2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Adding stuff wouldn’t make a difference.

The stars aren’t trading for Andersson in an attempt to go for it and then trade their #1 centre.

I agree, it's pretty clear the Stars are in win now mode. Traded Stankoven, rumours of trading Robertson and they re-signed Duchene and Benn.

Age isn't a factor, cap hit and what you bring to the table matters to them. 0 chance they value 1sts, B level prospects at the same level the Flames would.

I doubt the Flames have the best package, but if they were to make a run at Johnston, I think it would need to look like this.

Kadri
Coleman 50% RS
Ras 50% RS

for

Johnston
Dumba

Coleman for @ $2.45 mil for 2 years and Ras at @ $2.275 for 1 year would be more value to them than a late 1st or Mews.

Doubt they move Johnston for this, but this package probably would make the most sense for them.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

2 words. Cap floor.

Just so we can put this one to bed for the rest of the off-season:

The cap floor for this upcoming season is $70 million or so. Currently, the Flames are sitting at $66M with a few notable RFA contracts to hand out (Frost, Bahl, Zary) which will undoubtedly get them over the cap floor. They are likely to find a back up goalie and a few other depth players as UFAs, but I don't see them more active than that.

The problem is that you have quite a few players that the Flames want to try out at the NHL level soon who are on ELCs (Parekh, Brusztewicz, Morin Gridin, Honzek, Stromgren, Suniev etc.), and you can't pay more than a certain amount on those contracts, so you need some bigger, bloated contracts to offset the difference and make the cap floor.

If you take away Huberdeau's $10 million, they are suddenly struggling to make the cap floor. Add in that he has become an important player in the locker room and culture of the team, and a good mentor to younger players, and you're starting to rip the heart out of what made this team so good last year. The other key guys that probably need to stay for this season are Weegar, Backlund, and Coleman. You need that leadership in place until the younger guys are ready to take over the team. They're not ready yet, and taking away too many of these veterans that help you reach the cap floor will undercut their development.

I get that everyone is excited for a full tear down rebuild, but I think that you can expect to see Huberdeau and Weegar play out their full contracts during that rebuild.

Just to play devils advocate, and your point in a good one, but if the Flames are trading Huberdeau, the Flames are almost certainly taking a contract back, and it’s unlikely to be a light one.

Similar to Lucic-Neal, I’d bet any Huberdeau trade is going to have an element of problem for problem. Or, Flames are retaining a not-insignificant amount.

Huberdeau for picks/prospects wouldn’t happen. At least I don’t think so.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Looking at the Chycryn trade couple of years ago, he returned a 1st and 2 x 2nds. That's a good comparable what people should be expecting.

I think this type of del is most likely. The first will be 2026 though.

If the Flames trade Andersson today, I’d bet it is to move up in the draft if A) there’s a trade to get into the top 10 or B) a C they want slips to Columbus’ spot.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I think this type of del is most likely. The first will be 2026 though.

If the Flames trade Andersson today, I’d bet it is to move up in the draft if A) there’s a trade to get into the top 10 or B) a C they want slips to Columbus’ spot.

I agree, the only thing that I wonder about is whether Conroy wants a prospect or an established player back as a centerpiece. That's kind of been his MO so far.

[Jason14h]

Hitting the cap floor isn’t ever going to be a problem for a team

That’s the least the Flames would need to worry about

You can just overpay on a 1 year UFA worse case

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Would you trade the Flames’ franchise centre for that?

Johnston is not a franchise C. If they trade Johnston they can keep Robertson and and make room for Bourque who is cost controlled. They still have Hintz, Seguin, Duchesne, and Bourque down the middle.

[Vinny01]

I do not believe for even a second that the stars are considering moving Johnston.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Would you trade the Flames’ franchise centre for that?

How many franchise centers are there in the NHL? Like is it any center who is a number one center? What about Wyatt Johnston, the center you are talking about, who is not even the number one center on his current team? There must be at least 20-25 franchise centers in the NHL in that case.

Doubt Johnston is going to get traded but every time there is a good (not franchise center level for sure) player like Wyatt Johnston mentioned the reaction from some quarters is “the Flames players suck ass, would you trade for that”. Christ, Johnston is not even in the top 20 centers in the NHL right now, he cannot be worth a Lindros style package can he.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Johnston is not a franchise C. If they trade Johnston they can keep Robertson and and make room for Bourque who is cost controlled. They still have Hintz, Seguin, Duchesne, and Bourque down the middle.

Wrong wording I guess. Flames #1 C.

Would you make that trade??

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

2 words. Cap floor.

Just so we can put this one to bed for the rest of the off-season:

The cap floor for this upcoming season is $70 million or so. Currently, the Flames are sitting at $66M with a few notable RFA contracts to hand out (Frost, Bahl, Zary) which will undoubtedly get them over the cap floor. They are likely to find a back up goalie and a few other depth players as UFAs, but I don't see them more active than that.

The problem is that you have quite a few players that the Flames want to try out at the NHL level soon who are on ELCs (Parekh, Brusztewicz, Morin Gridin, Honzek, Stromgren, Suniev etc.), and you can't pay more than a certain amount on those contracts, so you need some bigger, bloated contracts to offset the difference and make the cap floor.

If you take away Huberdeau's $10 million, they are suddenly struggling to make the cap floor. Add in that he has become an important player in the locker room and culture of the team, and a good mentor to younger players, and you're starting to rip the heart out of what made this team so good last year. The other key guys that probably need to stay for this season are Weegar, Backlund, and Coleman. You need that leadership in place until the younger guys are ready to take over the team. They're not ready yet, and taking away too many of these veterans that help you reach the cap floor will undercut their development.

I get that everyone is excited for a full tear down rebuild, but I think that you can expect to see Huberdeau and Weegar play out their full contracts during that rebuild.

If you retain, that counts against your cap. So it’s not as daunting as it seems. Plus you sign ufas for one year (like we did Mantha, not suggesting we re-sign him but just as an example). Plus, there are teams that are cap stressed (internal cap or hard cap) so taking on money isn’t an issue.

Still think huby stays but if there’s any possibility to get out from underneath this contract, hope we do it. See who misses out on free agency and is desperate. Maybe, just maybe, an opportunity presents itself. We are due for some good luck.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Just to play devils advocate, and your point in a good one, but if the Flames are trading Huberdeau, the Flames are almost certainly taking a contract back, and it’s unlikely to be a light one.

Similar to Lucic-Neal, I’d bet any Huberdeau trade is going to have an element of problem for problem. Or, Flames are retaining a not-insignificant amount.

Huberdeau for picks/prospects wouldn’t happen. At least I don’t think so.

You're probably correct, but there aren't many $10M contracts around the league, so our cap is dropping no matter what. It's an issue in the short term while these young players are on ELCs. He's not going anywhere for a few years, especially with the cap floor going up.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Friedman in 32TP this morning saying he doesn't think Nurse is going anywhere.

I guess his contract isn't terrible at this point but I don't think they'd get a good enough return to make it worthwhile. I personally don't think he's a good dman - especially one needed in the final minutes to shut down things.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

Wrong wording I guess. Flames #1 C.

Would you make that trade??

If the Flames offered Andersson who had agreed to a long term extension and retained for His last year at 50% , Coleman at 50%, plus pick #18 and 32? Given that I had Dallas's roster and desperate needs for a RD and going for a Cup right now I absolutely would. It also allows me to retain Robertson. It probably would put them in the cup favourite spot. That's a hell of a haul for one centre, Eichel didn't even return that much.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Hard to say. There has been rumours in here that Byram has potential attitude issues, and for that reason- I lean towards no. You?

The only specifics around Byram’s ‘attitude problems’ are stories of him being kind of a cocky d-bag in junior. Which is probably a lot more common in guys who get drafted to the NHL than fans want to admit. I’ve never heard anything negative about his behaviour at the NHL level.

Having said that, I hope the Flames don’t spend big assets on Byram. With the prospects we have on the way no defence, there are other areas of the roster that need much more help.

[sch19lks]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

If the Flames offered Andersson who had agreed to a long term extension and retained for His last year at 50% , Coleman at 50%, plus pick #18 and 32? Given that I had Dallas's roster and desperate needs for a RD and going for a Cup right now I absolutely would. It also allows me to retain Robertson. It probably would put them in the cup favourite spot. That's a hell of a haul for one centre, Eichel didn't even return that much.

You’re massively underrating Wyatt Johnston

[CliffFletcher]

Almost no chance the Stars move Johnston. Contending teams don’t fix holes in their lineup by opening huge new holes that need to be filled. If Andersson is dealt to the Stars, the center piece of the return would likely be Bourque.

[Mitch]

Didnt Johnston just sign a longterm deal with Dallas? Discussing this feels like a moot point, they arent moving him.

[dammage79]

8x8.5 or something for Johnson.

[Royle9]

We don’t really know what Dallas is doing guys.
We know that they didn’t make it to where they want to be.
We know they have significant interest in Rasmus
We know that they covet him
We know Robertson their leading scorer could be on the move
I wouldn’t rule anything out with Dallas… they’re changing the team to try and push them over the edge to get to a cup final..
I’d argue anything’s on the table for the right price.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by sch19lks

You’re massively underrating Wyatt Johnston

You are massively overrating Wyatt Johnston.