2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Inferno

Nothing is stopping Colorado or any team from phoning Conroy and asking if Kadri or any other player is available.

I could be mistaking it for another player but I think I remember Royle9 saying it never really got to the point of discussing players but he wondered how much better it could have been than the Nelson offer.

Pretty sure he said the offer was better than Nelson because they wanted Kadri. That’s what I’m basing it off of.

I’ve been clear before this it’s pointless to ask him to waive now he will only go to specific destinations and it’s 2 teams.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I would argue building a winning culture really isn't important at this moment. I think the more pressing issue is getting some elite talent that can win you a cup. You can bring in leadership after, or you still have a guy like Backlund as well to help mentor them.

But none of this matters until you get some elite talent at forward. I'm beyond ecstatic with how Parekh and Wolf have developed. But we don't have anyone in our system right now that I see projecting as a 1st line forward. Coronato is close but I still think he's a good 2nd liner.

I'm of the opinion that we need to be losing a lot for a few years for long term success. Short term pain for long term gain.

Plus free agents will want to sign here if we start drafting elite talent. People want to play with Mackinnon. They want to play with McDavid. They want to play with Barkov. The only reason someone is coming to Calgary right now is if we over pay for them. Like we did for Kadri.

Culture and winning culture us a bunch of BS. Most of these guys won’t be here when the team is competitive anyways.

You win when you win. That usually happens when you have a deep team with star players to carry you.

MacKinnon was not a winner until he won. Barkov was a choke artist who is now on to his 3rd final. Chucky as well. McDavid and pissy 2nd straight finals and hopefully a choke.

None of that regular season 9th place winning culture mattered. Heck MacKinnon played on one of the worst teams of all time.

Even Kadri was talked about how he hurt his team s in the playoffs until he was a key cog.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Groot

Utah and Brady Martin

That’s my thought as well (Utah, not sure about Martin). Seems pretty clear they’re open to moving the pick.

They also need some help taking the next step. I think the Flames could possibly make a case for it by dangling the two first round picks and nearly anyone not named Parekh, Wolf, or Coronato.

[Dienasty]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I agree with losing a lot of those guys for nothing, but let me play devils advocate here.

How do you expect to build a winning culture, an identity and a team that can compete for a cup when you basically show all UFA’s that if you commit here but ultimately are “old” and even though we gave you a NMC to come here because you want stability for your family that we will ultimately tell/ask you to move anyway and disrespect your contract essentially?

You won’t. Plain and simple.
You’ll never attract a big name UFA to the market, you’ll jeopardize your ability to sign your prospects and ultimately destroy your room and team culture simply for a lottery ball and a B prospect?

Doesn’t make sense to me, but I do understand the angst having lost a lot of our guys for nothing, but those weren’t Craig’s decisions for the most part. He made best of what he could for Tkachuk and that was getting Huberdeau off of a record breaking season…

Delicate balance for sure but if you get a Dupont/McKenna players will want to sign here. The Flames loyalty should be to the young guys (Wolf/Parekh/Coronato/Zary) amd do everything they can to win around that group. Don't forget Kadri quit on the team the second half of his first season, and he was abysmal the first half of this year. He is a player I would not want to hold the bag on.

He knew the Flames were supposed to be competitive his first 3 years with him Hubredeau, Hanifin, Coleman, Backlund, Markstrom Lindholm etc. It didn't happen... time to turn the page.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I'm of the opinion that we need to be losing a lot for a few years for long term success. Short term pain for long term gain.

Okay. Just so we're not all going around in circles all summer long, can you (or anyone else) specify a detailed plan on how exactly this team is supposed to 'tank' to get these supposed amazing draft picks and Stanley Cups?

Wolf is quickly turning into an elite goalie, and will be for probably 10-15 years. Coronato is looking good. Zary has a bright future. Parekh is going to be a stud. The 2024 draft class has the potential to be amazing for this franchise. There are some real bright spots moving forward.

Is the plan to surround these good young players with garbage so they will will lose more? Or is the plan to trade good young players for future picks/garbage? Or the only plan that will actually make them worse for sure........you want to trade Wolf?

I'm not sure exactly what the 'tank' crowd is looking for moving forward. If you could clarify what would make that crowd happy, please explain. And not just Kadri for picks/prospects. Like, a real plan. Thanks

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

That’s my thought as well (Utah, not sure about Martin). Seems pretty clear they’re open to moving the pick.

They also need some help taking the next step. I think the Flames could possibly make a case for it by dangling the two first round picks and nearly anyone not named Parekh, Wolf, or Coronato.

Utah is looking to add so difference makers. Some gave them going after Marner.

Is Coleman and the 1st round picks enough?

Gvialty made a great thread to get that elite guy has to be in the top 3 so this trade makes a lot of Sense.

They just have to be comfortable with all of Hagen/Misa/Frondell at 4.

[Dienasty]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

You’re ignoring that he also sent a 2nd round pick to Philly in that trade.

That 2nd round pick is probably the best asset in that trade.

If I were to look at Conroy’s two years as GM, I’d break them down like this:

Year 1 Grade: B
Year 1 Summary: He inherited an absolute mess, and spent the entire year being reactive. He made a number of trades, no stellar returns, but at the end of the day he didn’t sell any stellar players, so it’s fair. Offering Lindholm 8 years at $8.5M and trying to extend Hanifin for as long as he did is worrisome, and had Lindholm accepted that offer this would be a gigantic “F”. The Markstrom trade was his best move.

Year 2 Grade: F
Year 2 Summary: Craig’s silence in free agency was the only good thing he did. After that, he sat on cap space he never utilized, he spent a significant future asset (2nd round pick) in a “now” trade with Philly where the players he acquired came in and underperformed significantly/were not impactful at all. He sat on his hands at the trade deadline, and did not even entertain an offer for Kadri. The team finished 9th in the west, surrendered their own 1st round pick (16th overall) while keeping Florida’s (32nd) because he believes culture is more important than skill, and that being loyal to a roster that is largely comprised of players that won’t be here when (if) this team becomes a contender. Conroy was reactive in Year 1, and should have been proactive in Year 2 but wasn’t.

Year 3 is going to be interesting. The team has zero top-end forwards in the pipeline, and he needs to address that above everything else. Hopefully we see a year or proactive work, with all eyes on the 2026 and 2027 draft.

I am higher on Frost than you are but otherwise this is pretty spot on.

Not moving Andersson was a huge fail, not eating salary for a couple 4th or 5th round picks was also a wasted opportunity.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I can see both sides of the Kadri argument.

Keep him side:

1. NMC - sorry, but he is not moving. Why talk about it? Might as well talk about Porky Pig sprouting wings and flying to around the world. Let's talk about something else that will never happen - finding bigfoot!
2. He helps with the culture
3. Still need decent players to sell tickets. Flames are afraid of that which is why they avoid using the "R" word.
4. You still need some vets to shoulder the load - why can't Kadri be one of those vets?

Trade him side:

1. Trade clause changes to a LNTC next season. He can either control the exact location that he wants to go to, or risk being traded to a situation that may be his 14th worst outcome. Plenty of players move with NMCs.
2. Why be loyal to a guy that signed a retirement contract here? He wasn't a home-grown talent, nor did he leave much money on the table (2nd highest offer was Calgary IIRC).
3. Few people are buying tickets just to see Kadri.
4. Kadri plays center, and it may be more beneficial long term sticking Zary in that role and allowing him to grow. Flames are not winning anything in the short term, and they should be prioritizing development. Kadri was a 'win now' signing, and it is time to move off of it.
5. Kadri will turn 35 before the season starts. Often when players regress due to age, it is an abrupt and steep decline. 4 years left on that deal starting this upcoming season - how many of those 4 seasons will he remain effective for? Nobody knows. It could hit him this year, or the year after, or the year after that, and so on.

Did I miss anything from either side? I think I captured most of it.

From my own standpoint, I don't really have an issue with Kadri staying or going. My preference would be trade him - full disclosure - but with the cap jumping up that high so quickly, when Kadri does regress to the point of being a negative contract, it is something that Calgary can stomach even without a buyout. If it comes to a buyout, so be it.

I think Conroy will move vets under these two conditions:
1) They are set to become UFAs and either want too much money, or it doesn't make sense to re-sign that player.
2) They ask for a trade - I don't know of anyone that has asked for a trade (not that I would be privy to that knowledge, but there haven't been any rumours to my knowledge).

Based on the above, Calgary may have a discussion with Kadri about moving before he goes to a limited trade clause, or maybe they won't. I am sure that will be (if at all) conducted behind closed doors and things will be kept confidential. I doubt he gets moved, but I also wouldn't be shocked if he did. What is shocking is people getting triggered by talking about it. This is the off-season speculation. Who cares? It is hardly running the guy out of town by speculating on which teams and what values there may be. I find it offensive when fans start railroading players out of town with nasty stuff, but as long as nobody is saying anything derogatory about Kadri, I think it is fair game.

Just have some class - Kadri has been a great fit here on the Flames and in the community, so no 'he sucks' or classless stuff like that. I thought Huberdeau was an incredibly poor player here, but I thought people saying "He sucks", or when posters say stuff about a player on the team like "I hope they shoot him into the sun"... that grinds my gears honestly, as I find it tasteless. Speculating on possible trades isn't classless IMO. That's where I draw the line anyway, so maybe everyone is different. Fandom can get really ugly sometimes.

As for the rest of the vets, this is what I think:

Andersson gets moved this off-season.

Unless Coleman asks for a trade, I wouldn't expect him to be moved. Maybe Tampa comes calling, or another contender calls, then maybe he goes. Most likely he gets traded next off-season, as he enters the last year of his deal.

I think Backlund stays forever. Signs one year deals after his next deal ends. He earned that courtesy of not needing a NMC. If he wants to move, Flames will move him. Otherwise, he finishes off as a Flame.

Huberdeau's contract is immovable unless it is for another negative value deal. I would rather keep Huberdeau - turning out to be a fantastic leader, and I see him as the 'bridge' to becoming the next captain if Backlund retires before the torch gets passed on to the next generation.

Weegar stays obviously unless he demands out.

Lomberg is entering the last year of his deal. I can see him being traded at the deadline just as much as I can see him getting extended by the Flames. Coin flip on him.

I think there will be more changes. Flames are carrying too many forwards on the roster, assuming Klapka is a full-time player. Just too many wingers. Will be interesting to see who moves, but I would expect moves to be made other than the 'expected' Andersson trade (which would be really funny if he gets re-signed after everyone being so sure he is moving).

Out:
Andersson
Hanley
Rooney
Vladar
+ at least one winger on the team

In:
Futures? Trades? Signings? Or just/mostly promotions? Will Conroy find a way to add to this group, or is the plan to subtract a little bit? Tune in to find out!

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Pretty sure he said the offer was better than Nelson because they wanted Kadri. That’s what I’m basing it off of.

I’ve been clear before this it’s pointless to ask him to waive now he will only go to specific destinations and it’s 2 teams.

The only thing I can really find:

I'd argue the offer would have been better than this as Kadri was their #1 target going into the deadline.
Unfortunately/fortunately however you want to look at it, both Kadri and Calgary did not want to entertain it.

Colorado wanted Kadri, Calgary doesn't want to move him.
So you're right, discussions didn't really get too serious.
I know a 1st was always part of the discussions.

The "didn't really get too serious" part is probably what I remember.

[jg13]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1932625457175793959

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Okay. Just so we're not all going around in circles all summer long, can you (or anyone else) specify a detailed plan on how exactly this team is supposed to 'tank' to get these supposed amazing draft picks and Stanley Cups?

Wolf is quickly turning into an elite goalie, and will be for probably 10-15 years. Coronato is looking good. Zary has a bright future. Parekh is going to be a stud. The 2024 draft class has the potential to be amazing for this franchise. There are some real bright spots moving forward.

Is the plan to surround these good young players with garbage so they will will lose more? Or is the plan to trade good young players for future picks/garbage? Or the only plan that will actually make them worse for sure........you want to trade Wolf?

I'm not sure exactly what the 'tank' crowd is looking for moving forward. If you could clarify what would make that crowd happy, please explain. And not just Kadri for picks/prospects. Like, a real plan. Thanks

I would trade any aging asset who can return a decent futures package. I would trade any combination of Kadri, Andersson, Coleman, Weegar, Backlund. Maybe keep one of them for leadership. If you could trade Huberdeau somehow I would do it as well.

From there it is essentially a self tank. Obviously you keep Wolf but the team will drop in the standings significantly for a few years. Pick up some top end talent in the draft the next 3 or 4 years. Once some of these young players start to develop, I would then start adding some free agents and trying to improve.

The hope at that point is you have Parekh, and a few top forward prospects. And also develop some other young players with great drafting with all the extra picks.

In 5 years we will be on the rise, and it is all uphill from there.

[442scotty]

The trade everyone and tank crowd are getting excited with the draft coming lol.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I would trade any aging asset who can return a decent futures package. I would trade any combination of Kadri, Andersson, Coleman, Weegar, Backlund. Maybe keep one of them for leadership. If you could trade Huberdeau somehow I would do it as well.

From there it is essentially a self tank. Obviously you keep Wolf but the team will drop in the standings significantly for a few years. Pick up some top end talent in the draft the next 3 or 4 years. Once some of these young players start to develop, I would then start adding some free agents and trying to improve.

The hope at that point is you have Parekh, and a few top forward prospects. And also develop some other young players with great drafting with all the extra picks.

In 5 years we will be on the rise, and it is all uphill from there.

So the plan is to be terrible with Wolf in net? Not to mention Parekh, Coronato, Zary, etc. You think that's a lottery-worthy team? How about Bahl, Klapka, etc......trading them too?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Still banging that head I see.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Perhaps you guys could create a an ongoing thread that becomes home to the endless hand wringing and waxing poetic about Murray Edwards, the “state of the team” (complaining they’re not tanking “properly”), and the “how things should be run” section of armchair GMing, because this ain’t it.

Threads are free. Nothing wrong with wandering off topic, but when you see a list of rumours that don’t involve a player with a NMC and immediately resort to talking about that player and about how he should be traded while totally ignoring the info as to why he isn’t traded so you can have yet another outlet to log the same complaints about management you’ve been logging every two days for two years then maybe it’s time to have a dedicated place for it and save everyone from having to scroll past another 30 posts about it.

Point taken but it seems unrealistic. Stuff comes up in any thread, especially rumors, that lends to direction of the team and that’s pretty normal. Like it or not, this kind of existential “what are we?” conundrum captures a crossroads of the franchise right now. And it’s the offseason, with the only hockey to talk otherwise being the Oilers.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

So the plan is to be terrible with Wolf in net? Not to mention Parekh, Coronato, Zary, etc. You think that's a lottery-worthy team? How about Bahl, Klapka, etc......trading them too?

We traded a half a dozen or so vets in the last couple of years and some still want to get rid of another half dozen for lottery tickets. Perhaps we really should simply trade away everything of value for draft picks? Just so the same poster with multiple accounts is finally quiet

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

So the plan is to be terrible with Wolf in net? Not to mention Parekh, Coronato, Zary, etc. You think that's a lottery-worthy team? How about Bahl, Klapka, etc......trading them too?

Do you think it’s going to steal 25 games? Have a backup we don’t know win 12-15 games?

Saros and Swayman say high.

Also the system the Flames played won’t last it wears thin on players. 100% for 82 games to stay competitive

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I would argue building a winning culture really isn't important at this moment. I think the more pressing issue is getting some elite talent that can win you a cup. You can bring in leadership after, or you still have a guy like Backlund as well to help mentor them.

But none of this matters until you get some elite talent at forward. I'm beyond ecstatic with how Parekh and Wolf have developed. But we don't have anyone in our system right now that I see projecting as a 1st line forward. Coronato is close but I still think he's a good 2nd liner.

I'm of the opinion that we need to be losing a lot for a few years for long term success. Short term pain for long term gain.

Plus free agents will want to sign here if we start drafting elite talent. People want to play with Mackinnon. They want to play with McDavid. They want to play with Barkov. The only reason someone is coming to Calgary right now is if we over pay for them. Like we did for Kadri.

We can still do poorly with Kadri on the team, there's a plethora of other guys without NMC's we can ask to be traded.

I just fail to see how not asking Kadri to go to Colorado, after he told you he wants to be here and win is costing us a top 5 pick.
Kadri isn't McDavid, he wont be carrying the team on his back every night.

[Paulie Walnuts]

If Utah is serious about trading 4 what could we offer. Top 5 picks are hardly available.

Both 1st round picks a 2nd. A retained Coleman ?

Or do we send Andersson for picks to flip instead of Coleman.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

If Utah is serious about trading 4 what could we offer. Top 5 picks are hardly available.

Both 1st round picks a 2nd. A retained Coleman ?

Or do we send Andersson for picks to flip instead of Coleman.

Would both our 1st round picks and Zary get it done? There is a real chance that Misa could fall to the 4th pick.