2026/27 season. MacKinnon and Lehkonen will be turning 32. Rantanen is gone. That potentially looks like a rebuilding team, that Makar may not want to commit to for another 8 years. The Avs also have some kind of internal budget that resulted in them moving Rantanen.

It's also telling that Makar signed a 6 year deal that brought him too, but not beyond UFA status. That tells me Makar wants to consider his options going forward. He's already won a cup, and he likely grew up in Flames pajamas.

I don't think anyone is stating the club should focus on Makar over Parekh, but Makar becoming available is a possibility.

Agree, that and his wife is also from Calgary. She's a substitute teacher, and continued to teach here for much of his time in Colorado. A promo video that the Makars shot in March 2024, indicated she was still teaching here PT.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Yeah a Wolf sophomore slump while still being very good could have us in lottery range. It's not impossible.

Conroy also made a move in a year where the team is very likely to make the playoffs by adding 2 mid 20s players for a very cheap price. Why not? Maybe he is succession planning on Kadri and Backlund with Zary and Frost and looking at Farabee as a Coleman replacement.

I love having a ton of extra picks, but it can become hard to manage with too much at once. You have Nemec complaining in NJ. He's probably right, he deserves to be in the NHL, but NJ probably can't play him 20 mins a night right now.

Pelletier was a guy here who just was behind too many guys.

Without making a move a guy like Honzek might have a tough time making this team. Then if we land a #1 center in the draft or via trade, someone else moves out of the top 9 that probably belongs in the top 9.

No team does well with too many players 19-24 years old too. Thats how you end up like Buffalo.

[Sandman]

When I mention Makar coming here, it’s always with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek- I know it’s just a pipe dream, and too good to be true.

I keep a tiny flicker of hope alive though, because IIRC, nobody truly believed it was realistic that Tavares would spurn the Isles to go back home either.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Sandman

When I mention Makar coming here, it’s always with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek- I know it’s just a pipe dream, and too good to be true.

I keep a tiny flicker of hope alive though, because IIRC, nobody truly believed it was realistic that Tavares would spurn the Isles to go back home either.

We all can dare to dream! New building, having a lot of the recent picks starting to pop, elite goaltending, McDavid going out East. Just seems like a perfect wagon to hitch on to.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Not saying you are wrong but having already won a Cup and a new arena coming gives many hope.

I think alot of Canadian kids dream about playing for their hometown team. How many Ontario boys end up in TO?

Its not likely but the odds aren't zero.

What star Calgary player has come back home?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Sandman

When I mention Makar coming here, it’s always with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek- I know it’s just a pipe dream, and too good to be true.

I keep a tiny flicker of hope alive though, because IIRC, nobody truly believed it was realistic that Tavares would spurn the Isles to go back home either.

Agreed it is not a plan but more of a dream but it is a far more realistic dream than McDavid leaving the Oilers in the summer of 2026 to sign in Calgary.

The Flames will hopefully have an intriguing team to sell Makar on but the fact he enters UFA when the team is about to move to a new building adds another interesting wrinkle. Makar being from Calgary and someone who spends his summers here are the final piece of hope that he would have interest in playing his back half is of his career in his hometown.

Probably far more likely he stays with the team that drafted him but the hope is not completely misplaced.