2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

HA I mean, you can't really stand by this position while also thinking Rasmus will get an "absolute haul" or however you last put it. C'mon.

lol wat. Andersson is 8 years younger. That is a huge difference.

People keep evaluating Andersson based on how he will play at the end of his next contract.. but that is potentially 9 years from now when he is essentially the same age Backlund is now.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

HA I mean, you can't really stand by this position while also thinking Rasmus will get an "absolute haul" or however you last put it. C'mon.

Really? How much does a young future 1st line C that was taken 3rd overall cost? Does a pending UFA D man and a young player that has been slowed down by injuries get you that? Now I did say you can get a good return for Andersson from a contending team and an agreement for an extension in place. Is that the Ducks? Also, as you used quotations on "absolute haul" can you show where I used that term? I mean you went out of your way here to try and pick a fight with me because...it's been a while and you are bored? Seeing if you can shake the ol tree and see if you can piss me off because I made it very clear I don't want to get into the personal crap anymore? Or are you that obtuse you would compare trading Andersson in a package to bring back a young #1 C to trading him to a contender desperate to full their RD position? What is it?

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Really? How much does a young future 1st line C that was taken 3rd overall cost? Does a pending UFA D man and a young player that has been slowed down by injuries get you that? Now I did say you can get a good return for Andersson from a contending team and an agreement for an extension in place. Is that the Ducks? Also, as you used quotations on "absolute haul" can you show where I used that term? I mean you went out of your way here to try and pick a fight with me because...it's been a while and you are bored? Seeing if you can shake the ol tree and see if you can piss me off because I made it very clear I don't want to get into the personal crap anymore? Or are you that obtuse you would compare trading Andersson in a package to bring back a young #1 C to trading him to a contender desperate to full their RD position? What is it?

Calm down. You're reading things that don't exist.

Rasmus will never have the value, alone or in a package, to bring back a #1C. Backlund probably has as much or more value to the right team, especially if Rasmus wont negotiate, as you're essentially trading for 1 year of each.

[Monahammer]

1 year of shutdown C with premier numbers who had some bad games last season vs 1 year of a middle 4 RD that has flashes of better but the numbers and multiple seasons show a lot of inconsistency... I think it's not a big gap in value.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

You can't just trade players to make a bare minimum lineup. You need options, even if some of those options start the year on the farm. No player on this team is untouchable except for maybe Wolf. But no player can be gifted a spot just because they are two years younger either.

Nobody has been gifted spots. But like most teams in a rebuild, the Flames have ensured there is space for young players that earn a spot. But with the additions of Frost and Farabee the roster is jammed with middle 6 players. Its going to be a lot harder for young guys to crack the roster this year.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

1 year of shutdown C with premier numbers who had some bad games last season vs 1 year of a middle 4 RD that has flashes of better but the numbers and multiple seasons show a lot of inconsistency... I think it's not a big gap in value.

Except your assessment of Andersson is way off base. The data doesn't support what you are saying about him and you are completely ignoring the current market for RD.

I have no problem with your defense of Backlund though. I think he would be a great add for any number of contenders looking to beat the Panthers next playoffs, if he wants to do that.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Backlund xGF% against the 12 elite players I listed was 59.26%

He will not be our 4th line center.

Kadri against the best of the best has a xGF% 42.18%

Someday Backlund can center the 4th line if he wants to stay a flame for his career and he will do a great job in that role.

Kadri is either a top 6 player or is someone you just don't want in that role. He has never played well against the best players.

You might be right that some guys can get demoted to the 4th line or some would clear waivers. But that will not happen. Honzek or any other young player that has a great camp and deserves a look will get sent down until Conroy makes a move to make room as they will not get a long-term 4th line look and they do not need to clear waivers.

Klapka is not being put on waivers.

I mean, it might happen. Silly to say it won’t.

I don’t know where Kirkland got this sudden reputation as an NHL untouchable that couldn’t possibly go through waivers but he’s a 29 year old with 30 NHL games to his name battling for the 12th forward spot with Adam Klapka.

I’m quite sure we’d be plenty happy with a 4th line of Honzek, Pospisil, Klapka if it came to it.

Maybe it’s time to rethink what the role of the 4th line is on this team and think a little bigger than NHL tweeners.

[The Cobra]

Backlund's value is easier to peg at the deadline, as he'll fetch the usual 1st from a contender plus stuff, assuming he's playing decently at that time. The stuff will vary a bit, depending on demand for his services and how well he is playing.

Andersson's value can vary quite a bit. If he's playing very well, and assuming no extension, he could fetch much more than just a first and some stuff. Or the stuff could be real stuff. He could be a real difference maker to the right team.

But his value should start at Backlund's high point.

[traptor]

Backlund as a rental in a contender is a 3c. Rasmums is a top 4 Rd.


I think even as pureental Rasmus is worth more.
The big premium for Rasmus is if you can get the 8 year signing too.




I think Backlund can return a 1st at the deadline but not much more.
But I also thought Tanev would fetch a 1st so...

[Rhett44]

I really don't think Backlund would get us a 1st at the deadline. Just my opinion, but he is old now and has really lost a few steps.

Maybe we get a 2nd for him.

[Heavy Jack]

Backlund continues to be underrated by his own fanbase after all these years; he quietly plays shutdown minutes against the games best players and isn’t caved in while doing so; he maybe lost a couple of assists last year but his 15 goals is right in line with his average of the last 6 years or so, all while being on a team that punched way above its weight last year and got snubbed out of a playoff spot because of a historic run by the blues down the stretch. If Backs does more of his same play this coming season and the flames do sell at the deadline I think he could command a 1st, shutdown centers who are good at faceoffs don’t grow on trees no matter their age, and though he likely commands the 2nd you elude to, if there’s an arms race going on its players like Backs that teams overpay for at the deadline.

He is getting older and this might be the first season where he does find himself in the bottom 6/3rd line role, but at any rate he’s been an absolute warrior for this team and Ill happily watch him provide more minutes for the Flames. His patented inside out deke is a thing of beauty.

[My2Cents]

Backlund is the exact type of players playoff teams pay big for at the deadline. Adds more defensive depth, plays center. He should return a really solid package at the deadline if they decide to move him.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Toast_Man

This Backlund talk has got me thinking.... Say the Flames are out of Playoff spot in March, what would be his trade value? His NMC changes to a M-NMC 15 team no trade list January 1st 2026.

What does that 0% for penalty kill mean?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Nobody has been gifted spots. But like most teams in a rebuild, the Flames have ensured there is space for young players that earn a spot. But with the additions of Frost and Farabee the roster is jammed with middle 6 players. Its going to be a lot harder for young guys to crack the roster this year.

No one has been gifted spots. But some posters want them to be.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

We're not talking about gifting spots. How many times do you see injuries and the player that get the call is a player that fills the role of the player that got hurt.

Lomberg or Kirkland get hurt...Hunt gets the call

Kadri or Huberdeau gets hurt...Honzek or Stromgren gets the call

You need quality 4th liners, but they also need to play their role. Lomberg plays hard, is a leader, hits and if he gets benched for the 3rd in a close game...he comes out hard again the next night. Young players who have potential just don't excel in this role.

Pospisil and Klapka can move up and down, but at some point, they need more ice to succeed. We have 11 top 9 forwards with a couple more knocking on the door

We have plenty of 4th line options like Lomberg, Morton, Ciona, Kirkland, Kerins (maybe top 9 potential but looking like a 4th liner at best). For a short stint, you could give some top 9 guys a spot in a pinch too.

It's really best to keep the 2 roles seperate when planning the team.

You act like this is a rebuttal to my comment, but it’s not.

[Harry Lime]

I'm not sure if players should be considered trade bait, based on where they slot.

The strategic move that the Flames could make is to not have lines based on traditional roles, but rather roll four lines with internal goals for each one. Run Kadri and Backund. The third line could eschew the shutdown role and be allowed to operate as the 'line 2' of the future, and the fourth line not be an energy line, but rather the 'line 1' of the future (or as much as that could be with a wrecking ball Lomberg on the line). Let Zary and a young winger play that line with the intention of learning defensive awareness whilst being creative (while not being punished for it).

Worst case scenario we screw up the season point totals, but the team as a whole has a great developmental year.

[Hackey]

Hopefully Backlund is having a strong season come deadline time. If so you might be able to land a 1st but even a 2nd is good.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I fully expect a team like Carolina to offer a very good package to grab Andersson AND Backlund at the deadline if we aren't in it, especially if we're out of it come the new year (when Backlund's NTC starts). And that's also assuming Andersson is still on the team. Keep in mind, Carolina's best RHD player is Sean Walker at the moment.

[FlamesAddiction]

I doubt Backlund will have a lot of interest being 37 before the season is over, and honestly, I'd be fine if he just retires as a Flame.

You never know though, some team my want a rangy veteran to do spot duty in the playoffs or for depth insurance.

[Rhett44]

I think Andersson will return at least a 1st and probably more still. You have to remember, he is a RHD which teams usually want. He also has the style of play that you would love for the playoffs.

Even though I personally think he is more ideal as a 2nd line dman, that is still something teams will be looking for at the deadline.

And again he is one of those players who I would love to keep if we were a contender. But it makes sense to trade when we are years away from that.