2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

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.

I still think they just go with the Canes package like Jiri mentioned as I doubt Weegar signs of Huberdeau was traded.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by 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.

The fan forums were much less unbalanced than Flames did surprisingly well. Media was probably more balanced but they also had the Flames as cup favorites going into the season after that trade.

I thought the Flames had bought themselves a couple deep runs myself and then it imploded.

[SuperMatt18]

Honestly if the options were:

Necas + Pesce + 1st

or

Huberdeau + Weegar + 1st

Then it's tough to say the Flames made the wrong decision even with the benefit of hindsight.

Because really if they were going down the re-build route then taking the Florida package, but flipping Huberdeau probably still would have been the best re-build option too. Huberdeau would have held a lot more value than Necas at that point in time.

[dino7c]

Also, Oilers might have a cup if they didn't do it and that breaks any tie for me lol

Tkachuk did F all in the final the first time but this year he had a few big goals, cup winner which is hilarious anytime an Oiler fan pipes up about destroying the Flames franchise

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Honestly if the options were:

Necas + Pesce + 1st

or

Huberdeau + Weegar + 1st

Then it's tough to say the Flames made the wrong decision even with the benefit of hindsight.

Because really if they were going down the re-build route then taking the Florida package, but flipping Huberdeau probably still would have been the best re-build option too. Huberdeau would have held a lot more value than Necas at that point in time.

It’s interesting for sure as that Carolina package was probably better to compete with. Really hard to peg down what Huberdeau and Weegar would have got at the time. If it’s closer to the standard deadline return then the Carolina package is still probably better. Although then Kadri might not sign.

The hype around Huberdeau’s signing was huge as well. What a rug pull that was haha.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Also, Oilers might have a cup if they didn't do it and that breaks any tie for me lol

lol that’s a fair point

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Honestly if the options were:

Necas + Pesce + 1st

or

Huberdeau + Weegar + 1st

Then it's tough to say the Flames made the wrong decision even with the benefit of hindsight.

Because really if they were going down the re-build route then taking the Florida package, but flipping Huberdeau probably still would have been the best re-build option too. Huberdeau would have held a lot more value than Necas at that point in time.

Yeah I don't disagree. And I think we sometimes forget how damn good Weegar is.

There isn't nearly as much detail out there re. the Canes supposed offer compared to the Blues one, which is known.

Just that it was Necas and more of a futures deal.

So perhaps there wasn't even a dman in there. We can assume Necas+1st. So then perhaps another pick on top (2nd?) or a prospect?

I'm surprised years later that's never fully leaked out.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Also, Oilers might have a cup if they didn't do it and that breaks any tie for me lol

Tkachuk did F all in the final the first time but this year he had a few big goals, cup winner which is hilarious anytime an Oiler fan pipes up about destroying the Flames franchise

I've said it before, but I find the dominos of that Flames/Oilers BOA to be fascinating.

The Oilers ended those Flames. If the Flames get through, maybe Tkachuk and Johnny are more motivated to stay. But instead the team breaks apart completely.

But in doing so, Tkachuk goes to Florida which becomes the team that prevents the Oilers from winning it all. Not once. But twice.

It's just a fascinating series of dominoes. That series had massive implications for several franchises.

[kehatch]

I wonder if waivers will be a factor this year. Looking at just waiver eligible players we have 4 extra forwards, 3 extra D, and 1 extra goalie. That is with 13F, 7D, 2G so they can keep one extra. But it doesnt consider waiver free players like Parekh, Honzek, Brzustewicz, etc that might make the team and bump a player to waivers.

Most of the players should clear waivers without too much worry. But a few interesting names include Klapka, Kirkland, Morton, Kuznetsov, etc.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Wasn't there a juicy rumour that NJ offered the 2OA pick for Tkachuk? Logan Cooley would look pretty sweet in the flaming C.

[Niemo]

I remember that.....F....

[Jiri Hrdina]

No I don’t remember that and nj wasn’t one of the teams tkachuk would go to

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Hockey-and_stuff

Wasn't there a juicy rumour that NJ offered the 2OA pick for Tkachuk? Logan Cooley would look pretty sweet in the flaming C.

I dont recall that.

[getbak]

The draft was two weeks before the trade, so if it was offered, it would either have been Nemec after the draft, or it would have been before the draft when the expectation was still that Johnny and Tkachuk would re-sign.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Honestly if the options were:

Necas + Pesce + 1st

or

Huberdeau + Weegar + 1st

Then it's tough to say the Flames made the wrong decision even with the benefit of hindsight.

Because really if they were going down the re-build route then taking the Florida package, but flipping Huberdeau probably still would have been the best re-build option too. Huberdeau would have held a lot more value than Necas at that point in time.

The Canes package was apparently futures-based. I doubt it included anyone from their roster besides Necas. Probably a prospect like Morrow or Blake.

[GullFoss]

Tkachuk trade was 10/10. Stopped oilers from winning two cups.

[GioforPM]

In fact, had Tkachuk signed the “long term” RFA deal people complain Treliving didn’t get, he’d still be gone by now. It would have been 6 years max and he’d be a UFA now. Or probably traded a year ago when it would have been clear he wouldn’t extend. Because there’s no way Tkachuk was staying in Calgary well into UFA years.

[kehatch]

Its funny how the board shifts. For years the wizard could do no wrong. Now he is public enemy number one and any criticism of Conroy turns into eye rolls. In reality, they are both great but imperfect GMs.

I really appreciated Treliving's ability to make things happen. But he was a bit wasteful at times. He was also a bit of a gambler and it didnt alway pay out.

Conroy is a great drafting and development GM, and he seems to be able to find off the radar players for value. He doesn’t seem to have Brad's ability to make things happen though, maybe a bit to patient at times.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Tkachuk trade was 10/10. Stopped oilers from winning two cups.

That to me is the silver lining and not a 10/10. End of the day the return on paper was amazing considering the circumstance. Stroke of brilliance from Zito and a ballsy move to put the type of talent on the table that he did.

Felt like the Flames had no choice but to sign Huberdeau and Weegar with how shell shocked the fanbase was after Johnny walking and Chucky saying he wouldn’t stay.

Too difficult to speculate on what would have happened had they took the Canes deal instead. Necas would be a nice piece to build around but would he have signed here long term? Does Kadri sign here if we don’t have Huberdeau? What happens with Monahan? Too many unknowns.

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Tkachuk trade was 10/10. Stopped oilers from winning two cups.

Agree. I would've been okay trading Tkachuk and Bennett to the Panthers for just Future Considerations if I knew they would prevent the Oilers from winning a Stanley Cup. Twice.

Would do it again in a heartbeat. Totally worth it