2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kehatch

The argument that he has nothing else to learn never made sense. It may not be ideal, but the NHL is not a development league. A majority of Parekhs utilization in the NHL will be directed based on the desire to win, not develop the player.

There are very few examples of players whose development was derailed by taking too much time. There are plenty of examples of that happening when rushing players.

Personally I would send him back to junior. Let him get stronger and develop physically, restore his confidence, and dominate again. Then he has a summer to prepare with the experience he has gained so far. Next year he can join the team, and there is still the safety net of the AHL if you need.

There is zero reason to rush him into the NHL at his point. Conroy needs to be patient and smart.

The Flames' coaches have every reason in the world to focus on his development.

But why would a Junior coach care about development? If he gets gifted a Parekh, he is going to use him to win, he isn't concerned about whether or not Parekh works on things that will help him down the road.

The other concern with junior isn't that 'there is nothing to learn', there are always things to learn, for everyone. The problem with junior is that it would be too easy for him, and the pursuit of points could lead to bad habits.

With respect to Parekh's development, there is no question that being here in the NHL is better for him than being in junior.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

There is no chance of a Weegar trade. He wants to stay in Calgary, he has a NTC, and the organization sees him as an important mentor to the young players as well as the guy who will wear the C once Backlund is gone. Weegar isn't going anywhere.

Agreed. With Andersson on the block, Weegar is the last guy Conroy is trading (unless of course he asks to be moved)

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Flames' coaches have every reason in the world to focus on his development.

But why would a Junior coach care about development? If he gets gifted a Parekh, he is going to use him to win, he isn't concerned about whether or not Parekh works on things that will help him down the road.

The other concern with junior isn't that 'there is nothing to learn', there are always things to learn, for everyone. The problem with junior is that it would be too easy for him, and the pursuit of points could lead to bad habits.

With respect to Parekh's development, there is no question that being here in the NHL is better for him than being in junior.

Yes, what Parekh needs to learn most, IMO, is reading the play, in all zones of the ice. The players are faster, bigger, highly skilled and the systems played are significantly more complex. That can't be simulated at the junior level. There's also the psychological/emotional component to consider. His confidence playing junior is likely sky-high. Something that he is still developing in the NHL.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Flames' coaches have every reason in the world to focus on his development.

But why would a Junior coach care about development? If he gets gifted a Parekh, he is going to use him to win, he isn't concerned about whether or not Parekh works on things that will help him down the road.

Developing Parekh’s two-way play would also help his junior team win. Junior teams also care about the reputation they have for developing NHLers. It’s one of the reasons the London Knights have been such a powerhouse under the Hunters.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Developing Parekh’s two-way play would also help his junior team win. Junior teams also care about the reputation they have for developing NHLers. It’s one of the reasons the London Knights have been such a powerhouse under the Hunters.

The Knights don't own his rights

And even when motivated for development, junior coaches don't have the resources that an NHL team has. There is no comparison. And there is no comparison on motivation.

[D as in David]

Not to mention the watering down of the CHL with the change in the NCAA rules. He'd be going back to a league that is easier than the one he played in last year.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think bringing in a couple of stop-gaps could work out well. Aside from the assistant coaches, the Flames also have Stone and Seabrook to help guide the kids along. However, I don't see Byram as a stop-gap in the slightest - he would be competing with Parekh for top powerplay time, while not being a defensive stalwart that would be required - I think the Flames would need a player that is solid defensively while chipping in offensively. If I had to pick between offensive and defensive D, I would put that needle all the way to defence, as that would be the most urgent need in the lineup.

I'm of a similar mindset. I agree that Byram seems like a bad fit I only mentioned him because the Flames seemed interested in him during the offseason. Ideally it would be someone like Mickey Andersson or Sanheim, but I don't think either of those guys gets moved. Maybe the Flames pro scouting staff has an eye on another Bahl type of Dmen with less than 150GP. On that note, I think the Flames could have one in Kuznetsov but he needs reps in the NHL.

As for UFAs and Oleksiak in particular, I think he has slowed down a bit, and I'm not sure he would be a great option. Not much is out there, that's for sure. Funnily enough I think that Kulak could be a decent fit.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Flames' coaches have every reason in the world to focus on his development.

But why would a Junior coach care about development? If he gets gifted a Parekh, he is going to use him to win, he isn't concerned about whether or not Parekh works on things that will help him down the road.

The other concern with junior isn't that 'there is nothing to learn', there are always things to learn, for everyone. The problem with junior is that it would be too easy for him, and the pursuit of points could lead to bad habits.

With respect to Parekh's development, there is no question that being here in the NHL is better for him than being in junior.

The Flames coaches job is to win games. I am not saying they aren't considering his short term development, but there primary motivation is to win. This is a coaching staff that has been scratching young guys, bouncing them around the line up, and parking them on the fourth line.

And people need to stop treating Parekh like a diety that is too good for junior. He is 19 and clearly has a lot of room to develop.

The biggest issue is his physical development. He is taking a nasty hit every night. There have been way to many examples of players coming to the NHL before they were physically ready.

[bigrangy]

Originally Posted by kehatch

The Flames coaches job is to win games.

Yeh, and they've failed this year.

The job is now to develop for the future.

[saillias]

Yeah It's a bit one-track minded, reductionist to say. Huska is a guy who came up through the AHL and the WHL, and Conroy specifically outlined in the hiring press conference that he has a good rapport and communication with him and hired him because they are on the same page. I don't think even he would say his job was "just" to win games. That's something maybe a Sutter or Tortorella would say

[browntrout]

This team is not making the playoffs, statistically extremely unlikely. Time to sell veteran's, Kadri, Coleman, Andersson, get ammo for the 2027 draft, team might get 2026 1st round pick, but they will be late 23-32?, it's a deep draft, there will be alot of hesitation from teams to trade any 2026 first rounds, but maybe the flames can steal a 2nd pairing defensemam

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Yeh, and they've failed this year.

The job is now to develop for the future.

That's why I'm glad they renewed Huska's contract. He can actually do things for the future now, instead of having one foot out the door and one eye on finding his next job.

[dammage79]

At this rate they'll be out of the playoffs before American Thanksgiving. Conroy so far is losing grade points for letting this roster twist in the wind as it is. If you're tanking, great, then make space for the kids, if you're trying to make the playoffs..... Well this start paired with inactivity would be a fireable offense.

Not that I'm saying they're objective is the playoffs. But I'm saying if it were, he's done a horrible job righting the ship.

It's not going to get worse than it is right now, so there's no reason not to make the moves that might be on the table. The rooms already in shambles. Has to be. This start is honestly one of the worst in team history, or close to it (without actually looking it up I say this).

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by dammage79

At this rate they'll be out of the playoffs before American Thanksgiving. Conroy so far is losing grade points for letting this roster twist in the wind as it is. If you're tanking, great, then make space for the kids, if you're trying to make the playoffs..... Well this start paired with inactivity would be a fireable offense.

Not that I'm saying they're objective is the playoffs. But I'm saying if it were, he's done a horrible job righting the ship.

It's not going to get worse than it is right now, so there's no reason not to make the moves that might be on the table. The rooms already in shambles. Has to be. This start is honestly one of the worst in team history, or close to it (without actually looking it up I say this).

What if the offers on the table are poor. Should they make them anyways? And if so why?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What if the offers on the table are poor. Should they make them anyways? And if so why?

There is no reason to make bad trades to make room for kids who are not exactly going to be huge parts of the future anyway. Any kids who will likely be a big part of the future (at least imo) could use time in the minors (Gridin, Hunter B).

Not making room for 24 year old Connor Zary and his 2 points in 11 games is not going to break the Flames. Making room for him at the expense of a bad trade would be a terrible move.

[Sandman]

Anthony DiMarco of Daily Faceoff says the Minnesota Wild are “big fans” of Nazem Kadri.

That is all.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Anthony DiMarco of Daily Faceoff says the Minnesota Wild are “big fans” of Nazem Kadri.

That is all.

Take Rossi and their 2026 1st of their hands for Kadri and Zary.

[Sandman]

I really like RW Ryder Ritchie, LW Liam Ohgren, and C/W Riley Heidt.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Lots to choose from with the wild. I would take Yurov, Heidt, Stramel, and others

[Sandman]

Zeev Buium would be the dream, but he ain’t moving. 8 points in 12 games with the Wild…