2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Vinny01]

Based on the 32 thoughts podcast it was clear the main target for Craig was a long term left shot partner likely for Weegar. It seems like they had a ton of interest in Hague and if he was willing to sign here that the Andersson deal would have got done. Second it seems like they were very interested in K’Andre Miller but the Hurricanes were aggressive and had an offer sheet ready to go and paid a big price to get the player and gave him a huge contract. Dreger confirmed the Flames were heavy in that mix and Miller could have been a Flame if the Hurricanes were successful in landing Bouchard but instead they got Miller. The Flames had a lot of interest in Ryan Lindgren but he chose Seattle. Lastly we hear the Byram rumors. While Byram and Cozens were ideal fits for the Flames they just do not have the pieces that Buffalo wants in return and they just can’t seem to come together on a deal.

Personally I am not disappointed these swings ended up being misses. I had hoped this offseason was going to be moving Andersson for futures, and maybe a Wolf extension. I will be pretty happy with the summer if we get an Andersson for 26 1st+2nd+ 1 year cap dump and maybe a prospect if they retain 50% as well and then signing Wolf to an 8x$9.5M deal and let’s roll into next season and see what happens.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Bad enough that the GM fired the coach. The same coach I said should have been fired earlier. But you told us Dallas was prime time just coasting along for the playoffs.

Fired almost entirely because of the handling of Oettinger

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Fired almost entirely because of the handling of Oettinger

It was the appropriate course of action I think. That was horrible.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Fired almost entirely because of the handling of Oettinger

Nill gave other reasons as well. He felt the team lacked after 4 nations. Which is what I was saying all along.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Major Major

Honestly why not especially if it's unprotected. What are we missing out on in that case if we had not decided to trade him earlier or extended. The Rasmus Andersson's of the world don't return multiple premium assets. No matter what career stage they are in or contract status.

What I don't get is we get the same response from so many posters that a 1st a couple years out isn't enough even though it could be a retool year for Dallas and a top 15 pick. People would rather get a late 1st in 2026.

Then the weeks leading up to the draft, all we hear is trade what ever we can to trade up. Imagine if we didn't need to as we had someone elses pick, and that team had an off year. It happens.

I also like spreading out the picks. We did well getting Reschny and Potter this year. We have a deep prospect pool and 2 1sts next draft. Maybe we will get lucky next draft and have 2 picks in the top 20 and 1 depending where the Flames finish, we could have 1 that is in the top 10.

Then we have 2 1sts in 2027, before the trade deadline even happens next season. If we are sellers, we will be in a very good spot.

[dissentowner]

There is nothing looking at Dallas's roster to make one think they will retool in 2027.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

There is nothing looking at Dallas's roster to make one think they will retool in 2027.

Give me your projections for the players I mentioned next contract?

Harley - current is $4 AAV
Robertson - current is $7.75 AAV
Ras - 50% RS is $2.25 AAV
Bischel - $900k

That is less than $15 mil for 4 guys that probably get over $30 mil

It gets worse next year for them and if they make moves to win this year, could get even worse.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

There is nothing looking at Dallas's roster to make one think they will retool in 2027.

Hintz -> 28
Duchene -> 34
Johnston -> 22
Faksa -> 31

Robertson -> 25
Benn -> 35
Beck -> 25
Steel -> 27

Rantanen -> 28
Seguin -> 33
Bourque -> 23
Blackwell -> 32

Lindell -> 31
Heiskanen -> 25
Harley -> 23
Lybushkin -> 32
Bischel -> 21
Lundqvist -> 24
Petrovic -> 33

Oettinger -> 26
DeSmith -> 33

Their core (2 centres, 2 wingers, 2 defenceman, 1 goalie) has an average age of 25.29 years old.

Dallas has done as good of a job as possible without being able to draft what I'd say is one of those key elite #1 centres, and their core is as age-perfect as possible to compete for the next half decade.

Can Johnston and Hintz do it down the middle? That's their biggest question. I'm with you, there's no re-tool on the horizon for them.

None of which is to say I'm against snagging assets years out. I think pulling future picks is a great strategy, and a good way to keep your prospect pool constantly healthy. Yeah, the league is volatile and there's a small chance they have a down year, as you're also watching the ebb and flow of other teams improving - but aside from the potential upside of the volatile league, it's just good to capture big assets whenever possible. A 2027 1st Round Pick would give the Flames four (!) straight years of drafting multiple times in the first round - and if the team is not going to get the drafting opportunties typically required to build a winner (top picks), then having more high end ammo (1st round picks) is the next best thing.

[Macho0978]

I would go for Hemming and #1 Dallas 27 for Ras.

Take Dumba, RS and that return is easily enough IMO

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I would go for Hemming and #1 Dallas 27 for Ras.

Take Dumba, RS and that return is easily enough IMO

That's effectively two 1st round picks, I'm not sure we have established Craig's ability to extract that level of return.

2027 1st + Bertucci + Dumba is closer to what Conroy has been able to extract from teams, and I think that'd be a fine way to go about it. It also gives Conroy the potential of extracting more value out of Dumba should 25/26 go wayward.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Conroy being aggressive for miller seeing what he went for is concerning. Sounds like they want to trade futures for byram as well.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Conroy being aggressive for miller seeing what he went for is concerning. Sounds like they want to trade futures for byram as well.

Conroy has been prioritizing mid 20 year olds over picks and prospects since the beginning. That isn't to say he hasn't also prioritized futures. But its been his main target in trades, and we have even seen him send out picks for those types of players.

I understand the appeal. These players help you both now and in the future. But I think the practical impact is the types of players you get are good enough to keep you in the middle but not good enough to make you a contender. I would prefer he focused on acquiring more picks to build the team properly through the draft.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That's effectively two 1st round picks, I'm not sure we have established Craig's ability to extract that level of return.

2027 1st + Bertucci + Dumba is closer to what Conroy has been able to extract from teams, and I think that'd be a fine way to go about it. It also gives Conroy the potential of extracting more value out of Dumba should 25/26 go wayward.

So you think that Conroy's trade history somehow lowers the value of Andersson's trade? Wow. That is absurd.

Even if that were true, Lindholm brought back a 1st, 4th, 2 3rds (and most people would value Brzustewicz higher than a 3rd), and Kuzmenko, who could be somewhere between a 3rd and 1st depending on how you value Frost and Farabee.

The Markstrom trade brought back a mid-1st round pick and Bahl is also better value than your proposal and there was a tiny market for Markstrom.

So, Conroy has shown that he can get significantly better than a late 1st, 2nd round prospect, and a cap dump with negative value while using your second of three retention slots for the year.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Wolven

So you think that Conroy's trade history somehow lowers the value of Andersson's trade? Wow. That is absurd.

Even if that were true, Lindholm brought back a 1st, 4th, 2 3rds (and most people would value Brzustewicz higher than a 3rd), and Kuzmenko, who could be somewhere between a 3rd and 1st depending on how you value Frost and Farabee.

The Markstrom trade brought back a mid-1st round pick and Bahl is also better value than your proposal and there was a tiny market for Markstrom.

So, Conroy has shown that he can get significantly better than a late 1st, 2nd round prospect, and a cap dump with negative value while using your second of three retention slots for the year.

No, I don't think it lowers Andersson's trade value. I think Conroy's ability to extract value from a player of Andersson's level is established though.

I think Lindholm, as a centre held more value than Andersson does.

I think Hanifin is the floor.

What I proposed is in between the two, and I think that's a fair assessment of the situation. It's in line with what Conroy has been able to acquire, and it's not an overvaluing of Andersson.

I don't believe Dumba has negative trade value, I think it's part of the trade. If Dallas wanted to outright dump Dumba, I think they could do so with a phone call.

[FusionX]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Conroy being aggressive for miller seeing what he went for is concerning. Sounds like they want to trade futures for byram as well.

I mean... the other way to look at it is Conroy obviously wasn't willing to pay what it cost to get him? The players we hear rumors about all fall within the plan that he's laid out, even publicly, so it shouldn't be a surprise to hear there's been offers/poking around.

I will admit I can sometimes go down the "what ifs," but willing to see how it all shakes out in the end.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Actions have consequences and here we are.

We got a 1st for Hanifin.

Maybe we can squeeze a 2nd as well.

What action has consequences? Like what are you even talking about, what is the alternative action that would not have consequences?

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

No, I don't think it lowers Andersson's trade value. I think Conroy's ability to extract value from a player of Andersson's level is established though.

I think Lindholm, as a centre held more value than Andersson does.

I think Hanifin is the floor.

What I proposed is in between the two, and I think that's a fair assessment of the situation. It's in line with what Conroy has been able to acquire, and it's not an overvaluing of Andersson.

I don't believe Dumba has negative trade value, I think it's part of the trade. If Dallas wanted to outright dump Dumba, I think they could do so with a phone call.

Dumba's 1 goal on 10 points for almost $4M would disagree with your assessment. Also, the Stars sub all insist he has negative value.

To put it into perspective: The Stars scratched him for the playoffs. He played 0 playoff games as they felt Bichsel and Petrovic were better options.

[stemit14]

My hope is that the focus is to just keep accumulating picks/prospects. That is more important than getting roster players in the 24-27 year old range IMO. The flames have multiple young players knocking on the door to become NHLers. Would like to see them given the opportunities. Keep it simple. Trade vets like Andersson, Coleman and Kadri if the offers are decent. I’d be fine with the following at this point:

Andersson (50% retained) for 1st (protected) + 2nd + 3rd
Coleman (50% retained) for conditional 1st/2nd (becomes a first if acquiring team makes it to the 3rd round)
Kadri for 1st (protected) + 2nd

Those are good returns considering how solid the flames have been at drafting lately. I’m fine with switching out some of those picks for good prospects but I would not worry about that holding things up.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by FusionX

I mean... the other way to look at it is Conroy obviously wasn't willing to pay what it cost to get him? The players we hear rumors about all fall within the plan that he's laid out, even publicly, so it shouldn't be a surprise to hear there's been offers/poking around.

I will admit I can sometimes go down the "what ifs," but willing to see how it all shakes out in the end.

It’s been stated calgary was the front runner for him until the Rangers got threatened with an offer sheet.

[stemit14]

Are there any teams with offer-sheet eligible players that are in a tough spot cap-wise right now? I’m looking for ones that would not cost more than a 2nd round pick in compensation but it would be enough for the targeted team to not be able to match (like the Oiler-Blues last year).

I’m wondering is there any quality out there that the flames could take advantage of.