2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Hoax by a Leafs fan

Of course it was! Thanks!

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

I should have been more clear, compete as in do damage in the playoffs, not as in limp into the second wild card and be fodder. Dropping Huberdeau and his negative compete level would help with the first one.

I sincerely have to question whether you and I watched different games when you say Huberdeau has a negative compete level. He had a terrific season, did everything that was asked of him, went to the dirty areas and was maybe Calgary’s best net-front presence. He converted his game from finesse to a semi-power forward and has done an admirable job in doing so.

I respect the heck out of what he’s managed to accomplish since coming here. After a tough start, he’s become one of my favourite players on the team.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I sincerely have to question whether you and I watched different games when you say Huberdeau has a negative compete level. He had a terrific season, did everything that was asked of him, went to the dirty areas and was maybe Calgary’s best net-front presence. He converted his game from finesse to a semi-power forward and has done an admirable job in doing so.

I respect the heck out of what he’s managed to accomplish since coming here. After a tough start, he’s become one of my favourite players on the team.

I agree, I was always on Hubby, and while he still has an unmovable contract, he's as good as it gets on Calagry.

He competes very hard, never mails it in, and has becomes the best version of himself he can be.

While his 62 points were about 8 more over his average of his first two seasons, that doesn't begin to show how much he improved from those seasons.

[Roko]

I still wonder about a Kadri to the Leafs trade. Feel like Cowan would need to be part of the return. Obviously Naz would have to want to go but Leafs need a dawg

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Roko

I still wonder about a Kadri to the Leafs trade. Feel like Cowan would need to be part of the return. Obviously Naz would have to want to go but Leafs need a dawg

Other than Cowan, they don't really have the assets. Unless they're giving up a 2028 1st (the Treliving special) and Roy or something.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I sincerely have to question whether you and I watched different games when you say Huberdeau has a negative compete level. He had a terrific season, did everything that was asked of him, went to the dirty areas and was maybe Calgary’s best net-front presence. He converted his game from finesse to a semi-power forward and has done an admirable job in doing so.

I respect the heck out of what he’s managed to accomplish since coming here. After a tough start, he’s become one of my favourite players on the team.

And that shows the State the team is in. Huberdeau has one of the worst contracts in the league. He is a shell of the player he was once the pressure was on. I would bet his play drops again this upcoming season.

[Hackey]

And he's signed for 6 more years. If there is any chance of moving that contract you take it and run.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by memphusk

And that shows the State the team is in. Huberdeau has one of the worst contracts in the league. He is a shell of the player he was once the pressure was on. I would bet his play drops again this upcoming season.

I’m not sure what this means.

When was the pressure ‘on’? Sure, Calgary is a Canadian market, but I would have to say it is pretty mild comparatively speaking. The Flames have no where near the scrutiny Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver does. I’d say Edmonton faces more as well. The only two markets that might be friendlier are Winnipeg and Ottawa.

Are you talking about pressure from within the organization? Do the Flames want to win more than the Panthers? I’d be hard pressed to understand that argument.

The pressure he puts on himself, maybe?

[memphusk]

The pressure was on as soon he signed that contract. The pressure was on as soon as he signed with a Canadian team. It's weird that you didn't see that.

[VilleN]

I really don't think it had anything to do with pressure. It was a style of play issue IMO - Florida played a run and gun style which suited Huberdeau's game. He's really had to adapt his game to a different style that doesn't really play to his strengths.

[bluejays]

I wonder what Dis said regarding McDavid, if this year the Leafs will just get by with tinker deals here and there. IF McDavid is part of the plan (which seems crazy risking your future on a whatif), then perhaps they just get by this year with expiring contracts to go for it a year from now. Makes me further wonder if Kadri would be in the works a year from now when a year ticks off his contract. Would certainly change the Leafs fortunes to have a different identity a year from now.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am 100% convinced that Huberdeau would have experienced a drop-off in his points had he stayed in Florida, though probably not by as much as he experienced here in Calgary. Florida changed their systems and style of play. He would have had more familiarity and comfort with the existing players, as well as not having such a change in lifestyle, but I do think he was going to have a large drop-off in points.


Yes, Huberdeau's contract isn't great, but I love the guy. I don't think he ever really stopped competing, even during that first miserable season here for him. He also never shied away from the cameras and made himself available constantly, never once blamed the team, the systems, the coach or his teammates and took 100% responsibility instead. Now he has found a way to be a very effective player. Bloated contract? Sure, but it isn't nearly as bad as it once was, and he does so much more on the ice in every zone now too that doesn't show up on the counting stats.


It is really hard not to cheer for him. Everybody loves a redemption story, and I really believe that Huberdeau has redeemed himself here. Zero complaints about the guy. I have him as the next team captain too for reinventing himself, holding himself accountable, being a leader on the team and just bearing down.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I'm not actually frustrated in any way.

I'm intrigued to see how Conroy gets himself out of this boondongle. My biggest point of criticism of the organization has always been the reactive nature of their management.

I really want to see some proactive execution. The fact that the Flames have a more clear understanding of Andersson's contract situation shows Conroy has done better than he did with Hanifin in my eyes. He now just needs to turn that into action.

As Royle notes, this happening again with Andersson does show the Flames need to be more serious with trade interest on veterans that don't necessarily fit the window we're targeting (like Coleman now, like Andersson this past season).

Get out ahead of stuff and be aggressive, that's what I'm hoping we see from Conroy during his 3rd year at the helm.

If I were to provide a weak analogy of Conroy's time as GM:

Year 1: Played on his heels. He intherited a miss, and everything was reactionary.
Year 2: Flat footed. He did pretty much nothing of consequence. Even the Farabee/Frost was a fairly stationary move (young player, cap dump, and future out - underperforming mid-20s players in and they underperform). We definitely heard he wanted it to be a more stable year, and it was that - and the results spoke to that. Mushy middle finish, mushy middle draft position - not the best outcome by his own account.
Year 3: I'm hoping he's on his toes and dictating the play a lot more.

It's cool to watch Conroy's performance as a GM, because there's so much goodwill built up with the man himself in this city that we're all rooting for him. We as a fanbase and city love this guy. I'm hoping we see a more aggressive, focused Conroy here in year 3.

And I think it very possible that teams on the wrong side of this new balance will have to develop GMs that think way outside the box.

Could mean trading assets sooner as some have suggested.

Could mean internal valuations and assessments that are complexly dispassionate and move players even if they fit the window (offer too good to pass up).

But with NTCs affecting the ability to move players, bring in players, sign players, and trade for players ... the GM job in Calgary and probably 6 other markets has become a much more difficult position than in the other 25 markets.

They likely can't afford to treat players like family and should be up front with that with all their assets.

The Flames could be entering a very real two tiered era where they are heavily disadvantaged (with the other 6 teams). You can stem that if you get a generational player, but the compete every year model may need to go the way of the Do Do bird.

To me that doesn't mean scorched Earth as I think that creates problems and holes that can be tough to get out of. But asset management needs to be king going forward.

[traptor]

I cant wait until Huberdeaus contract is up and that chapter is closed for good.


What an embarrassment on this organization.



The low-light of my four decades of Fandom.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by traptor

I cant wait until Huberdeaus contract is up and that chapter is closed for good.


What an embarrassment on this organization.



The low-light of my four decades of Fandom.

Doesn't the response from fans above at least make you wonder if you're seeing things through a lens?

[really?]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Doesn't the response from fans above at least make you wonder if you're seeing things through a lens?

As fans we don’t have to love the guy or think the contract is a good deal, but I’d be hard pressed to say he hasn’t been a good soldier or failed to give a consistent effort which his teammates respect. If we change the name from Huberdeau to Neal, I would share the sentiments, but Huberdeau doesn’t raise my blood pressure.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by really?

As fans we don’t have to love the guy or think the contract is a good deal, but I’d be hard pressed to say he hasn’t been a good soldier or failed to give a consistent effort which his teammates respect. If we change the name from Huberdeau to Neal, I would share the sentiments, but Huberdeau doesn’t raise my blood pressure.

Huberdeau has always put his head down and worked to the best of his abilities. That's commendable. His abilities are limited without the right supporting cast though, which is tough for him and the fans. He's smart though, and knows the second he complains is the second the fans turn on him. He won't ever likely live up to his contract but if he tries fans won't turn on him.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by traptor

I cant wait until Huberdeaus contract is up and that chapter is closed for good.


What an embarrassment on this organization.



The low-light of my four decades of Fandom.

More than the Young Guns? Really?

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Boreal

Or they had a deal at the deadline that was cancelled by ownership.

Based on absolutely nothing.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

I should have been more clear, compete as in do damage in the playoffs, not as in limp into the second wild card and be fodder. Dropping Huberdeau and his negative compete level would help with the first one.

What is “negative compete level”?
I’ve seen Huberdeau work his ass off, and do all he was asked to do.