2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I doubt Backlund will have a lot of interest being 37 before the season is over......

Whether he has any interest being 37 before the season is over, he's going to be 37.

That's how aging works.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ya, let's see what he looks like this year. As I said the numbers may say one thing but the game footage says something else. At his age it starts dropping off fast. I just don't see a 1st but who knows.

Or stats say one thing and my personal bias says another?

Backund is two things every season.

1. Elite play driver that is always in position
2. A complete inability to finish

If you focus on #2 you think he's a fourth line player. If you dig into the reality of #1 he's a valuable piece.

[Niemo]

I dont think we get a 1st unless Backlund plays at a high level this year AND rental prices are high like last year.

More likely scenario is 2nd + conditional 3rd IMO.

[Ped]

Backlund is exactly the kind of guy contenders target. He should get a 1st, even if it's a late one, and might get more if there are multiple bidders.

[Niemo]

I know that we all like our own players and leaders, but at 37 and without a real playoff success record, I don't think he gets a 1st. I don't recall Backlund or really any of our current guys having elevated their play in the POs other than Kadri (and not for us). If the market is slim pickings, it may not matter, but i don't see 37 yr old rental Backlund being a premium asset despite playing the premium position.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Ped

Backlund is exactly the kind of guy contenders target. He should get a 1st, even if it's a late one, and might get more if there are multiple bidders.

I don’t see it at all. Who is a comparable player that got a 1st at the deadline?

I think he gets a 2nd and maybe a small add

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I don’t see it at all. Who is a comparable player that got a 1st at the deadline?

I think he gets a 2nd and maybe a small add

Foligno? Palmieri? O'Reilly?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Or stats say one thing and my personal bias says another?

Backund is two things every season.

1. Elite play driver that is always in position
2. A complete inability to finish

If you focus on #2 you think he's a fourth line player. If you dig into the reality of #1 he's a valuable piece.

No personal bias at all. I don't dislike Backlund but rewatching games during the summer he has definitely took a step back defensively. I don't give a F what the stat sheets say, numbers don't mean everything.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Foligno? Palmieri? O'Reilly?

So no real comparables? Backlund is the second oldest of the list there and none of those guys return a first in a trade today. Backs at 37 is not likely to get a 1st in the return.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

So no real comparables? Backlund is the second oldest of the list there and none of those guys return a first in a trade today. Backs at 37 is not likely to get a 1st in the return.

So you wanted an exact example of a 37 year old?

All of them were 30+ with probably way more mileage than Backlund. And ROR, for example was way less productive offfesnively at the time.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No personal bias at all. I don't dislike Backlund but rewatching games during the summer he has definitely took a step back defensively. I don't give a F what the stat sheets say, numbers don't mean everything.

I think it's fair to say he's taken a step back, as he is an elite defensive forward but not at the level he was three years ago.

But he's still the best defensive center the Flames (and many teams) have at isn't the fourth line guy until he slides quite a bit further.

But I'd suggest the numbers mean a heck of a lot more than the eye test from a guy that has always articulated a watered down view of Backlund's talents.

[PepsiFree]

Age is totally irrelevant to the type of trade that Backlund would be involved in (to a contender where picks are less valued). All that matters is if he’s still a legitimate bottom six shutdown center at the time of the trade.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

No personal bias at all. I don't dislike Backlund but rewatching games during the summer he has definitely took a step back defensively. I don't give a F what the stat sheets say, numbers don't mean everything.

This is what I think as well. It is crazy to me that he has good advanced stats.

He looked awful last year compared to his usual level. I really don't think there is any world we get a 1st for him.

[FleeceGang]

Originally Posted by Niemo

I dont think we get a 1st unless Backlund plays at a high level this year AND rental prices are high like last year.

More likely scenario is 2nd + conditional 3rd IMO.

Marchand is 37 and was traded for a conditional 2027 2nd which turned into a 2027 first as the conditions were met. Backlund is a Center which is more valuable, he plays against the top competition, and at 50% retained is $1mil less on the books than Marchand is.

You could go back and forth regarding "winning pedigree" and "position played" and "payer attitude/intensity" all day but I see that trade as relatively comparable. But instead of Brad saying "I'm going to Florida, trade me" Backlund may have more of a bidding war for him.

Conclusion, a First is a reasonable price for Backs, and is not that hard to rationalize.

[Jaydee]

just send Backlund to Florida already

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by FleeceGang

Marchand is 37 and was traded for a conditional 2027 2nd which turned into a 2027 first as the conditions were met. Backlund is a Center which is more valuable, he plays against the top competition, and at 50% retained is $1mil less on the books than Marchand is.

You could go back and forth regarding "winning pedigree" and "position played" and "payer attitude/intensity" all day but I see that trade as relatively comparable. But instead of Brad saying "I'm going to Florida, trade me" Backlund may have more of a bidding war for him.

Conclusion, a First is a reasonable price for Backs, and is not that hard to rationalize.

Except Marchand is still a really, really good player. He was almost a point per game when he got traded still.

Backlund is a fine player, but has never been near the level of Marchand. And he is pretty washed now based on the eye test last year.

I don't see a 1st round pick for him at all.

[getbak]

I'd expect a Backlund trade to return something similar to what Glencross got.

[D as in David]

His torn oblique might have had some impact on posters' opinion of his play this past season.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't think Backlund is going to move at all, but if he does, the Marchand comp is a bad one. Marchand wanted ONE team to go to, and Boston sent him there. You can't peg values based on trades like this.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

So you wanted an exact example of a 37 year old?

All of them were 30+ with probably way more mileage than Backlund. And ROR, for example was way less productive offfesnively at the time.

A 30+ forward is not comparable to a 37. RoR was 31 when dealt to the Leafs and his numbers have always been better than Backlund. The season before he was traded his totals were more than Backlund’s career high. He also has the playoff performer and conn smythe pedigree on his resume.

There is no comparable for a 37 year old middle 6 center to acquire a 1st round pick in a deadline deal. 2nd is doable if Backs has another strong season.