2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You can disagree with it until you are blue in the face. Everything statistically says Kadri is better. You are just ##### because you got called out for calling ROR a top line centre.

Wrong and petty. Bad combo.

[Tbull8]

IF Makar even considered going to UFA, he'd have every team in the league offering him a massive deal. The flames would need to really be showing that they'd be a perennial contender

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Is Makar a free agent tomorrow? I could swear it was 2 years from now.

Flames are more than two years away from contending, or being on an upswing. They first need to go on a downswing, then hit rock bottom, and then start e steady climb up, which could take years.

Calgary is likely as far away from being a contender as any team in the NHL.

This will not be a quick retool, it needs to be a slow rebuild. That takes time, and the Flames haven't completely embraced it yet.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

IF Makar even considered going to UFA, he'd have every team in the league offering him a massive deal. The flames would need to really be showing that they'd be a perennial contender

Agreed.. and on top of this, some players love playing for their hometown team (like Tavares), while others don't want that at all. Will Makar want to play for the Flames - would he even prefer the Flames and even take a discount? Or would he cross-off the Flames even if they are looking like an upcoming contender, and with a max-offer from them?

I think it is all moot - I bet he re-ups with the Avs. It will be very interesting if he comes to market, however. He will be able to pick his destination with a max deal. If he doesn't deserve a max deal, I am not sure anyone does.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

IF Makar even considered going to UFA, he'd have every team in the league offering him a massive deal. The flames would need to really be showing that they'd be a perennial contender

100%, but Calgary also has a leg up in that he loves it here. He lives here in the off-season, and his family is here. He also grew up a Flames fan.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Flames are more than two years away from contending, or being on an upswing. They first need to go on a downswing, then hit rock bottom, and then start e steady climb up, which could take years.

Calgary is likely as far away from being a contender as any team in the NHL.

This will not be a quick retool, it needs to be a slow rebuild. That takes time, and the Flames haven't completely embraced it yet.

Yeah, best case scenario is the last rebuild where it happens fast and the GM is tempted to skip a step or two just like GMBT did.

We need the Money, Bennie, and Matty equivalent picks. If we continue like this, we will get the first one this year. So after 2028, we should have the pieces.

Wolf is the late round gem just like Johnny was. We probably draft way better now than back then, so maybe there are some other gems (Gridin). Even if we get 2-3 later round guys that would go higher in re-drafts, we still have 2 years after this one before the upswing really starts.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Flames are more than two years away from contending, or being on an upswing. They first need to go on a downswing, then hit rock bottom, and then start e steady climb up, which could take years.

Calgary is likely as far away from being a contender as any team in the NHL.

This will not be a quick retool, it needs to be a slow rebuild. That takes time, and the Flames haven't completely embraced it yet.

I don’t think you will be seeing a slow rebuild here that is just not in the cards. You don’t pay a 24 year old goalie a huge 7 year extension if the goal is to really bottom out and build that way. Perhaps you are stating that is inevitable? That is a fair take but I think this team will be aggressive about getting better by the time the new rink opens.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Flames are more than two years away from contending, or being on an upswing. They first need to go on a downswing, then hit rock bottom, and then start e steady climb up, which could take years.

Calgary is likely as far away from being a contender as any team in the NHL.

This will not be a quick retool, it needs to be a slow rebuild. That takes time, and the Flames haven't completely embraced it yet.

If you can look at this roster and say you don’t think they've embraced it yet I'm curious what you think embracing it means. Summary executions of top players at centre ice?

They've embraced it hard for sure.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Flames are more than two years away from contending, or being on an upswing. They first need to go on a downswing, then hit rock bottom, and then start e steady climb up, which could take years.

Calgary is likely as far away from being a contender as any team in the NHL.

This will not be a quick retool, it needs to be a slow rebuild. That takes time, and the Flames haven't completely embraced it yet.

Based on what? You know how all of the young players are going to develop over the next two years?

The team has been in every game, had a terrible, frankly, kind of unfair, schedule to start the season. The whole world has so little patience these days.

I can't imagine what this place would be like if so many of the people here got their so-called "slow rebuild". Most here would not have the patience for that, even if it is what they are doing while without saying it. (The veterans are needed to stay above the floor, how so many people forget that is maddening).

The attendance figures over the years unfortunately shows Flames fans as a pretty fickle fan base so they need to sell hope while trying to bounce back quickly.

Can we maybe get to 20 games this season and see where things stand?

[ComixZone]

The Flames hope they're two years away from contending. In reality, those next two years have to be MASSIVE from a drafting and player acquiring perspective for that to come to fruition.

They need to draft two top tier forwards between now and then, and one more top tier defenceman (maybe Mews is that).

Free agency is pretty much a barren wasteland at this point, not that Calgary was a priority destination anyways.

The tier of player we'd be after also rarely gets dealt.

Finishing at or near the bottom this year is critical to hitting that "we're contending in the new building". If they don't bottom out this year, I just don't see the path forward to contending in 2 years time. That's not a long runway, and this team doesn't have what they need in the system yet. They're not in a bad position, but to say "they're 2 years away from contending"...you only contend based on the players you have in the fold, and we're not there yet. While we're doing a good job, we don't have a system that is going to launch us into that Florida/Colorado/Tampa Bay etc. tier.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I don’t think you will be seeing a slow rebuild here that is just not in the cards. You don’t pay a 24 year old goalie a huge 7 year extension if the goal is to really bottom out and build that way. Perhaps you are stating that is inevitable? That is a fair take but I think this team will be aggressive about getting better by the time the new rink opens.

Yes, I think it is inevitable that they will eventually bottom out. And the sooner they do, the faster they may get some elite talent.

They gave Wolf a 7 year deal because they really had no choice but to do so.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by zukes

Based on what? You know how all of the young players are going to develop over the next two years?

The team has been every game, had a terrible, frankly, kind of unfair, schedule to start the season. The whole world has so little patience these days.

I can't imagine what this place would be like if so many of the people here got their so-called "slow rebuild". Most here would not have the patience for that, even if it is what they are doing while without saying it. (The veterans are needed to stay above the floor, how so many people forget that is maddening).

The attendance figures over the years unfortunately shows Flames fans as a pretty fickle fan base so they need to sell hope while trying to bounce back quickly.

Can we maybe get to 20 games this season and see where things stand?

And leaning into a bad season like this season, without going scorched earth actually helps make it a quicker re-build.

I've stated this a couple times but teams rarely plan on being bad, and generally you get your high picks by leaning into being terrible when you have a bad season.

TBH the Flames tough schedule the first 27 or so games this season actually potentially provides that opportunity to lean into a bad season if they can't turn it around here.

And that's the big thing. If the Flames are in 30th place on December 1st they shouldn't do anything to try to "salvage" the season. That would be the worst thing they can do.

If you're in 30th at that time you need to do the opposite. Be more pro-active moving guys like Andersson and Coleman and lean into a bad season.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

And leaning into a bad season like this season, without going scorched earth actually helps make it a quicker re-build.

I've stated this a couple times but teams rarely plan on being bad, and generally you get your high picks by leaning into being terrible when you have a bad season.

TBH the Flames tough schedule the first 27 or so games this season actually potentially provides that opportunity to lean into a bad season if they can't turn it around here.

And that's the big thing. If the Flames are in 30th place on December 1st they shouldn't do anything to try to "salvage" the season. That would be the worst thing they can do.

If you're in 30th at that time you need to do the opposite. Be more pro-active moving guys like Andersson and Coleman and lean into a bad season.

Including things like firing the coach or GM etc. This team has a talent deficit. Keep management stable. If the schedule and results indicate that this isn't their year, then ship out some older players on expiring deals (or near expiring deals) to make room for younger players.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

The Flames hope they're two years away from contending. In reality, those next two years have to be MASSIVE from a drafting and player acquiring perspective for that to come to fruition.

They need to draft two top tier forwards between now and then, and one more top tier defenceman (maybe Mews is that).

Free agency is pretty much a barren wasteland at this point, not that Calgary was a priority destination anyways.

The tier of player we'd be after also rarely gets dealt.

Finishing at or near the bottom this year is critical to hitting that "we're contending in the new building". If they don't bottom out this year, I just don't see the path forward to contending in 2 years time. That's not a long runway, and this team doesn't have what they need in the system yet. They're not in a bad position, but to say "they're 2 years away from contending"...you only contend based on the players you have in the fold, and we're not there yet. While we're doing a good job, we don't have a system that is going to launch us into that Florida/Colorado/Tampa Bay etc. tier.

I don't think it's realistic that they will be contending in 2 years. But they could be "on the upswing" moving towards that.

This article from the Athletic is helpful
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...tiers-2025-26/

So in 2 years i would hope the Flames are where teams like Anaheim and Chicago are today. That may even be a reach, but they should be moving in that direction by that time.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

And leaning into a bad season like this season, without going scorched earth actually helps make it a quicker re-build.

I've stated this a couple times but teams rarely plan on being bad, and generally you get your high picks by leaning into being terrible when you have a bad season.

TBH the Flames tough schedule the first 27 or so games this season actually potentially provides that opportunity to lean into a bad season if they can't turn it around here.

And that's the big thing. If the Flames are in 30th place on December 1st they shouldn't do anything to try to "salvage" the season. That would be the worst thing they can do.

If you're in 30th at that time you need to do the opposite. Be more pro-active moving guys like Andersson and Coleman and lean into a bad season.

What's scorched earth at this point though?

Andersson, he's likely getting dealt.

Coleman and Kadri don't fit the window as they're already aged out/ageing out.

So if scorched Earth = trade Weegar and Huberdeau, yeah I agree - that's not happening.

I do see a world where in the next 12 months, all of Coleman, Kadri, and Andersson are out the door...and in my eyes, that is scorched earth.

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think it's realistic that they will be contending in 2 years. But they could be "on the upswing" moving towards that.

This article from the Athletic is helpful
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...tiers-2025-26/

So in 2 years i would hope the Flames are where teams like Anaheim and Chicago are today. That may even be a reach, but they should be moving in that direction by that time.

Yeah, I can agree with that - but again I see those teams noted and I look at Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, Beckett Sennecke, Roger McQueen, Pavel Mintyukov and Anton Frondell, Artyom Levshunov, Connor Bedard, Oliver Moore, Frank Nazar....and that's why I think this year in particular, but realistically 2027 as well as having to be massive years for the Flames to really get to where they are. I think the Flames are on the right path contingent on this year just being embraced for what it is.

From that Athletic article, this is what it says about the Flames in "Path to contention":

Lean into scorched earth, sell folks on the youth and your shiny new building, and don't hesitate when the road gets bumpy, should probably be the advice. Patch work while trying to get younger is the easier path to take, but it often ends up back where you started trying to scrape and claw into the playoffs. The longer you wait to really pull the trigger, the harder it gets to move your vets, too.

Embrace the 2026 and 2027 draft. It's what they need to do, otherwise all they'll do is cycle back into that "in one year, out the next, maybe they're good, likely they're not" position that we know too well.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

And leaning into a bad season like this season, without going scorched earth actually helps make it a quicker re-build.

I've stated this a couple times but teams rarely plan on being bad, and generally you get your high picks by leaning into being terrible when you have a bad season.

TBH the Flames tough schedule the first 27 or so games this season actually potentially provides that opportunity to lean into a bad season if they can't turn it around here.

And that's the big thing. If the Flames are in 30th place on December 1st they shouldn't do anything to try to "salvage" the season. That would be the worst thing they can do.

If you're in 30th at that time you need to do the opposite. Be more pro-active moving guys like Andersson and Coleman and lean into a bad season.

I can agree with this. The panic level after 5 games and the "told you so's" are crazy. 1-4 can easily be .500 very quickly. 1-4 happens any time later in the season and it is a mild concern.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think it's realistic that they will be contending in 2 years. But they could be "on the upswing" moving towards that.

This article from the Athletic is helpful
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...tiers-2025-26/

So in 2 years i would hope the Flames are where teams like Anaheim and Chicago are today. That may even be a reach, but they should be moving in that direction by that time.

Exactly - the Flames don't need to be competitive in two years (they know as well as everyone else that is completely unrealistic), all they need, in order to fill the new arena, is to be on the upswing. If they have some exciting young players, and are showing a path to improvement and contention, that will be more than enough to ignite the fanbase for the new arena.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Exactly - the Flames don't need to be competitive in two years (they know as well as everyone else that is completely unrealistic), all they need, in order to fill the new arena, is to be on the upswing. If they have some exciting young players, and are showing a path to improvement and contention, that will be more than enough to ignite the fanbase for the new arena.

Igniting the fan base should not be the goal. Winning a Championship should be.

Team success in this league is driven by star players. Flames need 'em. They also, alongside driving success, ignite the fan base as well.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by zukes

I can agree with this. The panic level after 5 games and the "told you so's" are crazy. 1-4 can easily be .500 very quickly. 1-4 happens any time later in the season and it is a mild concern.

I don't know what people get so offended by "told you so"

Really if you have a discussion with people who have different opinions, nothing wrong with circling back and seeing how things end up. Not a personal attack, just a debate on what everyone thinks this team should do.

Told you so's are everywhere too, just go look the PGT after the Oilers game. Loaded with told you this team isn't bottom 5.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I don't know what people get so offended by "told you so"

Really if you have a discussion with people who have different opinions, nothing wrong with circling back and seeing how things end up. Not a personal attack, just a debate on what everyone thinks this team should do.

Told you so's are everywhere too, just go look the PGT after the Oilers game. Loaded with told you this team isn't bottom 5.

Do you think this is the correct time for it? Or perhaps premature?