2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Depth doesn’t matter without stars is true

Then explain to me how in the hell St Louis won their Cup.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Then explain to me how in the hell St Louis won their Cup.

An anomaly. Rode a hot goalie and a new coach that gave them life. Very ‘04 Flames-esque, but they managed to win it in 7 (we should’ve won too).

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

An anomaly. Rode a hot goalie and a new coach that gave them life. Very ‘04 Flames-esque, but they managed to win it in 7 (we should’ve won too).

ROR peaking as a two way centre helped too.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Find a team that won a cup without depth.


I also think depth is critical for a team coming out of a rebuild. I think this is a factor as to why teams like Buffalo (and Edmonton prior to McDavid), never see to get off the ground. It is not the only reason (overall management, poor coaching, and culture are huge factors involved here), but a lack of depth certainly is critical.


Think of how deep Chicago was organizationally when guys like Toews and Kane were added. Their depth got squeezed out, and that was the end of Chicago being able to win. It wasn't just about winning a cup, it was the ability to put those superstars in a position to succeed.


This is how I look at San Jose and feel that they are probably a team that will succeed, versus Chicago that I am a little more iffy on.


I like the fact that Calgary's system is deep. I like having Zary and Pospisil on this team, as they help lead by example, can bridge the gap between vets and young players, and help set the culture. As more young kids pop organizationally over the next few years, the more likely the top superstars that the Flames will (hopefully!) draft will have an easier time breaking into the NHL and turning it around.


This depth provides a good environment for these kids to develop properly in the NHL. You also need a coach and the buy-in from management to follow-through with development. This is an area I think Calgary screwed up with Bennett, for instance. Some kids need longer runways, and if you are investing a high pick, then sorry, it isn't always about 'never given, always earned'. You put prospects in the best position for them to exceed. Not over-expose them when they are not ready, and not bury them when they need more patience. It is a fine line.


I really like this build so far. it is early, but things are looking like Calgary will be adding a top pick this year - plus they have Vegas' first round pick too on top of this. Plus they will be adding more picks. This is a very good build so far.


The only issue I have is that perhaps the Flames should find a way to open up a couple of spots to keep Gridin, and perhaps another spot for a revolving door of Suniev, Stromgren, Morton and Kerins to all get reps in throughout the season. Ditto on defence - Kuznetsov, Poirier, Brzuestewicz as well as Cicek (older) looking like they should be getting reps in. Juggling waivers is an issue of course, so they will need to properly manage that, but the waiver eligible guys should be getting more looks as part of their development.


Gridin sat out last night, even though there are two regulars out of the lineup. That's not a lot of room for young guys to get reps in, especially ones that just need a bit more runway at the NHL level to push through. I get it, it is early in the season and you don't want to 'throw in the towel', but at some point this season, the Flames need to really flip that switch and prioritize development like they did in 2013-2015.


At any rate, I am really positive on the direction of this team, even though I am not happy with the outcome of games at the moment.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Then explain to me how in the hell St Louis won their Cup.

They are definitely the one outlier in the cap era, and proof you don't absolutely need top star players to win. But its one season from a team that didn't get even a sniff before or after. Cups are nearly always won by the teams with the best players.

[Monahammer]

Kadri for Hage would be a beautiful trade. Don't think we're that lucky. Maybe kadri retained and coleman doe Hage? Mtl would be pretty strong with those two.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Then explain to me how in the hell St Louis won their Cup.

Explain to me why they're the only one. Why would we try and emulate a complete outlier? You're basically guaranteeing you never win a Cup trying to copy that model.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Kadri for Hage would be a beautiful trade. Don't think we're that lucky. Maybe kadri retained and coleman doe Hage? Mtl would be pretty strong with those two.

Maybe Hage + Anderson for Kadri & Coleman?

[Sandman]

I can't see the Habs trading Hage, but he would sure be the ideal acquisition. We can dream, I guess...

C Owen Beck would be a good secondary option, as would C Filip Eriksson, and I'm a huge fan of C Hayden Paupanekis (If we're looking solely at centers).

[V1nnyTh3Flam35Fan]

Trade deadline suggestion (for Rasmus Andersson):

Trade Rasmus Andersson to Washington Capitals for Declan Chisolm, Cole Hutson (LD prospect) and 1st round pick 2026.

Explanation: Washington wants to maximize the (most likely) final contract years of Ovi and John Carlson so they can benefit from beefing up their RD depth with the addition of Rasmus. In return Calgary gets a potential great left side defence prospect in Cole Hutson along with 1st round pick 2026 and depth defenceman Declan Chisolm who can slot in the bottom pair.

Defence pairs after trade:
Bahl/Parekh
Hanley/Weegar
Chisolm/Pachal

Press box: Bean, Miromanov

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by V1nnyTh3Flam35Fan

Trade deadline suggestion (for Rasmus Andersson):

Trade Rasmus Andersson to Washington Capitals for Declan Chisolm, Cole Hutson (LD prospect) and 1st round pick 2026.

Explanation: Washington wants to maximize the (most likely) final contract years of Ovi and John Carlson so they can benefit from beefing up their RD depth with the addition of Rasmus. In return Calgary gets a potential great left side defence prospect in Cole Hutson along with 1st round pick 2026 and depth defenceman Declan Chisolm who can slot in the bottom pair.

Defence pairs after trade:
Bahl/Parekh
Hanley/Weegar
Chisolm/Pachal

Press box: Bean, Miromanov

Not bad. I think the Caps might be hesitant to part with Hutson though, after what his brother has been able to do in Montreal (Cole might be the better player)....

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Explain to me why they're the only one. Why would we try and emulate a complete outlier? You're basically guaranteeing you never win a Cup trying to copy that model.

I didn't say we should copy that model. I'm saying depth matters.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by V1nnyTh3Flam35Fan

Trade deadline suggestion (for Rasmus Andersson):

Trade Rasmus Andersson to Washington Capitals for Declan Chisolm, Cole Hutson (LD prospect) and 1st round pick 2026.

Explanation: Washington wants to maximize the (most likely) final contract years of Ovi and John Carlson so they can benefit from beefing up their RD depth with the addition of Rasmus. In return Calgary gets a potential great left side defence prospect in Cole Hutson along with 1st round pick 2026 and depth defenceman Declan Chisolm who can slot in the bottom pair.

Defence pairs after trade:
Bahl/Parekh
Hanley/Weegar
Chisolm/Pachal

Press box: Bean, Miromanov

Hard to imagine that Andersson is worth a first plus a very good prospect, especially one who will be replacing Carlson.

This would be a dream come true trade and would certainly require Andersson to have an exceptionally good first half.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by V1nnyTh3Flam35Fan

Trade deadline suggestion (for Rasmus Andersson):

Trade Rasmus Andersson to Washington Capitals for Declan Chisolm, Cole Hutson (LD prospect) and 1st round pick 2026.

After his season last year, Hutson has skyrocketed up prospect rankings and has to be, I would think, almost untouchable for Washington unless they're getting a much better payer in return imo.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Correct - If you are only going to consider moving depth players for a #1 center in a deal you can't refuse this team isn't going anywhere - because that deal is never going to be on the table.

Depth players should be shipped the minute you can extract more value from them. Flames fans fall in love with depth players.

I don't think we need trade Zary right away. I was on board for trading Zary this summer if we weren't trading Coleman or Kadri. We kept all 3 and it isn't working.

Hanley so far looks like the Hanley you expect. Bean and Pachal are just depth. Ras is on his way out and isn't looking like anything more than an average 2nd paring dman.

Zary is 24 years old now and playing 4th line and 12 mins a night. At his age, this isn't good for his development. He is almost in his prime years and hardly playing. We need to see what he can do in a bigger role, or he will eventually get frustrated and want out.

He's at the stage of his career, play him or trade him. Trading him for less than a #1 center prospect should be an option. Bo Byram involving a Zary package made sense to me. That deal is looking more and more like what Conroy should have done. D looks awful and the log jam on forward is causing issues.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I didn't say we should copy that model. I'm saying depth matters.

No one has ever said depth isn't important, not once. You need star players to win a cup depth comes secondary and is relatively easy to pick up. Playoff bound contenders can pick up depth if they're willing to mortgage the future using draft picks. Blake Coleman was a fantastic pick up for Tampa but Coleman doesn't have two cup wings without the star players already there

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I didn't say we should copy that model. I'm saying depth matters.

Good depth, top line level depth not a bunch of middle/bottom players

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Then explain to me how in the hell St Louis won their Cup.

ROR popped up as a true two way top center and Binnington went hot and Pietroangelo was a true #1D. They also faded away once Binngington and ROR fell back to earth.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Bonded

ROR popped up as a true two way top center and Binnington went hot and Pietroangelo was a true #1D. They also faded away once Binngington and ROR fell back to earth.

If the end result of a rebuild is a roster similar to the 2019 St Louis Blues, it wouldn't be terrible. But while you are in the early stages of a rebuild, the 2019 St Louis Blues shouldn't be the blueprint on how you build your team.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

If the end result of a rebuild is a roster similar to the 2019 St Louis Blues, it wouldn't be terrible. But while you are in the early stages of a rebuild, the 2019 St Louis Blues shouldn't be the blueprint on how you build your team.

100%. The Blues roster at least gives you an outside chance