2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by kehatch

That is true for some. But questioning a direction if fair. If we want to be competitive why are we carrying 20 mil in cap space and not improving the team. If we want to rebuild why aren't we waiting so long to trade expiring veterans and refusing to look at trading others, and in the market trying to take a big swing.

I appreciate Conroy has made future orientated moves. But it feels different, and that is acknowledged by virtually every hocky community othet then CP. Usually when a team is in a rebuild its open for business on anyone except a handful of future pieces.

I can appreciate why some like a more moderate approach. But wanting a clearer direction isn't a bad or uncommon take.

So far Andersson is the only miss for me but will have to judge when he is actually traded. Every other vet has enough trade protection to stop the burn it to the studs rebuild that a lot of people want. Decent chance the Flames follow the path of the Sharks retool/rebuild imo. Hopefully they get some luck with the lottery and some centres if they do

[Hackey]

The Monahan trade was still terrible. We lost a 1st rounder to Montreal and potentially another 1st to Winnipeg. All for Kadri who yes has been decent but so what? They still missed the playoffs every year he's been here, he won't be around when they're competitive, and all he's really done is hurt their draft position. Everything about that trade has worked against a rebuild/retool.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Hackey

The Monahan trade was still terrible. We lost a 1st rounder to Montreal and potentially another 1st to Winnipeg. All for Kadri who yes has been decent but so what? They still missed the playoffs every year he's been here, he won't be around when they're competitive, and all he's really done is hurt their draft position. Everything about that trade has worked against a rebuild/retool.

The summer of 22, worst ever Flames off season?

[PuckSlap]

This summer hasn't been the worst by any stretch of the imagination. But it has been a bit boring, and kinda disappointing. Not because a lack of stupid moves; but a lack of progress.

Sent from my SM-S938W using Tapatalk

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Who are these teams that have sold all their veterans? I follow hockey pretty closely and I cannot think of a single team that has actually done that in the salary cap era.

Buffalo and Arizona did it for better lottery odds for McDavid in 2015. Wouldn’t be shocked if Nashville and another team does the same for McKenna.

[Jiri Hrdina]

If Nashville was going to do it they would have started already

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

If Nashville was going to do it they would have started already

Plenty of time to shed the roster. Like my example mentioned, it can easily be done at the deadline.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Bonded

So far Andersson is the only miss for me but will have to judge when he is actually traded. Every other vet has enough trade protection to stop the burn it to the studs rebuild that a lot of people want. Decent chance the Flames follow the path of the Sharks retool/rebuild imo. Hopefully they get some luck with the lottery and some centres if they do

I don't see how our rebuild is similar to the Sharks at all. The Sharks completely tanked and drafted right at the top of the draft for multiple years.

The Flames have been mostly holding on to vets who make us too good to tank properly. Thus why we have been drafting near the middle of the draft instead of top 3. I know we ended up trading Lindholm and Hanifin after they said no to us, but for a Sharks type rebuild we would have traded a combination of Kadri / Coleman /Backlund / Andersson /Weegar by now.

The GM also came out and said we are trying to win and retool at the same time. Where the Sharks management have fully embraced a rebuild.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Who are these teams that have sold all their veterans? I follow hockey pretty closely and I cannot think of a single team that has actually done that in the salary cap era.

Chicago was clearly trying to get Bedard, trading the 40 goal scoring and fairly young Debrincat a year before that draft.

Of their top 9 scorers, they kept 3, Kane, Towes and Jones.

Besides Debrincat, Chicago let go Strome, Hagel, Kubalik, Dach and McCabe.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I don't see how our rebuild is similar to the Sharks at all. The Sharks completely tanked and drafted right at the top of the draft for multiple years.

The Flames have been mostly holding on to vets who make us too good to tank properly. Thus why we have been drafting near the middle of the draft instead of top 3. I know we ended up trading Lindholm and Hanifin after they said no to us, but for a Sharks type rebuild we would have traded a combination of Kadri / Coleman /Backlund / Andersson /Weegar by now.

The GM also came out and said we are trying to win and retool at the same time. Where the Sharks management have fully embraced a rebuild.

The Sharks did pretty much all of what you are complaining about and didn’t embrace a rebuild until their 4th season of missing the playoffs. The Flames are actually a little ahead of where San Jose was when they really fell apart.

They missed the playoffs for three years and were pumping out no rebuild stories to the media as well. They even traded away their 11th overall pick in 2022 for a late 1st and some seconds after picking 7th overall the previous year.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/02/...-be-a-surprise

Even when Grier was hired it was the same messaging as when Conroy got hired. Grier said the Sharks don’t need to rebuild in his hiring press conference.

https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-new-...uild-334813490

That’s why I don’t really care about what the media is saying about the team or whatever they decide to publicly call this iteration of the team. So far Conroy’s moves have been pointed towards a rebuild. This season might also be one where we see Andersson and Coleman moved with an outside chance Kadri moves as well.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I don't think he was good last year. Just based on my eye test. I don't know that he's near the same player he was just a couple years ago.

His actual metrics were what he's always been. Good play driving third line center that can't bury the chances he gets.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Plenty of time to shed the roster. Like my example mentioned, it can easily be done at the deadline.

How many of Josi, Forsberg, O'Reilly, Saros, Stamkos, Marchessault, and Skjei will be shedded by the deadline? Skjei and Stamkos are close to untraceable with their contracts. Seems more like they are hoping that Josi being healthy and bouncing back. That's a lot of higher priced veterans with term left on deals and two of their retention slots are already in use.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The Sharks did pretty much all of what you are complaining about and didn’t embrace a rebuild until their 4th season of missing the playoffs. The Flames are actually a little ahead of where San Jose was when they really fell apart.

They missed the playoffs for three years and were pumping out no rebuild stories to the media as well. They even traded away their 11th overall pick in 2022 for a late 1st and some seconds after picking 7th overall the previous year.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/02/...-be-a-surprise

Even when Grier was hired it was the same messaging as when Conroy got hired. Grier said the Sharks don’t need to rebuild in his hiring press conference.

https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-new-...uild-334813490

That’s why I don’t really care about what the media is saying about the team or whatever they decide to publicly call this iteration of the team. So far Conroy’s moves have been pointed towards a rebuild. This season might also be one where we see Andersson and Coleman moved with an outside chance Kadri moves as well.

Interesting that the player drafted 11th overall, Conor Geekie did not play for Arizona either as he was traded to Tampa as part of the deal for Mikhael Sergachev

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by kehatch

That is true for some. But questioning a direction if fair. If we want to be competitive why are we carrying 20 mil in cap space and not improving the team. If we want to rebuild why aren't we waiting so long to trade expiring veterans and refusing to look at trading others, and in the market trying to take a big swing.

I appreciate Conroy has made future orientated moves. But it feels different, and that is acknowledged by virtually every hocky community othet then CP. Usually when a team is in a rebuild its open for business on anyone except a handful of future pieces.

I can appreciate why some like a more moderate approach. But wanting a clearer direction isn't a bad or uncommon take.

The Flames are waiting no longer than any other rebuilding teams have done, and who says they are “refusing to look at trading others”.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

What context are you talking about? The invented reality Pepsi created that I am replying to? Please, tell me of this context that changes the reality of what I stated. Miller is a more valuable player than Kadri.

He’s referring to the fact Kadri plays on th Calgary Flames and Miller played for a much more offensive minded (and less defensive minded) team.

The last time Kadri played on an offensive team he had 87 points in 71 games. As a 2C.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Not the time to start moaning and complaining about the Monahan trade tree. It looks bad now, but it hasn't concluded yet folks.


It was Monahan + 16th for x-GP from Kadri + whatever the Flames get for Kadri at some point.


So, I will 100% agree that for a rebuilding team like the Flames to give the 16th overall pick this past draft to Montreal really sucked. I don't care we had 2 picks in the 1st round - many rebuilding teams pick 3 times, so why can't Calgary, right? In addition to Reschny and Potter, wouldn't the Flames be that much further ahead by adding someone like Aitcheson, Carbonneau, Horcoff? Or Even had one of the wildcard gambles with Ryker Lee, Mason West or even Wang? Judging by lack of movement of trading up, I don't think it would have been too expensive to move up, but it certainly would have been great to add another high-value prospect to the organization.


However, I would much rather had the 16th - 22nd (roughly) pick in 2026 than the 16th in this past draft. It is a deeper draft. So if Kadri ends up getting traded this year and gives the Flames that type of return, it moves the Monahan move to a 'win' in my mind. Maybe Kadri moves in 2027, and gets a mid-round pick then? Maybe he returns something a bit more valuable than a mid first round pick?



Point I am making is, that while i realize how absolutely sucky it was giving up the 16th overall pick this past draft, the full transaction is not yet concluded. You don't have Kadri as an asset to trade (plus the worth of his games played, the experience he helped provide to some of the young guys, and the excitement that he gave us thus far) if the Monahan trade didn't happen. It was a combo, and I will wait to see it out until the end before I conclude if it was a bad move or a good move.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The Sharks did pretty much all of what you are complaining about and didn’t embrace a rebuild until their 4th season of missing the playoffs. The Flames are actually a little ahead of where San Jose was when they really fell apart.

They missed the playoffs for three years and were pumping out no rebuild stories to the media as well. They even traded away their 11th overall pick in 2022 for a late 1st and some seconds after picking 7th overall the previous year.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/02/...-be-a-surprise

Even when Grier was hired it was the same messaging as when Conroy got hired. Grier said the Sharks don’t need to rebuild in his hiring press conference.

https://www.nhl.com/news/sharks-new-...uild-334813490

That’s why I don’t really care about what the media is saying about the team or whatever they decide to publicly call this iteration of the team. So far Conroy’s moves have been pointed towards a rebuild. This season might also be one where we see Andersson and Coleman moved with an outside chance Kadri moves as well.

Yeah, I think that is where I take a bit more of a qualm with the group that wants the Flames to tear it down. Most teams aren't able to just gut their roster in one season. The Sharks were bad for 3 seasons and lost out on a number 3 overall pick until they started moving out any veterans. Than it still took 3 seasons to move a lot of them out. They never could move Vlassic, or Couture either. The Flames are about to start year 3, and people are throwing out terms like Catastrophe and disaster.

Let's see who's still on the team when the 26-27 season starts before we get there.

[Monahammer]

The wait and see approach is fine, if we didn't already have one of the key ingredients in place and performing in the NHL. I am profoundly concerned that we are going to miss the boat on a successful Dustin Wolf because we didn't bottom out soon enough. We need a center and one other play driving/controlling top line forward before we are really built solid. Maybe we get one of the two out of our current prospect pool, but I don't see the other yet and that puts them 2-3 years out from making a difference if we draft them now.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Nope. They wanted to move Lucic. He blocked it.

From memory that was nothing more than conjecture at the time.

I think it's very obvious that both ownership and Sutter preferred to keep Lucic.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

From memory that was nothing more than conjecture at the time.

I think it's very obvious that both ownership and Sutter preferred to keep Lucic.

Since that time I've heard enough to confidently say they wanted to move Lucic. And he blocked it.