2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by dino7c

First month is BRUTAL...tough teams, 3 back to backs.

Then its lowest number of back to backs in the league, substantially lower than most teams in a compressed schedule and an easier strength of schedule.

Its so unbalanced I think this year especially you will need to wait 20-25 games to even get a read.

I want to read about Gavin McKenna putting on a flames sweater at the draft.

Never been team tank but after the start and the Flames sitting 32nd, the dream doesn't look so distant or just obscured in delusion.

We can keep doing this. Playing hard, not getting rolled by any means, but done in by lack of finish at the end of the night. All while giving our rookies ice time and opportunities.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dino7c

First month is BRUTAL...tough teams, 3 back to backs.

Then its lowest number of back to backs in the league, substantially lower than most teams in a compressed schedule and an easier strength of schedule.

Its so unbalanced I think this year especially you will need to wait 20-25 games to even get a read.

20-25 games? No sir. Five games is enough. That’s my opinion and if you say otherwise you’re trying to silence me!!

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

You're right, a bottom five finish is too hopeful. We will have to settle for 17th.

Only thing I'm right about is its too early for anyone to say...they probably should have won both home games TBH

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Habs are loaded but they also have a major issue at center. They are in position to trade for one now though. They need an upgrade there but the cap situation they have created looks very good for 5 years.

I am hopeful the Flames can put themselves in a similar spot. I am happy this team has picked 2x in the first round the past 2 years. Parekh and Reschney are great but I am also very stoked on Gridin and Potter. The 24 draft looks like a major win so the Flames should be flush with assets in a couple of years to make a significant add via trade.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dino7c

First month is BRUTAL...tough teams, 3 back to backs.

Then its lowest number of back to backs in the league, substantially lower than most teams in a compressed schedule and an easier strength of schedule.

Its so unbalanced I think this year especially you will need to wait 20-25 games to even get a read.

Agree - you don't know a direction until Dec 1 really but the deeper the hole now the harder it just becomes to work out of it.

Ignoring the results for a second there are a couple of things I do see though that I think are going to be issues if they don't turn around:

1) Power Play: This team needs it's PP to click to have success, and it's just not happening right now. Huberdeau coming back might help but honestly feels like PP has been an issue for a couple years now that they can't fix.

2) Defensive Veterans: Weegar and Andersson haven't been great to start the year, and they need those two to be anchors. Because they haven't looked as good I feel like Hanley and Pachal have struggled more too.

And really the coach doesn't trust Miromanov, or Bean at all. And Parekh is still being very sheltered.

But really they need Weegar and Andersson to get going lol.

3) Kadri: It's too early to tell for sure...but to me he looks like he's lost a bit of a step...which isn't impossible when you consider he's 35. If he dips from 35 goals to more like 25 goals then that's tough for this team to overcome.

I think guys like Farabee, Frost, and Bahl have shown some promise to offset some of these issues. But if these end up being more than just slumps it's going to be tough.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Or you can call it premature, which is also an opinion. Couple guys are injured, rookies playing their first games, Wolf is off. Lots happening in five games that could look a lot different in 20.

Acting offended and trying to make it personal because there are people who don’t think five games is a big enough sample size to judge a season is crazy dude. Lighten up lol.

If you just started with this post. An opinion on the Flames and why you think you need more time to decide. That is a fair comment, and the schedule has sucked but it is an Olympic year and there will be rough stretches.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

20-25 games? No sir. Five games is enough. That’s my opinion and if you say otherwise you’re trying to silence me!!

To be fair if the flames were 4-1 with a +9 goal differential looking like they should be 5-0 you don’t think Dino would be taking swipes at team tank? I have zero doubt in my mind there would be comments about how this team is so much better than people said despite the small sample size.

This team rarely has 2 consistent seasons in over a decade. They had a lot go right for them last year. Their best young players have big contracts and pressure on them, their best veterans are all a year deeper into their 30’s. Conroy did not make the team better this summer we were walking right into a down year.

[ComixZone]

Hey, a rumour!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1979246589672566790

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Hey, a rumour!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1979246589672566790

Guess Solo and Kuznetsov aren't young enough LHS defensive minded D men with size?
They gave up Solo for nothing by keeping both Mean and Miro who are now basically waiver fodder.
Kuznetsov sent back to the Wranglers, but he's been steady for them for a few seasons now.
23 - 6'5 and 220 - LHS

That's a weird post to me.

The only other LHS they were interested in prior to the start of the year was Byram.. but he's more 2way/leaning towards offensive than a stay at home guy.

[SuperMatt18]

Honestly I don't know much about the guy but I don't feel like he's an insider.

[Vinny01]

Nevermind

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Agree - you don't know a direction until Dec 1 really but the deeper the hole now the harder it just becomes to work out of it.

Ignoring the results for a second there are a couple of things I do see though that I think are going to be issues if they don't turn around:

1) Power Play: This team needs it's PP to click to have success, and it's just not happening right now. Huberdeau coming back might help but honestly feels like PP has been an issue for a couple years now that they can't fix.

2) Defensive Veterans: Weegar and Andersson haven't been great to start the year, and they need those two to be anchors. Because they haven't looked as good I feel like Hanley and Pachal have struggled more too.

And really the coach doesn't trust Miromanov, or Bean at all. And Parekh is still being very sheltered.

But really they need Weegar and Andersson to get going lol.

3) Kadri: It's too early to tell for sure...but to me he looks like he's lost a bit of a step...which isn't impossible when you consider he's 35. If he dips from 35 goals to more like 25 goals then that's tough for this team to overcome.

I think guys like Farabee, Frost, and Bahl have shown some promise to offset some of these issues. But if these end up being more than just slumps it's going to be tough.

My biggest issue is the log jam at forward and defense. I feel bad for Huska trying to manage all these players ice time. Zary was a very key contributor last year early on, hardly even playing.

Hanley just looks like a waiver wire pick now

Pachal and Bean all last year played 40%+ of their ice time against low end players and when out against top players, they are terrible.

With Hanley, Bean and Pachal on the team, it's hard to shelter Parekh.

Bahl will do what he does, but no matter how you pair everyone up it doesn't add up to me unless you unleash Parekh and hope for the best. Weegar and Ras just don't play well together and if you put your 2 best dmen together, the rest of the pairings are bad.

If you play Ras with Bahl, I would be hesitant to have Weegar with Parekh. I think that would limit Weegar too much to play it safe with Parekh.

No matter what combination you use, it looks bad. Weegar plays with AHL level players. Parekh is 19. Ras is overrated and likely on his way out. They lose a couple more games and the sale process will start.

Wolf is going to have a rough season with this d core.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Honestly I don't know much about the guy but I don't feel like he's an insider.

Didn’t he say the flames were going to be aggressive last summer and adding?

Isn’t he also US based? I have heard a few flames nuggets from him but not sure his connection?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

To be fair if the flames were 4-1 with a +9 goal differential looking like they should be 5-0 you don’t think Dino would be taking swipes at team tank? I have zero doubt in my mind there would be comments about how this team is so much better than people said despite the small sample size.

This team rarely has 2 consistent seasons in over a decade. They had a lot go right for them last year. Their best young players have big contracts and pressure on them, their best veterans are all a year deeper into their 30’s. Conroy did not make the team better this summer we were walking right into a down year.

Every season I say 20-25 games...last year they had that great start and I said the same thing. If you cant admit that 2 back to backs and 3 games in 3.5 days all in the first 5 is a ridiculous outlier schedule wise IDK. I'm not sure the Flames have ever had back to back 8pm games and then one day off and a 2pm game.

Not to mention missing your best offensive player...maybe 2nd best.

Things will even out, how far they even out is the question.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I want to read about Gavin McKenna putting on a flames sweater at the draft.

Never been team tank but after the start and the Flames sitting 32nd, the dream doesn't look so distant or just obscured in delusion.

We can keep doing this. Playing hard, not getting rolled by any means, but done in by lack of finish at the end of the night. All while giving our rookies ice time and opportunities.

It would be very Flames to finally get a #1 overall pick and the only choice is a premiere left winger.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Major Major

Wrong and petty. Bad combo.

Looking in a mirror bud?

If you think ROR is a better centre than Kadri I have something to let you in on, you don't know F all about hockey and should probably stay out of it.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Never been team tank but after the start and the Flames sitting 32nd, the dream doesn't look so distant or just obscured in delusion.

5 games is too soon to declare that. Especially with the brutal schedule the league has stuck them with to start the season.

They're struggling to score but they manage to stay in the game until the third period which isn't surprising having already had to play two back to backs. Wolf hasn't been himself either.

[memphusk]

The schedule is only brutal if the team isn't good. They go hand in hand.

[D as in David]

It's too soon to be too sooning the too sooners.

Or is it?

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by memphusk

The schedule is only brutal if the team isn't good. They go hand in hand.

It's not about them not being good. It's about them being worst in the league bad.

Let's wait more than 5 games and them starting to play a more balanced schedule to start declaring them frontrunners for McKenna.