2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Roko

Glad to see the GIFs were about the schedule release

Maybe the next set of Gifs will be the one that triggers a trade.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The Flames weren't at the end of a "long rebuild" in 14-15. They were in the middle of one, having finally just drafted top 4OA in 2014 and and 6OA the year before). I'd argue the Hamilton trade was a solid part of the rebuild attempt - to get a 22 year old future Norris trophy winner. It wasn't a misstep at all. There were others afterward.

Obviously they weren't at the end. But thr moves made suggested they believed they were as they transitioned to buyers. But the point wasn't to rehash the should have or should have not of the Hamilton trade. I was responding to the folks saying we wont be a Lottery team if we trade Andersson for Robertson. I dont think there is any certainty of that.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Multiple posters said "do not want" to that proposed deal...that is the real lol

There's a difference between ‘that deal is a bad value’ and ‘that deal is for something we don't need, let's save our assets for something more urgent’.

I'm not a fan of trading for Robertson, but for the second reason, not the first. If Conroy can somehow get Robertson for Andersson straight up, let him fill his boots.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The Flames weren't at the end of a "long rebuild" in 14-15. They were in the middle of one, having finally just drafted top 4OA in 2014 and and 6OA the year before). I'd argue the Hamilton trade was a solid part of the rebuild attempt - to get a 22 year old future Norris trophy winner. It wasn't a misstep at all. There were others afterward.

2 of their top players were 21 and 22. With Brodie and Gio in the mix 24 and 30 and the 4th overall pick 18 who made a huge impact in the playoffs.

2 of the guys looked like legit superstars with 1 turning into it.

Huge difference between that team and this.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

There's a difference between ‘that deal is a bad value’ and ‘that deal is for something we don't need, let's save our assets for something more urgent’.

I'm not a fan of trading for Robertson, but for the second reason, not the first. If Conroy can somehow get Robertson for Andersson straight up, let him fill his boots.

Some people cannot grasp this concept. Sure, if Colorado trades for Robertson, or someone right there in the cup contender mix, it would make sense. You trade for a scoring winger hoping they can take you to another level.

For a team like the Flames, at a start of a tear down, it really makes no sense. We are not one scoring winger away from being a contender. We need to be using assets to get a center if anything as well, not another winger.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

2 of their top players were 21 and 22. With Brodie and Gio in the mix 24 and 30 and the 4th overall pick 18 who made a huge impact in the playoffs.

2 of the guys looked like legit superstars with 1 turning into it.

Huge difference between that team and this.

That's because this is the beginning of a rebuild, not the middle.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Some people cannot grasp this concept. Sure, if Colorado trades for Robertson, or someone right there in the cup contender mix, it would make sense. You trade for a scoring winger hoping they can take you to another level.

For a team like the Flames, at a start of a tear down, it really makes no sense. We are not one scoring winger away from being a contender. We need to be using assets to get a center if anything as well, not another winger.

Here's the thing where I believe you're very wrong. The Flames are not at the start of a tear down. The start was Tkachuk/Gaudreau/Hanifin/Zadorov/Monahan/Lindholm/Markstrom. The only remaining core from that time is ....Backlund, Coleman and Andersson. That's it.

Kadri and Huberdeau are a part of the build up or if we are being generous, the stop gaps as they were brought in to replace part of that outgoing core.

No, the Flames are at the end of their tear down. So to see additions the likes of 25 year old PPG wingers is right in the wheelhouse.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Some people cannot grasp this concept. Sure, if Colorado trades for Robertson, or someone right there in the cup contender mix, it would make sense. You trade for a scoring winger hoping they can take you to another level.

For a team like the Flames, at a start of a tear down, it really makes no sense. We are not one scoring winger away from being a contender. We need to be using assets to get a center if anything as well, not another winger.

Rich coming from you.

The Flames need more skilled higher end talent. Top of the line players. It would be foolish to acquire ones that were aging but Robertson is very young.

The top centre position is the #1 need but that doesn't mean that you don't look to improve your team elsewhere.

And as much as you want them tearing down, that's not what they are doing. So no - they are not 'at the start of a tear down'.

I don't think Rasmus for Roberston is a realistic deal at all, but if it is, you do it because you both improve your team (much to your chagrin) and you reset the timeline on the asset. Moving forward, Robertson is a more valuable asset - to the Flames or as a trade chip.

There are all sorts of reasons why a Rasmus for Robertson deal would be good for this organization.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Wait....did Paulie get banned?

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dammage79

.here's the thing where I believe you're very wrong. The Flames are not at the start of a tear down. The start was Tkachuk/Gaudreau/Hanifin/Zadorov/Monahan/Lindholm/Markstrom. The only remaining core from that time is ....Backlund, Coleman and Andersson. That's it.

Kadri and Huberdeau are a part of the build up or if we are being generous, the stop gaps as they were brought in to replace part of that outgoing core.

No, the Flames are at the end of their tear down. So to see auditions the likes of 25 year old PPG wingers is right on the wheelhouse.

Tkachuk and Gaudreau left and we tried to bring in Huberdeau, Weegar and Kadri to replace them. That was not the start of a tear down.

It started last year after Lindholm and Hanifin said no to us (thank god). And it will continue when we trade Andersson, and hopefully Coleman and Kadri. Get the best assets we can for them and continue re building.

We thankfully got Zayne and Wolf. We need some help at forward now from the top part of the draft.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Wait....did Paulie get banned?

Noticed it before I responded, but I didn't see a bannable post. Unless it finally proved he was a sock puppet.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Wait....did Paulie get banned?

I hope not. I don't see anything bannable in his posts, regardless of some strong opinions he had.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Tkachuk and Gaudreau left and we tried to bring in Huberdeau, Weegar and Kadri to replace them. That was not the start of a tear down.

It started last year after Lindholm and Hanifin said no to us (thank god). And it will continue when we trade Andersson, and hopefully Coleman and Kadri. Get the best assets we can for them and continue re building.

We thankfully got Zayne and Wolf. We need some help at forward now from the top part of the draft.

Well that's what started the tear down, Gaudreau and Tkachuk leaving. Chiefly it was Gaudreaus departure that was the first domino to trigger what happened. There's a good chance that the exodus that did happen would not have of Gaudreau chose to stay. Hence, that was the start of the tear down. Not by choice either. I don't think the Flames ever once considered that as an option until Lindholm and Hanifin and Zads pulled the rip cord.

You're going to have to accept that the Flames organization. Have zero intent on sucking hard enough to land a top 3 pick. It's just not in their DNA.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Wait....did Paulie get banned?

The board just became a better place. I would like to sincerely thank the mods for pulling the trigger on that.

[memphusk]

Now it's like a game of clue, but opposite. Who does a Paulie walnut return as?

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Well that's what started the tear down, Gaudreau and Tkachuk leaving. Chiefly it was Gaudreaus departure that was the first domino to trigger what happened. There's a good chance that the exodus that did happen would not have of Gaudreau chose to stay. Hence, that was the start of the tear down. Not by choice either. I don't think the Flames ever once considered that as an option until Lindholm and Hanifin and Zads pulled the rip cord.

You're going to have to accept that the Flames organization. Have zero intent on sucking hard enough to land a top 3 pick. It's just not in their DNA.

But they were OK sucking hard enough for multiple 4-6th picks overall in the franchise history ?

I think the Flames thought /were prepared they would be a bottom 5 team last year . I’m not sure they don’t think the same this year ….

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

But they were OK sucking hard enough for multiple 4-6th picks overall in the franchise history ?

I think the Flames thought /were prepared they would be a bottom 5 team last year . I’m not sure they don’t think the same this year ….

The amount they spent in free agency is really tipping their hand that they are going for it...

[PaperBagger'14]

MOD EDIT: Removed inappropriate gif

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I hope not. I don't see anything bannable in his posts, regardless of some strong opinions he had.

Ok Paulie.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Well that's what started the tear down, Gaudreau and Tkachuk leaving. Chiefly it was Gaudreaus departure that was the first domino to trigger what happened. There's a good chance that the exodus that did happen would not have of Gaudreau chose to stay. Hence, that was the start of the tear down. Not by choice either. I don't think the Flames ever once considered that as an option until Lindholm and Hanifin and Zads pulled the rip cord.

You're going to have to accept that the Flames organization. Have zero intent on sucking hard enough to land a top 3 pick. It's just not in their DNA.

The retool was not triggered by Gaudreau or Tkachuk. It was the result of the roster for the 2022-23 season massively underperforming. Huberdeau in particular caused it to happen by playing so horribly that the team missed the playoffs. Honorable mention to Markstrom for his poor season as well.

Had that team.made the playoffs, there likely would not have been a UFA exodus the following season. Instead they missed the playoffs and then started super flat in the following season and immediately we saw the retool begin.