2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Jiri Hrdina]

I don’t mind trading Pospisil as part of a package for a good return, signing tanner to a 1 year deal and then flipping him at the deadline
Profit

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Cootes to me looks like a high second-rounder in a good year, which this isn't.

I have him ranked in the teens, and Kindel and Reschny in the 20’s. In a normal year I would say they are all 2nd rounders.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Cootes to me looks like a high second-rounder in a good year, which this isn't.

His stats and description just seem to paint him as bottom six centre. Who’s your favorite in that range?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Bonded

His stats and description just seem to paint him as bottom six centre. Who’s your favorite in that range?

I prefer Kindel and Reschny.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I prefer Kindel and Reschny.

This Calgary team is already too slow, then you look at their forward prospects and it’s a lot of guys with skill and heavy feet. The game is getting faster and faster every year, adding guys like Kindel or Reschny who are small and have heavy feet isn’t a great recipe to building a team.

I think you are really underrating Cootes talent.

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Getting distracted to the draft thread, but I'd rank them Reschny, Cootes, Kindel if we're after a C. Kindel and Cootes swap if we just are targeting a forward. (I doubt Kindel plays C in the NHL)

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Kindel is one of the worst skaters that is going to get drafted in the 1st round. If they can get him at 32 then great, but he shouldn’t be anywhere near 18 on their list. He is a mid 20’s pick. I don’t think there is any chance he will be a center in the NHL.

Well that's not what scouts say about his skating nor what I have seen watching the Hitman. Is he the best skater? No. Neither was Coronato though. He has the edge work and agility, just needs to fix that stride. Last year I said Parekh was going to be the steal if the draft before it happened and we hit pay dirt. This year it will be Kindel.

https://dobberprospects.com/player/benjamin-kindel/

https://flamesnation.ca/news/flamesn...2024-25-season

[Royle9]

Kindell is more of a 32nd pick than the 18th.

I also feel like some are undervaluing Cootes, he had a fantastic U18 and looked like Canadas best player against the toughest teams.
He certainly passes the eye test enough for me, but I’d be happy with Reschny as well.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by JTech780

This Calgary team is already too slow, then you look at their forward prospects and it’s a lot of guys with skill and heavy feet. The game is getting faster and faster every year, adding guys like Kindel or Reschny who are small and have heavy feet isn’t a great recipe to building a team.

I think you are really underrating Cootes talent.

Cootes counting stats are pretty mediocre. The Flames don’t have a tonne of skill in the centre position prospect wise but do have a great skating coach and have enough depth. Got to swing for a player with top six upside.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Kindell is more of a 32nd pick than the 18th.

I also feel like some are undervaluing Cootes, he had a fantastic U18 and looked like Canadas best player against the toughest teams.
He certainly passes the eye test enough for me, but I’d be happy with Reschny as well.

If the Flames managed to walk out with Cootes at 18 and Kindel at 32 I’d be overjoyed.

The cherry on top would be Ryabkin or Brzustewicz at 54.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Kindell is more of a 32nd pick than the 18th.

I also feel like some are undervaluing Cootes, he had a fantastic U18 and looked like Canadas best player against the toughest teams.
He certainly passes the eye test enough for me, but I’d be happy with Reschny as well.

See, I have them flipped. Everybody sees it different though. There are no wrong opinions when trying to judge junior talent. I could be wrong and Cootes could end up being a great C. Or I could be right and Kindel has not only the ability to play C but to do it at a top line level. We won't know for years yet.

[Niemo]

I'm usually a move up only guy in drafts but this is a draft where I would trade down. 18th OV + 3rd rounder for late 1st plus 2 2nds.

Seems to be the draft to pick up as many of these 4th and 5th tiers Cs as possible..... Horcoff, Moore, Ryabkin, Nesbitt, Stockselius, Gastric, West, etc...... all so close.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Kindell is more of a 32nd pick than the 18th.

I also feel like some are undervaluing Cootes, he had a fantastic U18 and looked like Canadas best player against the toughest teams.
He certainly passes the eye test enough for me, but I’d be happy with Reschny as well.

I agree Royle. People will be pissed at me for saying this, but Kindel might not even be drafted in the first round. Look at what’s been happening in recent drafts with players who are 5’10” and smaller. IMO, he’s lucky it’s a weak draft.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Niemo

I'm usually a move up only guy in drafts but this is a draft where I would trade down. 18th OV + 3rd rounder for late 1st plus 2 2nds.

IMO this is the wrong draft to trade down, there just isn’t enough depth to be trading down. I would rather trade up and get the limited quality prospects in this draft then get quantity in a thin draft.

[Sandman]

Everyone should prepare to be pissed when we take Nesbitt at 18. I will be happy though, lol.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

Playoff teams DO covet these sorts of players, so you could possibly get picks for him at the deadline

Yeah maybe but that thinking didn’t get us anywhere last year. Arguably if Mantha stayed healthy we would have gotten a second round pick instead of the great development year that Coronato had. Happy to take the latter.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Everyone should prepare to be pissed when we take Nesbitt at 18. I will be happy though, lol.

Now there’s a guy who screams bottom 6 center. I think Cootes will be gone by our pick anyways. Now if we want to take a guy with skill that needs to work on skating I would take a long look at Bill Zonnon. Lots of people might over look him as he is mostly listed as a winger, but he played center most of the year and took the 2nd most faceoffs on his team.

Unless we are able to trade into the top 10 or maybe 15, I think there will be lots of people disappointed with the quality of prospect 18.

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Kindel is one of the worst skaters that is going to get drafted in the 1st round. If they can get him at 32 then great, but he shouldn’t be anywhere near 18 on their list. He is a mid 20’s pick. I don’t think there is any chance he will be a center in the NHL.

A bit of an awkward looking stride at times but the mechanics are solid and he's not slow by any means, and is also fairly agile. I would never call his skating elite but it's not like he's a below average skater. He is similar to Zary at the age in terms of skating.

Kindel would be a fantastic pick at 18 in my opinion and I see lots of upside. If we get him at 32, even better. My non professional opinion is teams will be proven wrong for not picking him earlier.

[activeStick]

Please no...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1807087719299821870

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I have no issues adding Jeannot... Just plan to flip him at the deadline.