2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Poe969]

I'd hire one of myself be the GM/head coach

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Yeah, it's totally Conroy's fault that the team went on an improbable winning tear AFTER the trade deadline and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. You saw that coming, of course, didn't you?

Yeah that happened pretty much exactly as I and a handful of others predicted it would. The guys turned it on when it didn't matter anymore and still missed, ensuring us a worse draft pick while still missing the playoffs. I don't know what point you're trying to make but you're really bad at it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Yeah that happened pretty much exactly as I and a handful of others predicted it would. The guys turned it on when it didn't matter anymore and still missed, ensuring us a worse draft pick while still missing the playoffs. I don't know what point you're trying to make but you're really bad at it.

How can you say it didn't matter when they literally achieved the point requirement to make the playoffs 90% of the time.
It's not like they were playing with no stakes. They were playing must win games for an extended period.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Seattle Kraken prospects of interest:

-C Jake O'Brien, who currently has 26 points in 12 OHL games (+15) with Brantford.

-W Julius Miettinen (19 years old), turns 20 in January), a 6'4",207-pounder who is up to 22 points in 13 WHL games (+19!) with Everett.

-C/LW Nathan Villeneuve, a 19 year-old, 6'0",194lb sparkplug with 15 points in 8 OHL games with Sudbury.

-LD Jakub Fibigr (19), a 6'0",172lb rearguard who skates, moves the puck, plays a good two-way game, and currently has 12 points in 12 OHL games with Brampton.

-RD Blake Fiddler (18), drafted 36th-overall on the summer, he's a huge (6'5",212lbs) shutdown blueliner with decent skill and mobility who has 8 points in 14 games with Edmonton (WHL).

-W Jagger Firkus (21), former junior star, drafted 35th-overall in 2022, he has 7 points in 6 games with Coachella (AHL).

-LW Clarke Caswell (19), standing 5'11", and 181bs, he's another former junior star (and Captain of the Broncos) who was drafted in the 5th-round in 2024. Currently, he has 6 points in 6 games with the U of Denver. Good two-way instincts, and a fine playmaker.

-C/RW Logan Morrison (6'0",179lbs) was never drafted, but the 23 year-old has 5 points in 6 AHL games with Coachella.

-RW Jacob Melanson (6'1",205lbs) the 22 year-old was a favorite of mine in his draft year- he's scrappy and physical, and has 5 points in 6 games with Coachella (AHL).

-C/LW Oskar Fisker-Molgaard (6'0",168lbs) is only 20, drafted 52nd-overall in 2023, and is a speedster with high motor, a cerebral offensive facilitator, and a detailed defensive player. He currently has 4 points in 6 games with Coachella, in his rookie season.

-LD Tyson Jugnauth (5'11",170). The 21 year-old was a star in junior, putting up 89 points in 65 games last season, with 33 points in 18 playoff games for Portland (WHL). This year, he's with Coachella, and has 4 points in 7 games so far.

-RD Maxim Agafonov (6'2",201lbs), was selected in the 5th-round in 2025, but was ranked much higher. He's quite mobile, and provides his team with quality puck-movement, and ability in both ends of the rink. He's spent most of the year in the VHL, with 1 KHL game to his credit.

-LD Caden Price (6'1",190lbs) was drafted in the third-round of the 2023 draft, but the 20 year-old was ranked higher on most lists, and has played for Team Canada in the U-18's, the Hlinka, and the WJC. He's an excellent two-way D who can contribute in any situation, and is well-balanced skill-wise.

-LD Will Reynolds (6'3",192lbs) is another player who was drafted in the third-round (2025), but was ranked higher on many lists- mostly because he moves well, and plays a heavy, physical, shutdown game, with the ability to move the puck out of the zone by pass or by carry.

-C/LW Carson Rehkopf (6'2",201lbs) exploded offensively in the OHL after being drafted 50th-overall in 2023. He skates well, has good hands, an excellent shot, and plays a good 200-ft game with physicality. Still finding his way in the AHL though, with only 2 points in 6 games.

-RD Lukas Dragicevic (6'2",196lbs) was drafted 57th-overall in 2023, after posting 75 points in 68 games with Tri-City (WHL). Even at 20 years old, he's still figuring it out, but has tons of raw skill- so far, just 2 points in 7 AHL games in his rookie season.

-C Ollie Josephson (6'1",190lbs) was a favorite of mine in the 2024 draft (he was taken in the 4th-round), but he's trending more towards being a gritty, agitating defensive C who can shut down top players. Only 1 point in 6 AHL games so far, the former Captain of the Rebels is still working on his game in the pros, but he'll be a good one.

-W Eduard Sale (6'1",174lbs) was a highly-touted offensive winger who was drafted 20th-overall in 2023, he has struggled to live up to his billing since coming over across the pond- but he has plenty of raw skill to work with. He played in 3 WJC tournaments, putting up 21 points in 21 games.

Also Shane Wright.

I'd be reallly happy with Wright or O'Brien.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Toffoli and Mangiapane, too.

In fact, you have a pattern of forgetting about every move that doesn't fit your narrative. It must be convenient for you.

Both of those players were traded before their UFA season in the offseason

Let's not pretend they were traded with term left.

Whether you are traded with 82, 60, 40, or 28 games left on your contract it's still the last year of your contract / an expiring contract

Especially when you know you aren't resigning them.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Yeah that happened pretty much exactly as I and a handful of others predicted it would. The guys turned it on when it didn't matter anymore and still missed, ensuring us a worse draft pick while still missing the playoffs. I don't know what point you're trying to make but you're really bad at it.

When it didn't matter?

The Flames were in a playoff spot, one point ahead of Vancouver and two points ahead of St. Louis the day before the trade deadline.

Conroy didn't add, which showed a long term focus.

He didn't subtract which showed respect to a team that defied odds and had themselves in a playoff spot.

[Jason14h]

Why does it even matter what the Flames did after the trade deadline either way?

We weren't falling into bottom 10 at that point anyways so our pick was already gone by the trade deadline.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Both of those players were traded before their UFA season in the offseason

Let's not pretend they were traded with term left.

Whether you are traded with 82, 60, 40, or 28 games left on your contract it's still the last year of your contract / an expiring contract

Especially when you know you aren't resigning them.

We are all good to interpret that line individually, but I disagree.

If fans are going to accuse the team team (mgmt) of trying to get in every year, you can't call a player traded before training camp a UFA that's equal to shedding a UFA at the deadline when you're out of it.

Lots of hope before puck drop every season.

Clear math at the deadline.

Very different decisions.

[Red Potato Standing By]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Yeah that happened pretty much exactly as I and a handful of others predicted it would. The guys turned it on when it didn't matter anymore and still missed, ensuring us a worse draft pick while still missing the playoffs. I don't know what point you're trying to make but you're really bad at it.

Except they did matter,they still had a chance to make the playoffs ( whether you think that they matter or not is irrelevant)

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Bingo

We are all good to interpret that line individually, but I disagree.

If fans are going to accuse the team team (mgmt) of trying to get in every year, you can't call a player traded before training camp a UFA that's equal to shedding a UFA at the deadline when you're out of it.

Lots of hope before puck drop every season.

Clear math at the deadline.

Very different decisions.

Sure but these were used as examples of trading players before they were becoming UFA's

They were both traded because they were becoming UFA's and the Flames weren't going to sign them.

And they got a player back as the primary part of the Toffoli deal as well, not futures.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Royle9

If I had Edwards money, I'd surely purchase the Flames so I could take a crack at righting this ship that's for sure!

Would you give me a job as a scout?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Sure but these were used as examples of trading players before they were becoming UFA's

They were both traded because they were becoming UFA's and the Flames weren't going to sign them.

And they got a player back as the primary part of the Toffoli deal as well, not futures.

And I see them as an example of trading players before they become UFAs.

It's not players being jettisoned in a lost season. It's moving an asset before the season starts when - if the fan base is right - your owner wants you to make the playoffs.

[Monahammer]

Does it actually matter if you make the playoffs to lose in 4 games? I thought we were beyond that level of thought. It doesn't matter if you're going to lose immediately and just be fodder for a stronger team to basically auto in to the second round. We went on a losing skid and didn't have the horses to really be a contender. We should have sold because it truly didnt matter- even if we Had snuck into the playoffs, there is 0 chance we would have advanced and made a difference. We would have picked even later.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Red Potato Standing By

Except they did matter,they still had a chance to make the playoffs ( whether you think that they matter or not is irrelevant)

True irrelevance is thinking that 4 playoff games matter in any way when this franchise has won nothing in almost 40 years.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Does it actually matter if you make the playoffs to lose in 4 games? I thought we were beyond that level of thought. It doesn't matter if you're going to lose immediately and just be fodder for a stronger team to basically auto in to the second round. We went on a losing skid and didn't have the horses to really be a contender. We should have sold because it truly didnt matter- even if we Had snuck into the playoffs, there is 0 chance we would have advanced and made a difference. We would have picked even later.

That's an entirely different argument.

You said this:
"The guys turned it on when it didn't matter anymore and still missed"

Which doesn't make any sense.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Does it actually matter if you make the playoffs to lose in 4 games? I thought we were beyond that level of thought. It doesn't matter if you're going to lose immediately and just be fodder for a stronger team to basically auto in to the second round. We went on a losing skid and didn't have the horses to really be a contender. We should have sold because it truly didnt matter- even if we Had snuck into the playoffs, there is 0 chance we would have advanced and made a difference. We would have picked even later.

Originally Posted by Monahammer

True irrelevance is thinking that 4 playoff games matter in any way when this franchise has won nothing in almost 40 years.

I am in favour of a tank and trading the veterans - but you can't punt on a season midseason when you're right there for a playoff spot.

Flames were never more than 2-3 points out of the playoffs, and you have to reward the young guys for their success too.

Do you think Wolf, Coronato, Zary, etc would have been super thrilled about the Flames if they went and traded everyone with where they were in the playoff race last year? No chance.

Now they likely should have traded Andersson prior to the 24-25 season, and still think that was the miss, but not trading those guys at the deadline last season wasn't really the issue.

And now the key is they have to do the opposite. You are having a bad start, now you have to punt on this season, don't try to salvage it just to end up finishing with the 12th overall pick. Lean into being bad and lean into being bad hard this year.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Does it actually matter if you make the playoffs to lose in 4 games? I thought we were beyond that level of thought. It doesn't matter if you're going to lose immediately and just be fodder for a stronger team to basically auto in to the second round. We went on a losing skid and didn't have the horses to really be a contender. We should have sold because it truly didnt matter- even if we Had snuck into the playoffs, there is 0 chance we would have advanced and made a difference. We would have picked even later.

Actually I think it does.

I wouldn't (and didn't) support adding at the deadline when you're in a retool, but I certainly got on board with not subtracting, especially with no valued UFAs expiring and walked to free agency, in order to have a team that exceeded expectations (assets already moved) be given a chance.

Making the playoffs is fun, especially if it's unlikely. I think too many fans are treating this like a video game and don't get that.

Especially if it's managed correctly and the team doesn't expend assets to fortify it when you've already started building for the future.

[Ped]

I get the argument that a player in the last year of his contract is in the last year no matter when you trade him, but there's a huge difference between trading a player before the season even starts, and trading him during the season when you know for sure that you're not winning anything.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Would you give me a job as a scout?

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

That's an entirely different argument.

You said this:
"The guys turned it on when it didn't matter anymore and still missed"

Which doesn't make any sense.

Classic moving the goal posts. Won't concede/accept the point so they can retain their position in a future rehashing of this argument. You can see it coming from a mile away.