2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[FlameyMcFlameFace]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I do wonder if the trade market for Kadri will pick up after his 1000th game. I understand if Conroy told teams that they wouldn’t be making any potential Kadri trade until after that point. The east especially is extremely tight this year with very little point difference from top to bottom right now. And there are lots of teams desperate to make the playoffs this year. Could see a few stepping up to make a move early to gain some momentum and be a playoff team.

I think the risk of a first round pick in a Kadri trade being high is pretty easily mitigated by making it protected. Really hoping some team steps up and offers a top prospect and a 1st round pick (i.e. the Nelson return) for Kadri and would love for it to happen earlier in the season. Not sure if it will happen considering Conroy would have a high asking price and it usually takes the pressure of a deadline for a team to step up and pay. Conroy is likely in no rush to trade Kadri since he is signed for multiple seasons and is earning his cap hit so far.

Hoping at this point for the following at some point this season:

Kadri for a 2026 1st round pick (top 10 protected) + top prospect (centre or LS defenceman)
Andersson for a 2026 1st round pick (top 10 protected) + 2nd round pick
Coleman for a 2026 or 2027 conditional 2nd round pick (becomes a 1st if the acquiring team makes the conference finals)

Are we so sure Kadri and Andersson can both fetch a 1st round pick in 2026? I think if we retain a bit, but Idk if they are enough to get a good prospect with a 1st

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by FlameyMcFlameFace

Are we so sure Kadri and Andersson can both fetch a 1st round pick in 2026? I think if we retain a bit, but Idk if they are enough to get a good prospect with a 1st

I’d be fine with retention for those returns. The flames have plenty of cap space for the next few years. Question is if the Edwards would be ok with retaining any of Kadri’s salary in a trade.

[Psytic]

If Brock Nelson can get a solid center prospect and a 1st then there’s no doubt in my mind that Kadri can get that with a bit of retention.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by FlameyMcFlameFace

Are we so sure Kadri and Andersson can both fetch a 1st round pick in 2026? I think if we retain a bit, but Idk if they are enough to get a good prospect with a 1st

TOR traded a 1st for Laughton, and a 1st for Carlo
EDM traded a 1st for Walman
COL traded 1st + Ritchie for Brock Nelson

If Conroy gets another Hanifin type return then the Flames should be on the lookout for a new GM. Keep the drafting and developing, but let someone else make the trades, and sign the players.

[FlameyMcFlameFace]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

TOR traded a 1st for Laughton, and a 1st for Carlo
EDM traded a 1st for Walman
COL traded 1st + Ritchie for Brock Nelson

If Conroy gets another Hanifin type return then the Flames should be on the lookout for a new GM. Keep the drafting and developing, but let someone else make the trades, and sign the players.

Touché

[Matty81]

Yeah I fully agree that Kadri should bring a decent return, he's performing better than Nelson was at the time of the trade he's about the same age and his contract is cheaper. He's also played a major role on a cup winning team.

If Conroy does decide to deal him, I'd be hugely disappointed with less than the Nelson return.

For Andersson my expectations are a little lower. He seems to want way too much money and term on his next deal so he's probably going as a rental, and I think this summer showed us the market isn't real strong for him. Guessing a late 1st from a contender and a marginal prospect again. Hope to be wrong there, as I do think he's a piece that will really help a contender, he walks in to the top 4s of most teams and as has been pointed out many times, there are teams like the Stars playing really poor 6/7 dmen on the right side of their 2nd pairing right now

[ComixZone]

Per Kypreos, Carolina is one of the 13 teams on Kadri’s NTC.

Link

“Kadri has been linked to multiple teams, but we have to specifically mention the Carolina Hurricanes, who have been in a relentless pursuit for a top player since falling short on Mikko Rantanen and Mitch Marner last season,” Kypreos wrote in his column. “For now, the Hurricanes seem an unlikely destination for Kadri, as they are on his 13-team no-trade list.”

[The EBUG's EBUG]

First time poster, long time reader.

Let's pretend that management and ownership get on the same page and actually start to legitimately look at selling off pieces. What do we think the timing would be on when things start to kick off? Insider world seems to be making it clear that the league sees blood in the water. Do they hold off until the deadline or try and be a first mover early here? Is Kadri out of here right after 1000? Coleman feels like a guy you could continue to build up his value with special teams minutes and get an elevated price for at the deadline but I'm not sure if Kadri and Andersson are in the same boat, maybe you want to flip those two earlier given Kadri's productive start and Andersson's contract status.

The classic rule of thumb on playoff hope is being in at American Thanksgiving. This year it sits in the middle of a 5 game road trip. The 9 games before that are as follows:

Columbus
Chicago
Minnesota
St Louis
San Jose
Winnipeg
Chicago
Buffalo
Dallas

Really curious to see what their record has to be for them to pull the trigger on some offers. There are a number of teams in there that you really need to beat if you're going to keep up the "hope" of being in the playoff mix. Does the For Sale sign go up in the window if they get less than 5 wins in that stretch?

Alternatively, if they're insistent on seeing this thing out long term, how bad does the record have to be for them to change course and wave the white flag? Is there a world where Kadri is still on this team by US Thanksgiving if they go something like 2-6-1 in the next 9?

[Tbull8]

Just throwing it out there as a potential landing spot. If kadri is rumored to prefer to stay in Canada, would he be interested in Winnipeg? Top goalie, solid contending team, just locked up their top player in Kyle Connor. Yes it’s Winnipeg but it’s Canada, close to family in ontario (or Calgary if some family has moved out here)

Yager and 2026 1st?

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Just throwing it out there as a potential landing spot. If kadri is rumored to prefer to stay in Canada, would he be interested in Winnipeg? Top goalie, solid contending team, just locked up their top player in Kyle Connor. Yes it’s Winnipeg but it’s Canada, close to family in ontario (or Calgary if some family has moved out here)

Yager and 2026 1st?

I would be pretty happy with that, but ..it’s ….Winnipeg.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

First time poster, long time reader.

Let's pretend that management and ownership get on the same page and actually start to legitimately look at selling off pieces. What do we think the timing would be on when things start to kick off? Insider world seems to be making it clear that the league sees blood in the water. Do they hold off until the deadline or try and be a first mover early here? Is Kadri out of here right after 1000? Coleman feels like a guy you could continue to build up his value with special teams minutes and get an elevated price for at the deadline but I'm not sure if Kadri and Andersson are in the same boat, maybe you want to flip those two earlier given Kadri's productive start and Andersson's contract status.

The classic rule of thumb on playoff hope is being in at American Thanksgiving. This year it sits in the middle of a 5 game road trip. The 9 games before that are as follows:

Columbus
Chicago
Minnesota
St Louis
San Jose
Winnipeg
Chicago
Buffalo
Dallas

Really curious to see what their record has to be for them to pull the trigger on some offers. There are a number of teams in there that you really need to beat if you're going to keep up the "hope" of being in the playoff mix. Does the For Sale sign go up in the window if they get less than 5 wins in that stretch?

Alternatively, if they're insistent on seeing this thing out long term, how bad does the record have to be for them to change course and wave the white flag? Is there a world where Kadri is still on this team by US Thanksgiving if they go something like 2-6-1 in the next 9?

I doubt we will see any big name traded in November, or even December. The main reason is that teams don't usually start by giving you their best offer when the deadline is all the way in March.

Another factor is the be banking in cap space, which teams have more of the closer to the trade deadline. The playoffs now have their own cap, but only for the 20-men game roster, so there will be some wiggle room.

If I were to bet then I'd bet on Kadri traded right before the Olympic break, essentially the end of January, begining of February. Andersson likely will be a dealt at the deadline or a couple of days before. I could also see at least 1 or 2 more players traded at the deadline.

As for throwing the towel on the season, if they haven't already then they will do it by the end of November. At least that's my guess, unless the Flames manage a couple of winning streaks, that bring them to 2 games under .500. In order to accomplish that they would need to go 8-4-1 for the rest of the month.

PS: Welcome to CP, glad to have you with us.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Just throwing it out there as a potential landing spot. If kadri is rumored to prefer to stay in Canada, would he be interested in Winnipeg? Top goalie, solid contending team, just locked up their top player in Kyle Connor. Yes it’s Winnipeg but it’s Canada, close to family in ontario (or Calgary if some family has moved out here)

Yager and 2026 1st?

Hell to the yeah!

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I do wonder if the trade market for Kadri will pick up after his 1000th game. I understand if Conroy told teams that they wouldn’t be making any potential Kadri trade until after that point. The east especially is extremely tight this year with very little point difference from top to bottom right now. And there are lots of teams desperate to make the playoffs this year. Could see a few stepping up to make a move early to gain some momentum and be a playoff team.

I think the risk of a first round pick in a Kadri trade being high is pretty easily mitigated by making it protected. Really hoping some team steps up and offers a top prospect and a 1st round pick (i.e. the Nelson return) for Kadri and would love for it to happen earlier in the season. Not sure if it will happen considering Conroy would have a high asking price and it usually takes the pressure of a deadline for a team to step up and pay. Conroy is likely in no rush to trade Kadri since he is signed for multiple seasons and is earning his cap hit so far.

Hoping for the following at some point this season:

Kadri for a 2026 1st round pick (top 10 protected) + top prospect (centre or LS defenceman)
Andersson for a 2026 1st round pick (top 10 protected) + 2nd round pick
Coleman for a 2026 or 2027 conditional 2nd round pick (becomes a 1st if the acquiring team makes the conference finals)

Pretty much what i expect for return.

I feel like that is what we have that has any real value( anything above say a 3rd) and to me highlights the importance of this draft and where we are as an organization. Walking out of a deep draft with four firsts a couple seconds snd thirds would be huge. I would insist on picks this year.

I really expected an addition to the defense depth and the top six center problem this summer but alas the deals just must not have been their so futures it is. Still have a sneaking suspicion about Rossi.

[Bonded]

Return wise I am expecting Andersson to return similar to Hanifin. I am less sure on Kadri now given that Nelson trade which seems like a big overpay given past returns. Will be interesting but I think I’m still at the 1st and a decent prospect as my base idea for Kadri.

[Burning Beard]

Rasmus has a certain swagger and compete that Hanifin doesnt have so I feel like he can bring back more. If I was an East Coast team he would be an ideal add in a soft conference.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Return wise I am expecting Andersson to return similar to Hanifin. I am less sure on Kadri now given that Nelson trade which seems like a big overpay given past returns. Will be interesting but I think I’m still at the 1st and a decent prospect as my base idea for Kadri.

Yeah, I’m not expecting a Brock Nelson return, even though I believe Kadri is the better player (at least in the playoffs). First and a good young player is fine with me- the more firsts we can get in the next two years, the better.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Yeah, I’m not expecting a Brock Nelson return, even though I believe Kadri is the better player (at least in the playoffs). First and a good young player is fine with me- the more firsts we can get in the next two years, the better.

I’m hoping for the Nelson return but not expecting it. That’s not a knock on Conroy’s… just reality. That return for Nelson was huge and very uncharacteristic. Very, very rare for teams to trade their top prospect (who was considered a top 20 prospect in the league) and a first round pick for a 35 year old rental. Lots of analysts and scouts were instantly comparing that trade to the Erat for Forsberg trade.

I’m sure, had Kadri been willing to go to Colorado last year and Conroy been willing to trade him at the deadline, they could have gotten that return from Colorado but it’s tough to expect that to be the norm going forward. If Conroy sets that return (A-level centre prospect + 1st round pick) as the bar for any team acquiring Kadri and refuses to budge, a Kadri trade may not happen this season.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I’m hoping for the Nelson return but not expecting it. That’s not a knock on Conroy’s… just reality. That return for Nelson was huge and very uncharacteristic. Very, very rare for teams to trade their top prospect (who was considered a top 20 prospect in the league) and a first round pick for a 35 year old rental. Lots of analysts and scouts were instantly comparing that trade to the Erat for Forsberg trade.

I’m sure, had Kadri been willing to go to Colorado last year and Conroy been willing to trade him at the deadline, they could have gotten that return from Colorado but it’s tough to expect that to be the norm going forward. If Conroy sets that return (A-level centre prospect + 1st round pick) as the bar for any team acquiring Kadri and refuses to budge, a Kadri trade may not happen this season.

I'm actually on the other side of the fence on that one. The lackluster free agent market, the increasing cap, and the huge money extensions make Kadri a very valuable 2nd line C. One you simply can't get in free agency or otherwise. I do think that teams might be more weary about trading 26' 1st rounders, because it's rumored to be a stronger draft.

[Badgers Nose]

The 1st rounder is going to be after 25th selection probably, so I am a lot more interested in the prospect Conroy gets for Kadri along with the picks.

[traptor]

I think Detroit would be a great landing spot.


It really feels like they need this to be their year out of the playoff drought and strike whole iron is hot.


Center depth of Larkin, kadri and Compher would be great for next few years.




Give us a 1st+Danielson. Feels right in line with what Nelson got.


They still have Kasper and Finnie as young centers going forward.