2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Gotta be a goalie… but who?

It's going to be a forward. It is always a forward.

I heard Dillon Dube is available.

[iloveicedhockey]

I was thinking Henrique, Emberson or Kulak were the only ones who made sense to me. I assume there will be a sweetener attached but there are some odd GMs out there.

[Svartsengi]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

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

Oilers highest paid guy without any NMC or Full NTC is Kulak at $2.75 million followed by Skinner at $2.6 Million. Everyone else lacking any form of trade protection doesn't make much above league minimum. One or both of those players would have to go out with little coming back in order to open up any significant amount of cap space.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

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

He saw the Kesler news and had to move before someone else beat him to it.

[dino7c]

Don't the Oilers need to clear cap just to get Hyman in the lineup

[Sandman]

A few tidbits from nhltraderumors:

-While Lebrun claims that the Bruins are no longer looking to trade Zacha, an NHL source told James Murphy of rg.org that they are still listening to offers on Zacha, as well as Casey Mittlestadt. The Canucks apparently want Zacha badly, and according to Murphy, the Flames were kicking tires on him during the off-season- but their bad start will likely put the kibosh on that interest, as they are likely to be sellers now.

-Seravalli thinks that while there are many teams in the mix for Andersson's services, the Vegas Golden Knights may have removed themselves from the sweepstakes due to their cap situation.

-Pagnotta speculates that the NYR have three trade candidates after their slow start: Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, and Braden Schneider. Schneider (who is 24) is eligible to become a RFA in July with arbitration rights, so the Rags might consider moving him, while Panarin has interest from Minny, Utah, Florida, and Washington. Panarin has a full no-movement clause, and they would have to retain a portion of his 11.6 millon-dollar salary. Seravalli says to watch out for the 'Canes on the Panarin front.

-Jeremy Tingly says to watch for the Avs and Canucks on the Kadri front in the coming weeks. Dave Litman says the Leafs, Canadiens, and Canucks have been linked to him.

-Elliotte Friedman says the ask for Rangers' prospect Brennan Othmann is "good AHL prospects".

-Pagnotta says that there are a number of contending teams interested in Blake Coleman, and he won't come that cheap- being that he has one more year, and a fairly reasonable cap-hit that would look better with some retention.

As usual, don't shoot the messenger!

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sandman

A few tidbits from nhltraderumors:

-While Lebrun claims that the Bruins are no longer looking to trade Zacha, an NHL source told James Murphy of rg.org that they are still listening to offers on Zacha, as well as Casey Mittlestadt. The Canucks apparently want Zacha badly, and according to Murphy, the Flames were kicking tires on him during the off-season- but their bad start will likely put the kibosh on that interest, as they are likely to be sellers now.

-Seravalli thinks that while there are many teams in the mix for Andersson's services, the Vegas Golden Knights may have removed themselves from the sweepstakes due to their cap situation.

-Pagnotta speculates that the NYR have three trade candidates after their slow start: Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, and Braden Schneider. Schneider (who is 24) is eligible to become a RFA in July with arbitration rights, so the Rags might consider moving him, while Panarin has interest from Minny, Utah, Florida, and Washington. Panarin has a full no-movement clause, and they would have to retain a portion of his 11.6 millon-dollar salary. Seravalli says to watch out for the 'Canes on the Panarin front.

-Jeremy Tingly says to watch for the Avs and Canucks on the Kadri front in the coming weeks. Dave Litman says the Leafs, Canadiens, and Canucks have been linked to him.

-Elliotte Friedman says the ask for Rangers' prospect Brennan Othmann is "good AHL prospects".

-Pagnotta says that there are a number of contending teams interested in Blake Coleman, and he won't come that cheap- being that he has one more year, and a fairly reasonable cap-hit that would look better with some retention.

As usual, don't shoot the messenger!

It’s tough to get a read on what the flames could get for Coleman. He’s a great 2-way player with a reputation for elevating his game in the post-season. With retention, his cap hit could be really affordable and he’ll have a year left in his deal so he’s not just a pure rental. Sounds like the flames aren’t highly motivated to move him either because he’s a good vet who likes living in Calgary.

However, he is likely a depth winger on most contending teams. Even top six wingers rarely return 1st round picks unless they are big point-producers. Coleman also has a NTC so he could end up limiting the list of teams he would go to.

I think the highest return could be a conditional 2nd round pick that could become a 1st if the acquiring team makes the conference finals. Maybe a decent prospect or young NHLer in the deal as well.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by stemit14

It’s tough to get a read on what the flames could get for Coleman. He’s a great 2-way player with a reputation for elevating his game in the post-season. With retention, his cap hit could be really affordable and he’ll have a year left in his deal so he’s not just a pure rental. Sounds like the flames aren’t highly motivated to move him either because he’s a good vet who likes living in Calgary.

However, he is likely a depth winger on most contending teams. Even top six wingers rarely return 1st round picks unless they are big point-producers. Coleman also has a NTC so he could end up limiting the list of teams he would go to.

I think the highest return could be a conditional 2nd round pick that could become a 1st if the acquiring team makes the conference finals. Maybe a decent prospect or young NHLer in the deal as well.

Soon, very soon, hopefully the Flames shift focus and start to open up spaces for some more young players.

Coleman has been great and lived up to everything the Flames could have asked. I think one of the prime objectives though is to start to clear out the logjam on the wing, particularly LW or, at least, LHS Wingers. By seasons end, the Flames should have opened at least one spot for Gridin, Suniev, Stromgren or any of the other young guys we’ve been hearing about.

Same goes with Andersson and Brutzewicz. Move Kadri and give Zary a long look at C too. Prioritize draft capital. It seems pretty unlikely the Flames are going to walk away from any deal with a high end C prospect. Maybe they can get a LHS D.

If the Flames do want to follow the Montreal model, they should be heading into the next couple of drafts with 10 picks in each. Maybe more.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Soon, very soon, hopefully the Flames shift focus and start to open up spaces for some more young players.

Coleman has been great and lived up to everything the Flames could have asked. I think one of the prime objectives though is to start to clear out the logjam on the wing, particularly LW or, at least, LHS Wingers. By seasons end, the Flames should have opened at least one spot for Gridin, Suniev, Stromgren or any of the other young guys we’ve been hearing about.

Same goes with Andersson and Brutzewicz. Move Kadri and give Zary a long look at C too. Prioritize draft capital. It seems pretty unlikely the Flames are going to walk away from any deal with a high end C prospect. Maybe they can get a LHS D.

If the Flames do want to follow the Montreal model, they should be heading into the next couple of drafts with 10 picks in each. Maybe more.

The Flames need to keep focus on draft picks. The log jam is causing issue already for quite a few players this year and most of their best prospects were drafted in 2024 and 2025. Other than Gridin, none of these players have even been in the running to push for a spot on this team. In the next year or 2 we will see a bunch of players similar to Gridin make a push. Guys like Zary need a real crack before this happens. It's hard to evaluate him right now with his ice time getting reduced by 20%.

Trading Coleman and Kadri gives Frost, Zary. Klapka, Sharangovich, Pospisil, Farabee bigger roles with the team. Someone will play well enough to increase their value in a year or 2 when others are pushing for a spot. It will also give Conroy a better chance to evaluate these players.

I still like Zary but suggested we trade him several times this summer if they do not move Coleman or Kadri or both. So far this season, Zary looks like he isn't a long-term keeper. IMO he is better than he has played so far this year and the slump could hurt his confidence. He needs a bigger role and picks in 26/27/28 gives Conroy time to develop players. Once the team is on the rise, picks can be used as trade capital to fill in missing pieces.

[Bingo]

Man if the Flames deal Coleman and Kadri this year they'll be creating a pretty good cottage industry of asset manufacturing.

2017 Brouwer ... whoops
2018 Neal ... whoops

2020 Markstrom and Tanev
2021 Blake Coleman
2022 Nazem Kadri

[Royle9]

I don't expect either to be moved "soon" but from what I've been told the 3 amigos in Kadri, Andersson and Coleman remain to be the most talked about commodities and will have every chance to be moved (Darkhorse name - Frost)

The great news is at least right now its a bidding war, though teams have circled the Flames like sharks hoping for desperation moves.
But don't kid yourself, Craig knows his value and all 3 should bring back very good returns. I do think that Craig would want some younger roster players as part of the return(s) but is also very interested in 1st round picks in the next two drafts.

I haven't heard anything concrete/more detailed myself outside of what I've already highlighted a few times regarding the interest in CGY's select players.
The U.S thanksgiving "deadline" for playoff spots will likely have some impact on when bodies start moving, but I was told Craig is in no hurry to move players for sake of doing so in a panic/salvaging type move.

The much much avoided "rebuild" may soon be more upon us than we realize.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Man if the Flames deal Coleman and Kadri this year they'll be creating a pretty good cottage industry of asset manufacturing.

2017 Brouwer ... whoops
2018 Neal ... whoops

2020 Markstrom and Tanev
2021 Blake Coleman
2022 Nazem Kadri

If Frost stays on a line with Kadri and Huberdeau and keeps putting up points, you could add him to the list of asset manufacturing. Farabee could move for a pick down the road too.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I don't expect either to be moved "soon" but from what I've been told the 3 amigos in Kadri, Andersson and Coleman remain to be the most talked about commodities and will have every chance to be moved (Darkhorse name - Frost)

The great news is at least right now its a bidding war, though teams have circled the Flames like sharks hoping for desperation moves.
But don't kid yourself, Craig knows his value and all 3 should bring back very good returns. I do think that Craig would want some younger roster players as part of the return(s) but is also very interested in 1st round picks in the next two drafts.

I haven't heard anything concrete/more detailed myself outside of what I've already highlighted a few times regarding the interest in CGY's select players.
The U.S thanksgiving "deadline" for playoff spots will likely have some impact on when bodies start moving, but I was told Craig is in no hurry to move players for sake of doing so in a panic/salvaging type move.

The much much avoided "rebuild" may soon be more upon us than we realize.

He doesn't have any choice - moving Kadri, Coleman and Andersson eliminates $16.5M in cap space (less any retention) and they would be well under the floor. So they have to take some salary back.

Also, if you take those 3 out of the lineup, you're down to Backlund, Huberdeau and Lomberg, up front, and Weegar on the point, for vets. That is getting REALLY skinny. Most of us want a rebuild, but just replacing those 3 with 3 kids would create a lineup that would get caved in on a regular basis - no way the organization will allow that, and I agree with them.

[Strange Brew]

I really could see Frost being the first one moved, in exchange for a player though.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I really could see Frost being the first one moved, in exchange for a player though.

I think it's too early to give up on Frost, personally. Last year was a write-off, with the trade and move. I think we need to give him at least 40 games, but more realistically, another year, to see what he is.

His cap hit is irrelevant (the Flames will be more worried about the floor this year), so I would play him through this year and into next. Right now, he isn't going to return a ton - either he gets going, and increases his value, or the Flames can move him next year, or re-sign him cheaper.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I don't expect either to be moved "soon" but from what I've been told the 3 amigos in Kadri, Andersson and Coleman remain to be the most talked about commodities and will have every chance to be moved (Darkhorse name - Frost)

The great news is at least right now its a bidding war, though teams have circled the Flames like sharks hoping for desperation moves.
But don't kid yourself, Craig knows his value and all 3 should bring back very good returns. I do think that Craig would want some younger roster players as part of the return(s) but is also very interested in 1st round picks in the next two drafts.

I haven't heard anything concrete/more detailed myself outside of what I've already highlighted a few times regarding the interest in CGY's select players.
The U.S thanksgiving "deadline" for playoff spots will likely have some impact on when bodies start moving, but I was told Craig is in no hurry to move players for sake of doing so in a panic/salvaging type move.

The much much avoided "rebuild" may soon be more upon us than we realize.

For me ‘very soon’ would be between now and Christmas. Soon would be the TDL.

It might be optimistic to think all three may be dealt before the end of the year. I don’t think the Flames have a history of being that bold. 2/3 before the end of the year should probably be the expectation.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He doesn't have any choice - moving Kadri, Coleman and Andersson eliminates $16.5M in cap space (less any retention) and they would be well under the floor. So they have to take some salary back.

Also, if you take those 3 out of the lineup, you're down to Backlund, Huberdeau and Lomberg, up front, and Weegar on the point, for vets. That is getting REALLY skinny. Most of us want a rebuild, but just replacing those 3 with 3 kids would create a lineup that would get caved in on a regular basis - no way the organization will allow that, and I agree with them.

I would be hesitant to trade too many vets as well- someone has to be there to usher in the youth. The alternative is to have a decade similar to what the Oilers went through- you can’t just hand the keys to the team over to a bunch of kids.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I think it's too early to give up on Frost, personally. Last year was a write-off, with the trade and move. I think we need to give him at least 40 games, but more realistically, another year, to see what he is.

His cap hit is irrelevant (the Flames will be more worried about the floor this year), so I would play him through this year and into next. Right now, he isn't going to return a ton - either he gets going, and increases his value, or the Flames can move him next year, or re-sign him cheaper.

I don't think it's giving up. I think Conroy would like to try a trade to see if it shakes up the team. And he doesn't want to give up any of the pieces likely to return meaningful futures (Kadri, Rasmus, Coleman).

The list of players that would return anything of value in that scenario is extremely short.

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He doesn't have any choice - moving Kadri, Coleman and Andersson eliminates $16.5M in cap space (less any retention) and they would be well under the floor. So they have to take some salary back.

Also, if you take those 3 out of the lineup, you're down to Backlund, Huberdeau and Lomberg, up front, and Weegar on the point, for vets. That is getting REALLY skinny. Most of us want a rebuild, but just replacing those 3 with 3 kids would create a lineup that would get caved in on a regular basis - no way the organization will allow that, and I agree with them.

Taking on a bad expiring contract for more value would be great.

[SuperMatt18]

Hmm let's make up random trades for those 3 players.

Andersson (50% retention) to Detroit for 2026 1st + Shai Buium

Coleman (50% retrention) to New Jersey for 2026 1st

Kadri + Bean to Montreal for 2026 1st + Xhekaj + Beck