2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Is it reasonable to expect 36, 37 and 38 year old Kadri to get 55 points?

Here is the list of 35 and older players to get 55 points last season

Crosby - Ovechkin

That's the list

Kadri was actually the 3rd oldest player to get over 55 points. (Zuccarello had 54 in 69 games at 37 years old as well, Marchant had 47 in 61, and Anders Lee has 54 points at 34 years old)

The odds Kadri is getting 55 points in the last few years of the contract are very low if we are looking at what typically occurs in older players who arent the top 10 to ever play the game. There were only a handful of 35 and older players who average a pace of 55 points and only two actually did it.

Now I don't think it will be impossible for Kadri to get 45-55 points in the last few years of his contract, but age is undefeated!

Maybe it would have been better for the poster to say 0.65 points per game which is 53.3pts per 82. Lots of examples above of guys scoring at that pace but tough to play a full season as you get older. I think if Kadri can play at a 55pt pace over 82 and miss 15-20 games a year if he is full go for the playoffs.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Vancouver isn't better than Calgary...swap schedules and lets see the records

Canucks would be pretty dumb to make a trade like this (maybe they are)

They're also a bit desperate to win now with Hughes extension/exit upcoming

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Ped

I thought they took away double retention on a player now.

You can retain double, but it has to be 75 days between retention. IIRC there is also some verbiage that it 75 days within a season. So days in the off season don't count. It does make it more complex to attempt to double retain.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Maybe it would have been better for the poster to say 0.65 points per game which is 53.3pts per 82. Lots of examples above of guys scoring at that pace but tough to play a full season as you get older. I think if Kadri can play at a 55pt pace over 82 and miss 15-20 games a year if he is full go for the playoffs.

That criteria would add 2 players over 34 years old last season.

Malkin and Josi.

This list of guys over 34 years old pacing to 55 points is extremely low.

The list of guys 36 and 37 years old was Crosby, Malkin, Ovy, and Marchand

[dino7c]

And how many players hit a career high in goals at 34? Kadri is obviously one of those guys that will play well later into his career. All his best seasons are in his 30s.

[SuperMatt18]

Let's roll through potential trade partners and returns.

The Flames will likely be pointing at what the Islanders returned for Nelson as the baseline for what they want in return here:

Ritchie (Top Prospect)
2026 1st
2027 3rd

Vancouver: No cap space, if Chytil is done for the year it might be possible if you take back somebody like Nils Hoglander as part of the return.

Willander, Cootes, and the 2026 1st are probably the most exciting pieces.

Los Angeles: Kopitar retires after this season, so they will have a veteran center spot to fill. Cap space an issue for this season but think they will have interest in the player.

2026 or 2027 1st round picks would be very interesting

Winnipeg: Somebody like Kadri is a piece they could really use to put them over the top, really would help all their centers slot better. Not a lot of cap space but could get creative to make him fit.

Still have all their own 1st round picks, Brayden Yager, or Lambert as interesting trade pieces.

Colorado: A little bit of cap space, probably need something like Colton Ross going back the other way to make it work. Mackinnon, Kadri, Nelson gives them the best center depth since they won the cup though.

No 2026 draft picks, and not a lot in that system after moving Ritchie for Nelson.

Toronto: Could easily make it work cap wise by sending some salary back to Calgary, in the end my guess is it's still Kadri's preferred destination, and we know Treliving values the player.

Return is the issue. No 1sts until 2028, and no real prospects beyond Cowan and Danford.

Montreal: Laine injury opens up a lot of cap space and he's UFA at end of the year. Playing great so far this year and may want to take a step.

Montreal has a lot of assets in both draft capital and prospects (Hage, Beck, Reinbacher)

Utah: Their top 6 has been lights out to start the season, but acquiring Kadri would be a big splash that would push McBain down to 4th line C and give Crouse a good C to be paired with on the third line.

Utah has all their own picks, and 2 additional 2nd round picks this year still. Some interesting prospects including Iginla, Beaudoin, But, Lamoureux. I'd guess they are on his NTC though.

[ComixZone]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1982904103908061245

This account is followed by “NHL Insiders” like Weekes, Dhaliwal, and our very own Brendan Parker…but as always, take with a rock sized “grain of salt”.

From a fit for Kadri, I can only imagine that he’d be overjoyed going to the Habs. His veteran qualities impacting actual high end young, impactful players as they charge into their contention window.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

https://twitter.com/user/status/1982904103908061245

This account is followed by “NHL Insiders” like Weekes, Dhaliwal, and our very own Brendan Parker…but as always, take with a rock sized “grain of salt”.

That makes sense given the idea he wants to stay in Canada and have a chance to win now. Toronto is right there, and Montreal will be this year if not in the next year or two. Both much closer to winning than us, Vancouver, Ottawa. And no ones choosing to go to Edmonton or Winnipeg

[Muta]

Kadri would be an awesome addition to Montreal if that actually happened, they could use an veteran/impact top-six centre (especially as their own high-end prospects are now starting to flourish). They also have their 2026 and 2027 firsts, and a decent prospect group. Lots of fit there for sure if Conroy decides to go that route.

[iloveicedhockey]

While it would be hilarious to see the leafs with no first rounders until 2029 or 2030, I'm not sure if Craig is playing that long a game. Could be a good pick though.

[Enoch Root]

Reduce your trade value in 20 words or less...

"I would prefer being traded to either the Canadiens or the Leafs"

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by iloveicedhockey

While it would be hilarious to see the leafs with no first rounders until 2029 or 2030, I'm not sure if Craig is playing that long a game. Could be a good pick though.

is there a rule about trading draft picks within say 3 years? i dont think you could trade for a 2030 pick now, could you?

[iloveicedhockey]

I think you're right. If they traded the 2028 pick (which I think they can) they'd have no first until 2029 draft. I don't know anything though.

[Badgers Nose]

Montreal has all the stuff we want, and lots of it.

They owe us after the Moneyhands ripoff. I'd like to see them overpay, but I know that just emotion and not very realistic.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Reduce your trade value in 20 words or less...

"I would prefer being traded to either the Canadiens or the Leafs"

'prefer' is the operative word.

CC can send him to any of about 13 teams, like it or not.

[Funkhouser]

MTL sends Laine, a 2026 1st and Zharovsky
for Kadri

This would be a great trade
(I am assuming Hage is untouchable)

Zharovsky, for anyone unaware, is beating Demidov's KHL numbers from last season. Plays wing and C.

[Redrum]

Originally Posted by dino7c

And how many players hit a career high in goals at 34? Kadri is obviously one of those guys that will play well later into his career. All his best seasons are in his 30s.

He has been kind of defying the odds for a while now and that wall usually hits pretty suddenly. It would be pretty fun and funny if we good get a boatload of value from one of those teams before that happens.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Redrum

He has been kind of defying the odds for a while now and that wall usually hits pretty suddenly. It would be pretty fun and funny if we good get a boatload of value from one of those teams before that happens.

Kadri's curve is beginning to remind me of Joe Pavelski, who had his first 70-point season at age 29 and his last at age 38. Kadri isn't as good as Pavelski, but he seems to have the same late-bloomer thing going. He's as good a bet as anyone to defy Father Time for an extra couple of years.

[Svartsengi]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

is there a rule about trading draft picks within say 3 years? i dont think you could trade for a 2030 pick now, could you?

I don't have the rules in front of me but my understanding is you can go 5 drafts out from now. Offer sheets allow for five 1st round picks as maximum compensation. They have to be all your own picks and in consecutive years. Long way of saying yes, Flames could acquire any 1st round picks from 2026-2030.

[TheScorpion]

If Nazem has informed the Flames that he prefers to go to only two teams but is coveted by other teams who aren't on his list, well ... as far as I'm concerned, tough nuts.

I highly doubt that's true, though.