2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Harry Lime]

The Jackets rebuilt their bottom six in the offseason. Unless you could somehow sell them on Farabee for Chinakhov, they would be looking for a top six upgrade, and there is no way I would give up someone like Zary for him.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

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.

Yes, the Flames need skill and Robertson would be a major talent upgrade. I do like the player, but he won't be as effective here without highly talented centers that drive play like in Dallas. I could easily see his point totals and overall play taking a hit in Calgary with a good, not great supporting cast down the middle.

He's also at the age where he's not exactly very young like you say either and will be owed a ton of money. He'd be slowing down at the point where the Flames just might be contending if all goes well in 2-3 seasons (if and when they do finally find that top end center) and likely not living up to a massive contract. Pass for me and its a hard pass on this one....the Flames absolutely need to find someone like MacTavish in terms of profile and position who can break out as a top line C before they start looking at adding guys like Robertson.

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

Are people penciling Zary in at C or Wing?

Wing, Zary isn't a good enough skater to play C full time.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Yes, the Flames need skill and Robertson would be a major talent upgrade. I do like the player, but he won't be as effective here without highly talented centers that drive play like in Dallas. I could easily see his point totals and overall play taking a hit in Calgary with a good, not great supporting cast down the middle.

He's also at the age where he's not exactly very young like you say either and will be owed a ton of money. He'd be slowing down at the point where the Flames just might be contending if all goes well in 2-3 seasons (if and when they do finally find that top end center) and likely not living up to a massive contract. Pass for me and its a hard pass on this one....the Flames absolutely need to find someone like MacTavish in terms of profile and position who can break out as a top line C before they start looking at adding guys like Robertson.

He's 25. I realize that's probably on the edge of a range they should be looking at, but I fear fans have become so age obsessed that we now see a guy who is 25 as being too old to acquire.

You'd be getting most of his peak career years.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Chinakov is interesting but who does he bump on RW?

Chinakov became Taiwankov to the BJs.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Yes, the Flames need skill and Robertson would be a major talent upgrade. I do like the player, but he won't be as effective here without highly talented centers that drive play like in Dallas. I could easily see his point totals and overall play taking a hit in Calgary with a good, not great supporting cast down the middle.

He's also at the age where he's not exactly very young like you say either and will be owed a ton of money. He'd be slowing down at the point where the Flames just might be contending if all goes well in 2-3 seasons (if and when they do finally find that top end center) and likely not living up to a massive contract. Pass for me and its a hard pass on this one....the Flames absolutely need to find someone like MacTavish in terms of profile and position who can break out as a top line C before they start looking at adding guys like Robertson.

Robertson is a mediocre skater. He can finish but his linemates have to do the heavy lifting.

[Funkhouser]

Chinakov for Sharongovich?

CBJ get a streaky winger with term.
CGY gets a streaky winger with potential.

I think I'd do it just to open a spot sooner on the wing for our prospects. Offload Chinakov at the deadline this season or next.

[Tbull8]

Don’t think Columbus would do that though

[dammage79]

I'd rather roll another season with Sharkbait. I like Chinakov but I like Sharangovich more. Don't think last year was his norm. I think he's a 30g guy when healthy. He'll be back this season to his old self barring any injury.

[Demetric]

Originally Posted by JTech780

Wing, Zary isn't a good enough skater to play C full time.

I disagree

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He's 25. I realize that's probably on the edge of a range they should be looking at, but I fear fans have become so age obsessed that we now see a guy who is 25 as being too old to acquire.

You'd be getting most of his peak career years.

Yep, Wolf turns 25 this season...better ship him out before its too late

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'd rather roll another season with Sharkbait. I like Chinakov but I like Sharangovich more. Don't think last year was his norm. I think he's a 30g guy when healthy. He'll be back this season to his old self barring any injury.

down the stretch he was looking like his 23/24 self

[Rhett44]

I would play Zary as winger as well. I feel like he has a lot of potential there. Not a huge fan of him as a center when he did play.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Demetric

I disagree

I have to disagree as well. Zary was a mediocre skater in junior, but he’s definitely one of our faster players now.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I have to disagree as well. Zary was a mediocre skater in junior, but he’s definitely one of our faster players now.

Not according to NHL edge he isn't. He has solid burst counts in the 18mph-20mph range, but his top speed is relatively low (and had just one burst over 22mph, with a below-average count in the 20-22 mph range).

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I have to disagree as well. Zary was a mediocre skater in junior, but he’s definitely one of our faster players now.

His top speed of 22.01mph puts him 9th amongst forwards on the current roster that played in the NHL last season.

His 20-22mph speed bursts per game was 0.78, that puts him 12th amongst forwards to play 20+ games last season.

His 18-20mph speed bursts per game was 7.44, which puts him 3rd behind Backlund and Frost.

So I would say he is an average skater, who has below average speed.

Either way he isn't a better a better center than Kadri, Frost or Backlund so I just don't see him playing center unless there is a trade or injuries.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Demetric

I disagree

Ok, who does he bump?

[Demetric]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ok, who does he bump?

Kadri
Frost
Zary
Backlund

is the 4 centers I would roll with and play the lines that are clicking on any given night

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by Demetric

Kadri
Frost
Zary
Backlund

is the 4 centers I would roll with and play the lines that are clicking on any given night

So Backlund, who averaged the 3rd most ice time amongst forwards last year is now a 4th line center? That’s not happening. Kadri, Backlund and Frost are locks as top 9 centers. So if Zary wants to play center he will end up being the 4th line center playing around 10 mins a night. That’s not happening either so he will play wing where he is best suited.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

Not according to NHL edge he isn't. He has solid burst counts in the 18mph-20mph range, but his top speed is relatively low (and had just one burst over 22mph, with a below-average count in the 20-22 mph range).

Originally Posted by JTech780

His top speed of 22.01mph puts him 9th amongst forwards on the current roster that played in the NHL last season.

His 20-22mph speed bursts per game was 0.78, that puts him 12th amongst forwards to play 20+ games last season.

His 18-20mph speed bursts per game was 7.44, which puts him 3rd behind Backlund and Frost.

So I would say he is an average skater, who has below average speed.

Either way he isn't a better a better center than Kadri, Frost or Backlund so I just don't see him playing center unless there is a trade or injuries.

I still ain’t buying it. Perhaps his injuries dragged his numbers down this season, but he’s above average in the speed department, IMO.

Furthermore, I thought he was starting to look more and more solid when given looks at C, but there’s no room for him there unless the injury bug strikes.