2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

If this news is out there from Dreger it's because the Flames organization wants it out there IMO.

So it all comes down to how you decipher it.

Are they doing it because they are trying to up his trade value by re-enforcing they aren't shopping him and you're going to have to pay a premium.

Or are they trying to signal that he's not being moved to temper the expectations around the fan base of moving him for a premium, and to stop that noise that's been around the team to lower expectations of a tear down here.

I just wonder how much tearing down they have to do (and not building up with cap space) before fans just see it for what it is and not live and die on sound clips that don't match the actual decisions being made.

They've moved a lot of players.

They've drafted twice in the first round in three straight years.

They've left cap space idle for almost three years.

They've not added at a deadline when they were in a playoff spot.

They approached Andersson with a contract offer, but at only 6 years and less money and then moved on to his exit at some point.

How can all that be undone with a guy known for at least embellishing if not making things up assigning a quote to a guy not known for talking to the media at all?

[gvitaly]

I've been looking at the Blues, and their awful start.

Buchnevich has really been struggling this year, so he strikes me like a potentially good change of scenery candidate for Sharangovich. That said, his $8M x 6, and 35 point pace are a pretty big risk. It could just be a case of Buchnevich getting comfortable since he signed that big contract, in that case I wouldn't want anything to do with him.

In the last 3 years Buchnevich had 57, 63, and 67 points, with an 82 game pace of 62, 65, and `87 points respectively. All in all, his 3-year average is 24 goal, and 61 points per 82 games.

On the other hand, a much better player in Kyrou is a healthy scratch for the Blues tonight, if he can be had in any deal that doesn't include futures, he could be a huge get.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just wonder how much tearing down they have to do (and not building up with cap space) before fans just see it for what it is and not live and die on sound clips that don't match the actual decisions being made.

They've moved a lot of players.

They've drafted twice in the first round in three straight years.

They've left cap space idle for almost three years.

They've not added at a deadline when they were in a playoff spot.

They approached Andersson with a contract offer, but at only 6 years and less money and then moved on to his exit at some point.

How can all that be undone with a guy known for at least embellishing if not making things up assigning a quote to a guy not known for talking to the media at all?

I think it comes down to rebuilding vs tanking. We are rebuilding and most people agree with this. The opportunity to get last wasn't an option for a lot of people this summer. The comments were it's very hard to suck worse than Chicago or San Jose. Long ways to go still, but as of right now there is more reason than even 4 weeks ago to consider making moves sooner to put this team in a spot to actually finish last or bottom 3. Flames are in a very unique position than most of the current bottom 10 teams as they already know they are very likely to be trading Rasmus and his 23 mins a night. IMO trading Coleman helps the tank, but Rasmus and Kadri could cripple this team to a point where we might actually be the team that drafts McKenna or the very attractive consolation prizes at 2nd or 3rd OV.

Most other teams in the current bottom 10 have players that are much more difficult to trade, or they are just too valuable to trade to move up a couple spots in the draft lottery.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bingo

So we are back to judging decisions on what could have happened and what was rumoured to have happened instead of what actually happened again.

Makes sense ... I think it's been a week.

I get that it might be hasty to jump to conclusions. On the other hand, if Kadri does end up staying with the team, people who complain about it at the end of the season will be told to move on, there’s no point complaining about something that’s already done.

So if the Flames don’t move Kadri, when is the right time to complain about it?

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I've been looking at the Blues, and their awful start.

Buchnevich has really been struggling this year, so he strikes me like a potentially good change of scenery candidate for Sharangovich. That said, his $8M x 6, and 35 point pace are a pretty big risk. It could just be a case of Buchnevich getting comfortable since he signed that big contract, in that case I wouldn't want anything to do with him.

In the last 3 years Buchnevich had 57, 63, and 67 points, with an 82 game pace of 62, 65, and `87 points respectively. All in all, his 3-year average is 24 goal, and 61 points per 82 games.

On the other hand, a much better player in Kyrou is a healthy scratch for the Blues tonight, if he can be had in any deal that doesn't include futures, he could be a huge get.

I have always liked Buchnevich, but it is a 6x8 deal that started this year (as you mentioned), but at the age of 36. Sharangovich is 3 years younger, his deal is a year shorter, and is 2.25M/yr cheaper. For those reasons, I would rather bet that Sharangovich remains the more useful player (or less of a hindrance) than Buchnevich when it is the most important time - 3-5 years from now when this team should be getting good and requiring the cap space the most. From that standpoint, I would decline the trade.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bingo

How can all that be undone with a guy known for at least embellishing if not making things up assigning a quote to a guy not known for talking to the media at all?

Dreger didn’t claim Edwards made his remarks to the media. He said “Edwards has told people…” Could be agents, another owner, etc.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I get that it might be hasty to jump to conclusions. On the other hand, if Kadri does end up staying with the team, people who complain about it at the end of the season will be told to move on, there’s no point complaining about something that’s already done.

So if the Flames don’t move Kadri, when is the right time to complain about it?

I think that's up to the individual.

Me I'm not much of a complainer, just an interested bystander.

But the trade deadline would be that time wouldn't it? Can no longer trade him this year.

I'd love to see the Venn diagram of those that thought Kadri was untradeable to those that wanted him traded right now!

[FanSince'01]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

It is as if we as a fanbase have learned nothing from the last 2 years under Conroy.


Basically the only person that the Flames didn't want to keep at all publicly was Zadorov who asked for a trade while the team visited Toronto. Even then, the Flames were 'negotiating' with him. The Flames wanted to retain every player that was on their way out in the media, yet every player was eventually traded-out. The only unicorn here was Mangiapane, who was traded rather unexpectedly.


This is Calgary's MO. Until it goes down to the wire, then the player being discussed is a player that Calgary prefers to keep. Kadri is in no way different, and I wouldn't expect him to be. I would expect that he gets traded, however.


I am sure we will hear much more about re-signing Andersson soon. I look forward to that and seeing another 5 page freak-out.

Precisely. This is all posturing IMO and it would be pretty stupid to let it slip publicly that you're looking to trade Naz with 3 years left on his deal. Both from the perspective of Naz being happy here and having been an excellent player for us and from the perspective of maximizing his value if and when you do trade him.

It's like Poker - you want to keep your cards close to the vest and not tip your hand too early. If other teams know you want to move a player, they likely aren't going to give you their best offer.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think that's up to the individual.

Me I'm not much of a complainer, just an interested bystander.

But the trade deadline would be that time wouldn't it? Can no longer trade him this year.

I'd love to see the Venn diagram of those that thought Kadri was untradeable to those that wanted him traded right now!

I mean both can be true. Players value changes with recency basis.


That first year was brutal for everyone, and Kadri was no exception. There were a few controller disconnects I remember.

[Monahammer]

It occurs to me how funny it could be if someone like Tim Robinson grabbed on to little things like what passes for Drama on this forum.
But imagine if, any time someone posted something nice about the flames at all, a group of 10 or so posters immediately came on in series and posted about how that person was "Glazing" or "sucking off management" or "ejaculating" or 1 of 1000 other obviously over the top sayings.

That's what it is like when people post about "freak outs" on reactions to objectively dumb/ bad news.

I mean, have you not seen a real "freak out?" No teachers here? Kids too old to remember what that actually looks like?

We have seen freak outs on here. This is not that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Dreger didn’t claim Edwards made his remarks to the media. He said “Edwards has told people…” Could be agents, another owner, etc.

So it's not even first hand?

True story: I was in a car with Murray Edwards and he told the GM at the time to sign Jagr if he wanted to. He didn't mean it - he was making a point, but still, I could repeat that verbatim and get traction.

[dino7c]

Flames had multiple firsts for multiple years, league high cap space, and were right there for playoffs last deadline.
Added nothing, lost no significant UFAs

Same this summer, added nothing...tried to trade Ras but he blew up the deal by not extending


like I dont know what some of you are seeing, they certainly aren't trying very hard to make the playoffs at any costs let alone all. By all means be mad at clouds though.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

So it's not even first hand?

True story: I was in a car with Murray Edwards and he told the GM at the time to sign Jagr if he wanted to. He didn't mean it - he was making a point, but still, I could repeat that verbatim and get traction.

Originally Posted by dreger

I also know that Murray Edwards, the owner of the Calgary Flames, is telling people that he has no interest in trading Nazem Kadri. In fact, he doesn't want to trade Nazem Kadri. He loves the core of this team, so there's a lot of hockey ahead, a lot of hockey left in this regular season for the Flames, but it doesn't sound like Flames ownership has any intention of trading away their veteran forward.

It sounds a lot more certain towards the end of the quote. I doubt Dreger would be as confident sounding if it was just hearsay.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

It sounds a lot more certain towards the end of the quote. I doubt Dreger would be as confident sounding if it was just hearsay.

It is the very definition of hearsay if he's repeating something someone else said.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It is the very definition of hearsay if he's repeating something someone else said.

Feel free to rephrase my sentence then, but I think you get my point.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Kyper suspects Montreal and Vancouver would both not be on Kadri’s ntc
Also says Calgary wants nothing to do with dealing with BT

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Kyper suspects Montreal and Vancouver would both not be on Kadri’s ntc
Also says Calgary wants nothing to do with dealing with BT

If true, that would leave very few options on a for Kadri that aren’t in the US. Winnipeg or Ottawa I guess?

[traptor]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames had multiple firsts for multiple years, league high cap space, and were right there for playoffs last deadline.
Added nothing, lost no significant UFAs

Same this summer, added nothing...tried to trade Ras but he blew up the deal by not extending


like I dont know what some of you are seeing, they certainly aren't trying very hard to make the playoffs at any costs let alone all. By all means be mad at clouds though.

I don't think they're trying to make playoffs at all costs. That seems very obvious.

I also don't think they're doing a full tear it down rebuild though which might make you scoff.

I would define it as a (heavy) retool. They tried to replace about half of their old core (expiring UFA's except Markstrom) and they've kept half (Huberdeau, Kadri, Backlund, Coleman, Weegar, Andersson (for now..)).
They also brought it some middle-aged players to try and supplement (Frost, Farabee, Sharangovich, Bahl).
And they were hoping some of these middle-aged guys and younger guys (Zary, coronato, wolf) would take big steps in elevated roles.
The goal was to take a step or two back and get younger, but not bottom out.

The nice part is they've stayed very flexible, so they can still pull shoot if needed, which looks like they might end up doing.

I agree though that it is definitely is not to make playoffs at all costs.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Feel free to rephrase my sentence then, but I think you get my point.

Your point is you are taking Dreger's wild interpretation of some offhand second hand comments of what Murray Edwards personally thinks as what the Flames are definitely planning to do.

As opposed to what they've done, including this year seemingly getting Kadri to move up his NTC list.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just wonder how much tearing down they have to do (and not building up with cap space) before fans just see it for what it is and not live and die on sound clips that don't match the actual decisions being made.

They've moved a lot of players.

They've drafted twice in the first round in three straight years.

They've left cap space idle for almost three years.

They've not added at a deadline when they were in a playoff spot.

They approached Andersson with a contract offer, but at only 6 years and less money and then moved on to his exit at some point.

How can all that be undone with a guy known for at least embellishing if not making things up assigning a quote to a guy not known for talking to the media at all?

There will never be enough for some. They have traded more players for picks and prospects in a shorter period of time than any team in the salary cap era. They have signed fewer UFAs for contract value than any team in that same time period. Yet these facts demonstrate to some a continued commitment to try to win at all costs.