2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Roko]

I have a feeling Utah may not be after Kadri but instead Rasmus. I do think GM Bill will be chasing a bunch of big targets this year though. They want to make the playoffs in their new city. Imagine if they wanted both ..

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

So why did it take until late October for this to become publicly known?

Many of the capfriendly ripoffs had the clause changing on July 2026 but it came up on the recent 32 thoughts with the flames reeling. It was confirmed that what Friedman wrote in 32 thoughts is accurate by Pike and others on Friday

[Jiri Hrdina]

They have a lot of really great prospects
The top guys are probably not on the table but maybe a But or Beaudion?

[bluejays]

Re: Friedman, I too get annoyed at him, but I get annoyed at many of the other insiders much more. Lebrun and Dreger specifically. I realize that they have info (some of which they release, and some of which they don't), but more than that because so little rumors actually come to fruition, there's not much they can actually report on to be completely verified. So they'll list various possibilities, most of which are obvious. So of course it comes across as ramblings as nonsense because much of it is just stating of various avenues. I still like hearing it but more from Friedman comparative to Lebrun and Dreger. Those guys are just spewing nothing these days. I'm not a fan of sideline reporters even more. They ask the most mundane questions and get cliche answers.

[Sofa GM]

I’m guessing Barrett Hayton and a 2nd for Andersson

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don’t understand the criticism of him
He’s generally regarded as one of the most connected people and has broken several stories.
He’s one of the true insiders out there

Pretty much every member of the media gets roasted on CP. For some posters, the ‘Them’ in ‘Us vs Them’ includes everyone who isn’t a member of the Flames or a Flames fan.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

I’m guessing Barrett Hayton and a 2nd for Andersson

Hayton is playing really well. They have him on the top line with Keller and Schmaltz. I’d be very surprised if they moved him.

Utah are trying to get better now. I’d assume any offer they made for Andersson would be picks and prospects.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Hahaha

Utah is correct, Iggy is not.

If the Flames could snag Simashev off their roster in a trade I'd be happy.

Daniel But is another. But why not both!!

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Roko

I have a feeling Utah may not be after Kadri but instead Rasmus. I do think GM Bill will be chasing a bunch of big targets this year though. They want to make the playoffs in their new city. Imagine if they wanted both ..

Utah has a bunch of LD: Sergechev, Schmidt, Cole, Simashev, Maatta, Valimaki(LTIR).

* Simashev, and Maatta played more on their off side this year.

If Durzi, and to a lesser extent Valimaki, are back soon(mid Nov), I could see a trade around one of our depth D for theirs.

I don't see a spot for Andersson with Durzi and Marino as their top 4 RD.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by Wolven

That list makes very little sense. Many of those players do not have bad contracts and are on teams that are probably happy with the signing:
Mikael Granlund - Tied for the lead for points on the Ducks in their best season start in forever (they are actually in a playoff spot). They just signed him and have loads of cap space.
Brandon Montour - He might not be scoring goals but he is playing well for the Kraken (4 points and +3 in 4 games played) and the team is second in the division right now.
Chandler Stephenson - Looks like he is helping the Kraken win games right now and his $6.25M contract doesn't look like a problem.
Ivan Provorov - He just signed a new contract to maintain the D core of the CBJ and I don't see how this is earning a 'bad contract' status...
Cody Ceci - He is getting second pairing money to play a second pairing role. I don't see the Kings needing to move his brand new $4.5M contract because even as Clarke pushes for a bigger role, Doughty is declining.
Brady Skjei - Is he bad now? I thought he was one of the players still good on the Preds
Ryan Pulock - Aside from health issues over the last two seasons I am not sure the Islanders have any desire to move him.
Will Borgen - Again, for $4.1M is his contract a problem? His last two seasons have been pretty brutal with only 84 games played between them.
Tanner Jeannot - $3.4M is third line money... I do not believe moving him will change anything for the Bruins bad start.
Sean Couturier - Might be a cap dump... but he is tied with Zegras for the most points on the Flyers and they have plenty of cap space.

I don't really see any opportunity within that list to weaponize cap space. Dallas looks to be the team with the worst cap situation and none of their players are on the list. The Kraken probably want to move someone out but it is likely Grubauer, not Montour or Stephenson.

We need to stop thinking this is a thing. It was when the cap was flat for years and very few teams had any cap room.
Cap is going up significantly the next few years, way easier for teams to manage and lots of teams have room to take contracts.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Re: Friedman, I too get annoyed at him, but I get annoyed at many of the other insiders much more. Lebrun and Dreger specifically. I realize that they have info (some of which they release, and some of which they don't), but more than that because so little rumors actually come to fruition, there's not much they can actually report on to be completely verified. So they'll list various possibilities, most of which are obvious. So of course it comes across as ramblings as nonsense because much of it is just stating of various avenues. I still like hearing it but more from Friedman comparative to Lebrun and Dreger. Those guys are just spewing nothing these days. I'm not a fan of sideline reporters even more. They ask the most mundane questions and get cliche answers.

Because they're rumours. They're not deals coming out early.

When you listen to people talk about how much GMs actually go back and forth on deals that never come to fruition, why does this bug you? That's the business.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Because they're rumours. They're not deals coming out early.

When you listen to people talk about how much GMs actually go back and forth on deals that never come to fruition, why does this bug you? That's the business.

No that's what I'm saying. LeBrun and Dreger these days don't seem to be getting anything substantial, and they're up there talking like they have scoops. I agree with you though, they're rumors and almost none come to pass eventually. Guys like Lebrun and Dreger just have an arrogant style that grates on my nerves. Even the guy from Daily Faceoff.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You can have an opinion.
And I can challenge that opinion.

You can, but it’s just that, I’m correct. 😉

[Calgary4LIfe]

The whole Kadri doesn't get traded before his 1000th game - I think this is simply what good organizations do. I mean, Calgary is basically the third team that you would associate with Kadri after he retires. Most people will remember him as a Leaf, then as an Avalanche (especially as he won his cup there, and had by far his best statistical season). Calgary is a distant 3rd I feel, especially after he gets traded.


Imagine any player about to hit a huge milestone in their career, only to be traded immediately before that and having to do an awkward presentation with their new team. It happens, I know, and there are times when a player is about to hit milestone close to the trade deadline, or early on in the next season, and it is simply bad timing.


Kadri's wouldn't be bad timing. Even if there is a trade already done and in the drawer ready to go (and I am not saying that there is), I would hope that Conroy would wait until at least after the award ceremony. Imagine making Kadri have that awkward 1000th game and silver stick ceremony in front of a teammates and fans that don't know him. So unless Calgary is going to ship him back to Toronto or Colorado - the only other two teams that this ceremony wouldn't be an awkward mess in front of - then I would hope that they would insist that he isn't traded until after that date.


Flames haven't always treated their players well, especially starting under Riseborough. There have been plenty of GMs in their history which sometimes tried to make a point about mistreating players, or putting them in their place. I feel a real big change in perception started in Calgary under Burke, continued exceedingly well under Treliving, and continues with Conroy (or perhaps has even taken another stop in that area). Calgary is doing what it can to be a first-class organization to players and their families, and it I hope it continues. Trading Kadri away before the 1000th game celebration (unless he is going back to the Leafs or Avs, and prefers to do it there) would be a 'dirty move' in my opinion. Yes, injury risk is a thing, but I hope this would be the kind of thing that the Flames insist on whenever possible.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I believe he was the first to mention that Kadri doesn't have a full NMC this year, but a 13 team NTC.

Fridge is as connected as they come, and often gives plenty of insight about what's going on behind the scenes.

---

I wouldn't be surprised if the 1,000 games remark was made because everything is already planned. Kadri might have more family in town for that game, and reserved tickets. I'm sure there's already a video tribute ready, the silver stick engraved etc. There's simply no immediate need to trade anyone in the next 2 weeks, so it makes perfect sense.

And Kadri still has some control even with the modified NTC. He could insist that he plays with 1000th game before negotiating where he goes, because like you said, he could have plans in place with family and it probably means more doing it with the friends he made on the team over the past few years.

And I know some people might disagree, but I think there is intrinsic value for franchises when players celebrate milestones and there are ceremonies. Franchise lore builds gravity over time, both positive and negative. A player playing their 1000th game with a franchise adds a little bit of positive lore.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

And Kadri still has some control even with the modified NTC. He could insist that he plays with 1000th game before negotiating where he goes,

Players are normally required to submit a list of teams they will or won't be traded to in July, and those lists then have to be registered with the league. There wouldn't be any negotiation at this point. The Flames have the list and can trade him without notice to any team not on that list; but they have no reason to hurry, and a good PR reason to let him have his 1,000th game here.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

So why did it take until late October for this to become publicly known?

I was using puckpedia and it said July 1 of 2026 as the day it changed to a 13-team NTC. Since it started July 1 of this season, this changes things. With the way this team is going, I can only imagine Kadri being willing to be traded to a cup contender. I do think Montreal or Toronto make the most sense. But of course, best deal given comes first.

[iloveicedhockey]

Wasn't there a trade last season where the player got his silver stick from a team he'd barely played for?

[TheScorpion]

I think it is exceptionally unlikely that they move Kadri at all.

[5abi]

Kadris team first , nice to see that