2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by traptor

I get what you're saying, but I think we'd all be surprised at how often there are gap, even in high-level professional organizations.

Just because it’s a billion-dollar business doesn’t mean every decision is airtight. Do you honestly look at every move GMs across the league make and think, “Yep, that’s a fully competent, well-thought-out decision”? Mistakes happen all the time, even from seasoned execs, which CC is not yet.

I get that this is "our" organization, and we want to assume the best and that every decision they made is optimal given the information they have but that's just not true. Professionals make mistakes all the time.

There are also other factors that I'm sure we typically don't consider or give much weight to, which they weigh much more heavily and we would probably disagree with. To add onto that, everyone has there biases. I'm sure there's internal disagreements all the time with what the best moves are.

You can disagree with the decisions, because we are talking about player evaluations here, which is far from an exact science.

But every organization has a TEAM of people involved in analyzing players and prospects and trades. All working full time. Assuming that the effort and expertise applied is random, and full of gaps, is just naive. They might get it wrong, but they put the effort into the decision.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Feels like a high likelihood this is a trade deadline item now no? 2/3 of the league seem like they are set for the year and aren't playing with a ton of cap space and it's pretty clear no one wants to pay Conroy's price. And the rest are bottom feeders who he won't want to sign with. Only scenario where it still happens seems like if someone gets badly hurt in the early part of the season and a team gets desperate.

If you are a team like the Jets, Stars, Avalanche, or Wild and there is a significant advantage to finishing first or second in your division why just wait until January or February to try and improve your team.

If Andersson will help their team to secure a higher seeding while keeping him off of a rivals team that you are competing with for the same spot, I would think that going into the season would be the smartest time to make a trade and add him.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You can disagree with the decisions, because we are talking about player evaluations here, which is far from an exact science.

But every organization has a TEAM of people involved in analyzing players and prospects and trades. All working full time. Assuming that the effort and expertise applied is random, and full of gaps, is just naive. They might get it wrong, but they put the effort into the decision.

Totally agree that player evaluation isn’t an exact science and yes, teams have full-time staff dedicated to it. No one’s saying it’s random or that no effort is put in.

But just because there’s a group of professionals behind a decision doesn’t mean the outcome is always well-informed or airtight. Organizations can fall into groupthink, be influenced by internal politics, or work with flawed assumptions. Effort and structure don’t guarantee clarity or success.

I’m not saying they’re winging it. I’m saying it’s still fair to question or discuss decisions, because expertise doesn’t make a process immune to mistakes or bias. That’s kind of the whole point of being a fan on a trade speculation forum. Engaging with the decisions and the reasoning behind them, even when we don't have all the context.

[Enoch Root]

"I hope they do a risk analysis"

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You can disagree with the decisions, because we are talking about player evaluations here, which is far from an exact science.

But every organization has a TEAM of people involved in analyzing players and prospects and trades. All working full time. Assuming that the effort and expertise applied is random, and full of gaps, is just naive. They might get it wrong, but they put the effort into the decision.

But you can also state your opinion, disagreeing with the approach (I don't disagree just yet) and still know that my opinion could end up being wrong and you don't think they are incompetent just because my opinion might end up being right.

If Ras is on the Flames come puck drop, I think that is a mistake. But I'm not going to boycott the team or bash CC, I will wait and see. I only care about the end result and maybe he gets 2 1sts at the deadline. Maybe not, but sometimes the crap returns can end up with very good results too. We will have to wait and see, but I want the deal done now. Does that mean trade him for a 4th...nope. I just assume in the absence of a source that says this is what the offer is, that the offer is still something quality even if it hasn't met CC's threshold.

I also think CC is playing hardball and will probably budge, maybe as teams bow out.

I also think CC has been great so far, I can think he is a top GM and disagree with him.

[Niemo]

Just take the 1st + 2nd and move on IMO. Not worth the wait/risk in squeezing out the additional 2nd.

*I'm just estimating the returns and using the scale to make a point. I have no info. I'm good with a singular unprotected 1st if that's all we got before puck drop-

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Niemo

Just take the 1st + 2nd and move on IMO. Not worth the wait/risk in squeezing out the additional 2nd.

*I'm just estimating the returns and using the scale to make a point. I have no info. I'm good with a singular unprotected 1st if that's all we got before puck drop-

Agreed. Kuznetsov was a 2020 top 50 pick in teh 2nd round. Only Faber has established himself to this point out of the 8 D selected in the 2nd.

Lohrei looks to be next. I think Kuznetsov has proven to be a solid pick so far, yet he has 1 career game.

2nds are great, but the shiny new toy isn't always better. Is Kuznetsov worth a 2nd now? Probably not, but good chance the 2nd we add isn't any better than he is. Ras out makes room for Soloyov or Kuznetsov to make the team and play reasonable minutes. Assuming Parekh makes the team and gets minutes too.

I get some will say, just bench Bean and Hanley. If you keep Ras, you need to play him 22-24 mins a game and on the PP to help him retain his trade value.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by traptor

I get what you're saying, but I think we'd all be surprised at how often there are gap, even in high-level professional organizations.

Just because it’s a billion-dollar business doesn’t mean every decision is airtight. Do you honestly look at every move GMs across the league make and think, “Yep, that’s a fully competent, well-thought-out decision”? Mistakes happen all the time, even from seasoned execs, which CC is not yet.

I get that this is "our" organization, and we want to assume the best and that every decision they made is optimal given the information they have but that's just not true. Professionals make mistakes all the time.

There are also other factors that I'm sure we typically don't consider or give much weight to, which they weigh much more heavily and we would probably disagree with. To add onto that, everyone has there biases. I'm sure there's internal disagreements all the time with what the best moves are.

Sure. I’m not saying everyone is perfect, but you do have to admit that if there are gaps, or mistakes, or misjudgements, the ones that fans make who aren’t in any of the rooms and, truthfully, don’t even know what goes into the job, are going to be far more frequent and far more obvious.

Like, so what if we don’t think it’s well thought out? How would we even begin to know what went into it?

I get what you’re saying, I just think the Dunning-Kruger effect runs a little too much of the show sometimes in these discussions, where we point out the obvious (even stuff we already know Conroy knows) with the presumption that he may not or wouldn’t know with really no reason to believe that.

He’s been an exec for what? 5-10 years? I think 90% of fans know there is risk of an injury that could derail plans for a player. Of course Conroy knows, it literally just happened with Mantha lol.

And the comment about him just losing Andersson in free agency when he’s specifically talked about how bad that is and how he won’t be going through it again (like he witnessed with Gaudreau).

Again, not saying we need to treat GMs like they’re perfect, but maybe some fan concerns would be calmed if we just listened to them and trusted they have the most obvious things covered, even though it’s more fun to believe we’re a bit wiser.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

If Ras is on the Flames come puck drop, I think that is a mistake.


.

Would agree, I have heard, Fan960 stating and having the same opinion

This opinion is with media as well.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by flambers

Would agree, I have heard, Fan960 stating and having the same opinion

This opinion is with media as well.

And Conroy might agree. A mistake that is probably not franchise altering either. Just a mistake that could be a win for CC if he gets a great deal at the deadline.

Kuznetsov is 24 in March, I just think he is the biggest winner internally if we trade Ras now. I'd like to see how that plays out too if the trade happens this summer. If he gets his crack and plays well, IMO that factors into the discussion for this trade.

[Calgary Highlander]

Kuzentsov is a LD.

The biggest winners if we trade Ras are Parekh (the door is wide open to be paired with Bahl on the second pair) and Pachal (gets to stay in the lineup and/or stay on the right side).

[LowellK21]

Some of you take this stuff way too seriously and way too personally.

"Gold jacket, green jacket... Who gives a ####".

The Flames will either trade Andersson or they won't. They're either sign him or they won't. Agree or disagree with any direction, but man alive, it's like some here believe Conroy is out to intentionally sabotage the Flames if he isn't doing exactly what you think they should be doing on the timeline you think it should be done.... There's a reason he is in the position he's in and we're here arguing about it all.

Relax, get some fresh air, come back in September and regroup. Lol.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Calgary Highlander

Kuzentsov is a LD.

The biggest winners if we trade Ras are Parekh (the door is wide open to be paired with Bahl on the second pair) and Pachal (gets to stay in the lineup and/or stay on the right side).

Pachal likely plays, who cares if he has to play his offside. He is likely a filler for the next year or so.

Kuznetsov wins because he had a chance to make the top 6.

Parekh is going to play, Ras here or not he is going to play. Playing with Bahl could be a risk though. Harder to shelter him.

[Bonded]

The Tkachuk trade is a great example of exec team making a decision in hockey that they were right and the general hockey world and many posters on here were wrong on. The Kadri sequence actually has turned out better than I expected and better than the Tkachuk trade. There’s still a decent chance the Flames can at least end up asset neutral from that trade.

[Calgary Highlander]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Pachal likely plays, who cares if he has to play his offside. He is likely a filler for the next year or so.

Kuznetsov wins because he had a chance to make the top 6.

Parekh is going to play, Ras here or not he is going to play. Playing with Bahl could be a risk though. Harder to shelter him.

The Flames coaching staff cares.

They have made a concerted effort to have lefties play LD and righties play RD.

I do think Kuznetsov/Solovyov/Cicek all have a good chance to make the top 6. All they have to do is knock off Jake Bean.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The Tkachuk trade is a great example of exec team making a decision in hockey that they were right and the general hockey world and many posters on here were wrong on. The Kadri sequence actually has turned out better than I expected and better than the Tkachuk trade. There’s still a decent chance the Flames can at least end up asset neutral from that trade.

Huberdeau, Weegar, Schwindt, Potter for Tkachuk who WOULDNT SIGN is still a good trade

The fact that Tkachuk is now on an all star team whos goalie did a 180 on his career doesn't change that.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Huberdeau, Weegar, Schwindt, Potter for Tkachuk who WOULDNT SIGN is still a good trade

The fact that Tkachuk is now on an all star team whos goalie did a 180 on his career doesn't change that.

The general consensus was the Flames destroyed the Panthers and with hindsight the Flames don’t do thay sequence again and the Panthers do imo. There were a whole lot of Tre is a wizard and Zito is an idiot posts in that thread.

Bennett was another one that was a little more split but I think a lot of people’s were meh and it was inconsequential.

Main point is that things happen that fans disagree with but it doesn’t necessarily speak to a gap in the decision making process.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I don't think it was the Flames destroyed the Panthers, it was more than the Flames did surprisingly well given the situation.
Moreover, I don't think it's a case that the Flames would do it again. Because they had to trade him. The Blues deal was god-awful: Tarasneko, 1st, Scandella.

The Canes deal reportedly included Necas and probably a 1st and maybe some sort of dman? So yes - they probably would do that one instead of the Florida one in retrospect.

Or they do the deal with Florida but then flip Huberdeau instead.

It's an interesting Butterfly Effect thing for sure.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The general consensus was the Flames destroyed the Panthers and with hindsight the Flames don’t do thay sequence again and the Panthers do imo. There were a whole lot of Tre is a wizard and Zito is an idiot posts in that thread.

Bennett was another one that was a little more split but I think a lot of people’s were meh and it was inconsequential.

Main point is that things happen that fans disagree with but it doesn’t necessarily speak to a gap in the decision making process.

With hindsight you still make that trade then flip Huberdeau before extending him.

Weegar is a top 15-20 defensemen in the NHL at the moment.

[Robbob]

It would have been interesting to see what the market would have been like for a UFA Huberdeau.