2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Ped

Kadri actually finished ahead of Hintz last year in the scoring race - same points but Kadri had more goals, although he played 6 more games.

Interestingly, Kadri led the league in wrist shot goals.

[Macindoc]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I don't think Robertson is refusing to sign an extension, the Stars simply don't like his demands.

Doubtful he signs one with Calgary unless it's a massive overpay.

Don't like his demands, or can't fit his demands into their projections of the team's cap structure. This is a problem the Flames don't have.

[GullFoss]

Do you think wingers tend to age more poorly than centers? Like is a centers game more hockey sense and less explosive speed/shot, so they can adapt better as they age?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Do you think wingers tend to age more poorly than centers? Like is a centers game more hockey sense and less explosive speed/shot, so they can adapt better as they age?

Yes, unless they have two way ability. Offensive ability seems to trend down sooner than defensive ability (which itself peaks later). So if you don’t have any, you just become a less effective player overall.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Yes, unless they have two way ability. Offensive ability seems to trend down sooner than defensive ability (which itself peaks later). So if you don’t have any, you just become a less effective player overall.

Does this mean all else equal, signing UFA wingers is likely to turn into a regret vs signing UFAs at other positions? UFAs like Brouwer, Neal, Huberdeau come to mind. Hard to find similar examples at other positions for the flames.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

Don't like his demands, or can't fit his demands into their projections of the team's cap structure. This is a problem the Flames don't have.

If the Stars cannot fit Robertson into the salary structure, they'll need to look at Anderson as a rental, as they won't be able to fir Andersson onto their salary structure.

They certainly aren't going to trade Robertson for a rental. They would look for a young dman who is still somewhat cheap.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

If the Stars cannot fit Robertson into the salary structure, they'll need to look at Anderson as a rental, as they won't be able to fir Andersson onto their salary structure.

They certainly aren't going to trade Robertson for a rental. They would look for a young dman who is still somewhat cheap.

Robertson is gonna make a lot more than Andersson

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Does this mean all else equal, signing UFA wingers is likely to turn into a regret vs signing UFAs at other positions? UFAs like Brouwer, Neal, Huberdeau come to mind. Hard to find similar examples at other positions for the flames.

On the flip side of what I said, there’s a lot more guys who can play effective defensively than those who can put up elite offense.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I don't think Robertson is refusing to sign an extension, the Stars simply don't like his demands.

Doubtful he signs one with Calgary unless it's a massive overpay.

"The two sides are not agreeing on a contract". Is that better? The point is that if they cannot come to an agreement, the Stars are going to have to make a choice between trading Robertson for assets back or going to arbitration next summer, having him sign a 1 year deal, and then walk to UFA in 2027. Side note: I am curious what he could get in arbitration... $10+M?

I thought his ceiling for contract demands was $12M based on Rantanen's contract but now that Kaprizov has signed that $17M contract, it sure feels like $12M is the floor of Robertson's next contract.

Anyway, Calgary has the room to sign Robertson and has some good pieces that the Stars need but I would still advocate that if the Flames did acquire Robertson they would need to flip him immediately for the C that is needed. But the biggest issue and does not make sense is the Stars trading away their LW depth and not seeking a replacement for Robertson.

The bold move would be to send them Huberdeau. He is a "cost controlled" top line player and he appears to be getting back into form with a 28 goal season under his belt. Putting him on a line with Hintz and Rantanen would be a good move as he could dish the puck to two guys able to score (and also be able to generate his own goals). Huberdeau should be onboard with the move as it gets him onto a contender that will make multiple runs at a cup.

The dollars are the tough part. The Flames would need to take back Lyubushkin and retain 50% on Andersson AND 15-20% on Huberdeau to make it fit this year.

My crazy proposal:
Huberdeau (20% retained for 6 years) + Andersson (50% retained for 1 year) + Vegas 2026 1st
for
Robertson + Lyubushkin + Bischel

The Stars solidify their top 4 D and with Huberdeau's contract locked in for the next 6 years they have the cap flexibility to extend both Harley and Andersson. Losing Robertson and Bischel hurts but the Flames are retaining $14M+$6M of Lyubushkin's contract to make this happen for the Stars. Also, replacing Bischel with Bertucci saves the Stars a bit more money on the NHL cap.

The Flames get younger can give Robertson a big contract, give Bischel a top 4 spot and can try to utilize Lyubushkin to ease in Pachal and Parekh into bigger roles.

[Monahammer]

I dont believe we will be able to acquire Robertson for anything we want to trade. But if we did somehow do that, I would hope we'd immediately start trying to flip him for the best young center possible.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I dont believe we will be able to acquire Robertson for anything we want to trade. But if we did somehow do that, I would hope we'd immediately start trying to flip him for the best young center possible.

Not sure if serious..

That only happens in EA NHL.
If you're making a big trade to land a guy who you're pursuing and want to be apart of what your building you definitely don't immediately flip him.

That's a surefire way to eliminate the possibility of any young star/RFA/UFA from ever signing here again.

[GullFoss]

I'm personally against trading Huberdeau. He's willing to accept a mentor role with the younger players, seems like a great guy and is overpaid. I think he's the right person and player for Calgary right now.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

I'm personally against trading Huberdeau. He's willing to accept a mentor role with the younger players, seems like a great guy and is overpaid. I think he's the right person and player for Calgary right now.

Lomberg is also willing to accept a mentor role, and seems like a great guy. IMO, if you get a chance to trade one of the worst contracts in the league, you do it. I mean, he's signed until 2031, and there will be another drop off in production between now and the time Huberdeau turns 38.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Wolven

My crazy proposal:
Huberdeau (20% retained for 6 years) + Andersson (50% retained for 1 year) + Vegas 2026 1st
for
Robertson + Lyubushkin + Bischel

Flames could also send Dallas a young LW instead of the 1st, to help them with depth at that position. We have lots.

Originally Posted by Royle9

If you're making a big trade to land a guy who you're pursuing and want to be apart of what your building you definitely don't immediately flip him.

Swap the term 'flip' for 'three-way trade' and it makes a bit more sense.

But giant complex trades like that are rare. I'd love to be wrong, but I don't see it happening. Nor do I think the Flames want to tie up $14M/year on a LW even if he scores 40 per season, so getting him and keeping him seems out of the question.

Can CC wait much longer than the 2026 draft to get his elite centre? If we draft them in 26 it will be 1-2 years before they are on the team and fully productive. That is right about when the new arena opens. That should be peak Wolf and Parekh will be entering his prime too.

If we trade for this centre rather than drafting him, I'm sure anyone not named Wolf or Parekh is available to get that guy. All the GMs in the league know it, so who blinks first and offers Calgary what they need?

[Wolven]

With 28 goals last season and the rising cap, is Huberdeau's contract really that bad? I would argue that it is much closer to where you want him to be. Definitely not the worst contract in the league anymore. He just can't slide back on his goal scoring from last season. (Assists should come with better scoring from the rest of the team)

Retaining $2M makes his contract look good, especially to a team that needs 28 goals in a cost controlled cap hit.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Wolven

With 28 goals last season and the rising cap, is Huberdeau's contract really that bad? I would argue that it is much closer to where you want him to be. Definitely not the worst contract in the league anymore. He just can't slide back on his goal scoring from last season. (Assists should come with better scoring from the rest of the team)

Retaining $2M makes his contract look good, especially to a team that needs 28 goals in a cost controlled cap hit.

If you can convert Huby into a #1C, that's a great deal even with the added $2M retention (not really a problem if they get someone young).

It seems like very wishful thinking, but with the right combination of assets it might now be possible. We see bad contracts traded every year - GMs get an idea in their heads and can't be shaken from them.

Look at GMBT and his guys. He was like a bloodhound for some players both here and with the Leafs.

We just need to find that guy who thinks 'I'll fix Huby.'

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Wolven

With 28 goals last season and the rising cap, is Huberdeau's contract really that bad? I would argue that it is much closer to where you want him to be. Definitely not the worst contract in the league anymore. He just can't slide back on his goal scoring from last season. (Assists should come with better scoring from the rest of the team)

Retaining $2M makes his contract look good, especially to a team that needs 28 goals in a cost controlled cap hit.

Spoiler!

He was about $4M overpaid($6.4M value) based on last year's analytics, and he's likely overpaid by $5.5M for the duration of the contract. Dom's model isn't the best tool out there, so take it with a grain of salt, but it does give some perspective.

I also thought that Hubby got a bit lucky to score 28 last year, as a lot of the goals seemed tot be the result of some puck luck. I would probably take the under on 23 goals this year.

PS: I'm not trying to run the guy out of town, and he has a NMC which he fairly negotiated.

[Badgers Nose]

Damn that's depressing!

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

If you can convert Huby into a #1C, that's a great deal even with the added $2M retention (not really a problem if they get someone young).

It seems like very wishful thinking, but with the right combination of assets it might now be possible. We see bad contracts traded every year - GMs get an idea in their heads and can't be shaken from them.

Look at GMBT and his guys. He was like a bloodhound for some players both here and with the Leafs.

We just need to find that guy who thinks 'I'll fix Huby.'

If we’re coming up with a trade like that, I wouldn’t mind a Huberdeau (2m retained) for Zibanejad trade. Still think Zibanejad has some game in him. He’d be a decent 1A/1B stopgap with Kadri until Reschny or someone else contended for a top 6 C spot.

[GullFoss]

Huby has the worst contract in the league, but is a good teammate.

The flames best game plan for Huby is to keep him while they don't need the cap space, and then trade him when they do. At that point, they can give up a draft pick and/or trade for a different bad a contract with a lower duration or put him on LTIR.