2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I don’t think the Flames are looking at 3-4 years of tanking. I suspect they will make significant adds this summer. I doubt they are eating salary on Kadri

When they've secured the talent they need, they can throw money at big fish.

Getting out of the basement isn't that hard when you're in the Pacific.

Kings and Oilers are either stumbling or regressing and the rest of the teams minus vegas aren't good. Only the ducks look to be on their way up.

If they were spending to the cap right now they could probably manufacture an 8th place team, but they're choosing not to which is great.

[Harry Lime]

If you're trading with the Habs, it's Zharovsky for me. He plays like Huselius, but there is still time to see if he can develop an edge, or defensive awareness, that would make him a super-Huselius.

That and a first and third.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

It might be unlikely, but Kadri with retention or taking a cap dump isn't completely out of line for Hage in my view. If Mtl truly thinks Hage is untouchable, fine, but I don't see him as a Misa level/untouchable prospect.

It would take a scenario where Mtl continues its strong play and sees a slotting issue at centre/needs strong veteran leadership. They would need to think their window is open now and for the next 3 or so years. Hage may not have an impact in that window.

I agree. Kadri with salary retained or salary coming back might land you Hage. Kadri at $7M IMO Montreal needs to be looking at a different option or letting their players develop and wait on Hage to make the team.

Even with Josh Anderson coming to the Flames and no salary retained has Montreal paying Kadri $7M for 2 years that Josh Anderson would have been off the books and where Kadri is in his late 30s.

I value adding experience and making the playoffs now could set them up in the future. But there is a limit and really their cup window is probably stating in 2 years, not now. Kadri full salary in his late 30s just doesn't add up.

They should be able to add 2nd line help with their 1st and keep Hage.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

When they've secured the talent they need, they can throw money at big fish.

Getting out of the basement isn't that hard when you're in the Pacific.

Kings and Oilers are either stumbling or regressing and the rest of the teams minus vegas aren't good. Only the ducks look to be on their way up.

If they were spending to the cap right now they could probably manufacture an 8th place team, but they're choosing not to which is great.

Sharks are gonna be a contender in a couple years. They already look like they’re taking a big step but they’ll still add a top player next draft

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I don’t think the Flames are looking at 3-4 years of tanking. I suspect they will make significant adds this summer. I doubt they are eating salary on Kadri

They can look like SJ did, but if they are one of the bottom teams in the league who sold 3 of their best players. Nobody is coming here long term.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Sharks are gonna be a contender in a couple years. They already look like they’re taking a big step but they’ll still add a top player next draft

Until they get some good young dmen, SJ is taking no steps forward. I am not sure what you are seeing of a team battling the a flames for the bottom of the league. Sure they may eventually be good, but that back end is no where close.

Look how bad they are this year, notwithstanding how good their forwards look.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

They can look like SJ did, but if they are one of the bottom teams in the league who sold 3 of their best players. Nobody is coming here long term.

That is probably correct. I can see them being aggressive on the trade front. They will have a lot of cap space, picks, and prospects to move for younger guys.

Last summer Conroy wasn’t willing to pay up for Miller, or Bryram but I think next summer he will have more desire to bring in guys to help right away.

[Niemo]

I know that ownership, coaching, etc., may not want to tank. Top 3 reasons I see listed over and over again:

1. Taking it down to the studs will ruin our 'winning culture'.
2. Top UFAs will not want to sign here.
3. Development of kids will be stunted or poisoned with a losing culture.

I can look at the other side and argue:

1. What winning culture? What have we won?
2. What top UFAs? When has a top guy actually signed here other than Kadri - and that was an offseason where no one had money to pay him.
3. I look at a bunch of top players in the past off the top of my head who played on bad teams to start their careers who turned out great....Iginla, Crosby, E. Staal, McDavid, Barkov, MacKinnon, etc.... Top players can through tough times - they understand and push through with their grit.
What isn't great is benching Coronato and Parekh for example when the team is already at the bottom. Let them show flashes of greatness to go along with their mistakes.

That is all.

Yes, I would trade our roster for the Sharks in a heartbeat - even if we had to give them all our picks this upcoming draft as a sweetener.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Sharks are gonna be a contender in a couple years. They already look like they’re taking a big step but they’ll still add a top player next draft

They do?

[Robbob]

That rebuild has the Sharks skyrocketing up to 31st

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Niemo

Yes, I would trade our roster for the Sharks in a heartbeat - even if we had to give them all our picks this upcoming draft as a sweetener.

I hear people say this but honestly it's a bit of a nothing thing
San Jose has been re-building longer, and has benefited from having several high picks already. They are further along in the process as the Flames. So of course a team further behind in their re-building cycle would trade for a team further ahead. It's only logical. San Jose has been out of the playoffs for 6 straight years, the Flames 3.

The question, is better thought of as, would you, from this point forward accept an additional 3 year playoff drought to be where San Jose is now. What about if there is only a 25% chance that you are where San Jose is now?

That's a more real thought experiment.

Saying you would swap Calgary for SJ today is easy. We would all do that I suspect.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I hear people say this but honestly it's a bit of a nothing thing
San Jose has been re-building longer, and has benefited from having several high picks already. They are further along in the process as the Flames. So of course a team further behind in their re-building cycle would trade for a team further ahead. It's only logical. San Jose has been out of the playoffs for 6 straight years, the Flames 3.

The question, is better thought of as, would you, from this point forward accept an additional 3 year playoff drought to be where San Jose is now. What about if there is only a 25% chance that you are where San Jose is now?

That's a more real thought experiment.

Saying you would swap Calgary for SJ today is easy. We would all do that I suspect.

I think I would still even looking at San Jose today vs Calgary 3 years from now.

But pretty much just because of Celebrini.

He's going to be a top 5, two way center in this league for a long time, and I don't see a player as good as him being available in any of the next 3 drafts. And they have the depth behind that pick as well that looks great.

And because I highly doubt the Flames get a single 1st overall pick anyways. Maybe if they draft Mckenna and Dupont that changes, but I still don't think either of those guys are as good as Celebrini.

[dino7c]

I mean they have already been the worst team and won lotteries...I should hope they have better young players

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think I would still even looking at San Jose today vs Calgary 3 years from now.

But pretty much just because of Celebrini.

He's going to be a top 5, two way center in this league for a long time, and I don't see a player as good as him being available in any of the next 3 drafts. And they have the depth behind that pick as well that looks great.

And because I highly doubt the Flames get a single 1st overall pick anyways. Maybe if they draft Mckenna and Dupont that changes, but I still don't think either of those guys are as good as Celebrini.

Agreed. It’s all spilled milk now and hindsight is 20/20 but I can’t help thinking about where this team could be today if the organization committed to a full rebuild once Johnny left and Tkachuk wanted to be traded. The Tkachuk trade could have been more futures and prospect heavy (no Huberdeau and no Weegar). Lindholm, Tanev, Hanifin, and Andersson were all at peak value with years left on their contracts with low cap hits when cap space was at its peak value. Flames could have loaded up on an insane number of picks and prospects. Could have bottomed out in the Bedard, Celebrini and Schaefer drafts.

Who knows how it could have gone. Need lots of lottery luck no matter what. I know it’s also not realistic for a team to sell off that many really good players in a short amount of time.

[Enoch Root]

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Agreed. It’s all spilled milk now and hindsight is 20/20 but I can’t help thinking about where this team could be today if the organization committed to a full rebuild once Johnny left and Tkachuk wanted to be traded. The Tkachuk trade could have been more futures and prospect heavy (no Huberdeau and no Weegar). Lindholm, Tanev, Hanifin, and Andersson were all at peak value with years left on their contracts with low cap hits when cap space was at its peak value. Flames could have loaded up on an insane number of picks and prospects. Could have bottomed out in the Bedard, Celebrini and Schaefer drafts.

Who knows how it could have gone. Need lots of lottery luck no matter what. I know it’s also not realistic for a team to sell off that many really good players in a short amount of time.

The idea that Brad Treliving and Darryl Sutter would have ever done that is crazy. Ownership may have wanted to do it but their GM and Head Coach would have said no.

A year later Conroy comes in and the rebuild starts and ownership has no problem trading player after player. But Brad and Darryl would have never done it.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

The Habs cap will be very good until Suzuki is a UFA. Demidov and Newhook have played well together, but stat show Kapanen hasn't been that good. I only really think they have Demidov in the near future looking for big money. Even then, guys like Cooley just signed for $10M. Demidov will be in and around that cap hit.

All the stat point to getting a 2nd line center for Demidov and moving Newhook to the wing. Long term they probably need an upgrade on Newhook and Kapanen or let Kapanen develop more.

Stat are showing that their 1st line is elite. When the 3 are together, they are as dominant as any line in the league. Just need a 2nd line and Demidov is looking like a 1st line star playing on the 2nd line. I don't think they should wait around for Hage or Beck, the question is why Kadri? Unless he is cheap, they should be aiming for someone younger.

If I'm Montreal, I only want Kadri if there is RS. Only part with Hage for Kadri if the Flames RS. Otherwise, I'm looking at different options.

Who are these younger, better centers than Kadri that are on the market?

[dissentowner]

I know he has seemed like he wants to finish his career here but it would be nice if Backlund decided he wanted to go chase a Cup too. Another asset we can move for futures. Might as well go full bore and move as many vets as we can that have value.

[ComixZone]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1983739150600958175

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

https://twitter.com/user/status/1983739150600958175

Gotta be a goalie… but who?