2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Is it 100% chance of top two if you come last?

For easy-to-remember (but not exactly accurate) math, if they finish last:

25% chance they draft 1st (actually 25.5%
25% chance they draft 2nd (actually 18.8%)
50% chance they draft 3rd (actually 55.7%)

[Muta]

We should prepare ourselves to accept that we likely won't get McKenna (if he goes 1st overall); there's a 74.5% chance we will not pick first, even if we finish last, and that's best case scenario; the odds get even worse from there.

[Tbull8]

Thats fine, the best chance at Mckenna is finishing last, whether he ends up as the top ranked or 2nd ranked prospect. Last guarantees one of Mckenna Verhoeff or Stenberg (or Lawrence) depending on how you rank them

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Muta

We should prepare ourselves to accept that we likely won't get McKenna (if he goes 1st overall); there's a 74.5% chance we will not pick first, even if we finish last, and that's best case scenario; the odds get even worse from there.

That's the spirit!

[Jason14h]

There’s an argument losing the lottery and drafting 2nd and winning next year would be better anyways !

That is the path I am cheering for

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

There’s an argument losing the lottery and drafting 2nd and winning next year would be better anyways !

That is the path I am cheering for

If we finish last and win the lottery, it doesn't count against our limit.

So why not both?!

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If we finish last and win the lottery, it doesn't count against our limit.

So why not both?!

Really ? Today I learned something . It has been a good day

[ComixZone]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1990904814604366226

If (and of course big if) this is what happens, it likely means we draft in that 5-12 range because other teams will embrace their awfulness and outsuck us this year down the stretch.

Then they roll back in with the same team and just have that high pick in the fold?

I won’t take this organization seriously anymore. That’d be a brain dead path to take.

Moronic approach.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

https://twitter.com/user/status/1990904814604366226

If (and of course big if) this is what happens, it likely means we draft in that 5-12 range because other teams will embrace their awfulness and outsuck us this year down the stretch.

Then they roll back in with the same team and just have that high pick in the fold?

I won’t take this organization seriously anymore. That’d be a brain dead path to take.

Moronic approach.

If i was using the Flames track record against them, this is what I would expect them to do.


I think they'll trade Rasmus. But unless a Kadri or Coleman asks out I dont think theyre moving.


They'll hope to turn it around next year.

[Jason14h]

What could they even (really) do to change /improve the team in the offseason

The UFA class is garbage , their best players are still old and will be 1 year older , and their young players haven’t shown much

Now they could easily get stuck in 7-12th worse place purgatory if they don’t properly embrace this , but they aren’t going to be good anytime soon

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

What could they even (really) do to change /improve the team in the offseason

The UFA class is garbage , their best players are still old and will be 1 year older , and their young players haven’t shown much

Now they could easily get stuck in 7-12th worse place purgatory if they don’t properly embrace this , but they aren’t going to be good anytime soon

They will play boring Huska hockey and hope this one player we draft and Wolf are the reincarnation of the Iggy Kipper Flames that can put up the odd cinderella run. They have no intentions of being a real contender. The goal is to speed run being 8th place.

[traptor]

I could see them convincing themselves that if they keep the vets together and then add a McKenna or Stenberg type player, add a UFA 4/5 Dman and have internal growth from players like Gridin, Coronato, Wolf and Parehk that they could have a shot at playoffs.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

https://twitter.com/user/status/1990904814604366226

If (and of course big if) this is what happens, it likely means we draft in that 5-12 range because other teams will embrace their awfulness and outsuck us this year down the stretch.

Then they roll back in with the same team and just have that high pick in the fold?

I won’t take this organization seriously anymore. That’d be a brain dead path to take.

Moronic approach.

It's not realistic for an 18 or 19 year old to come in and turn it around immediately, unless you're drafting Crosby, which we're not

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

It's not realistic for an 18 or 19 year old to come in and turn it around immediately, unless you're drafting Crosby, which we're not

I mean the last 3 - Schaeffer, Celebrini and Bedard have all been pretty impactful right away.


Out of the last 10 1st OA, id say 6 have been pretty competitive in their d+1 year.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by traptor

I mean the last 3 - Schaeffer, Celebrini and Bedard have all been pretty impactful right away.


Out of the last 10 1st OA, id say 6 have been pretty competitive in their d+1 year.

Celebrini and Bedard helped SJS and CHI finish 31st and 32nd last year

[browntrout]

I think this is just posturing, CC and the owners are smart business men, they are trying to control the narrative that they "believe in the core" or "quick retool", all they are trying to do is to drive up the acquisition cost for players like Coleman, Kadri and Andersson. I am not sure Kadri gets traded, but the other two, I think you will see moved.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Celebrini and Bedard helped SJS and CHI finish 31st and 32nd last year

Building on that fact, the Pens finished 2nd to last, ahead of last place by only 1 point, the season after drafting Crosby and Washington was 3rd last in the same season in Ovechkin's debut season.

Even a generational tier talent doesn't instantly turn things around. You need a few years in close succession of high picks and time for the kids to learn how to not just produce in the NHL, but how to win.

Anyone expecting an immediate turnaround because of drafting in the top 3 once, is being really unrealistic. I doubt Murray Edwards is that stupid.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Celebrini and Bedard helped SJS and CHI finish 31st and 32nd last year

Outside of those players I dont think the Flames are as bad on paper as those teams were.


Just like last year I think they were peaking, this season i think is the floor.


I dont think its crazy to think that if you added a 18 year old bedard/celebrini equivalent that this team has wildcard potential next season, with a few other shifts through the roster.


Its not the approach and line of thinking I would take, but I could see flames management thinking that way.

[ComixZone]

Thinking about that Friedman comment a bit more...I think that course of action would probably be the most offensive thing they could do to their fanbase.

"Hey, we're awful - and we're not going to make use of this time to try and improve it. Instead, we're going to run it back and try and peddle this now 36 year old centre, and 35 year old winger as key components"

That'd be brutal to have to endure as a Flames fan.

Two of Andersson, Coleman, and Kadri ought to be traded this season.

I think all 3 should go, and I also think inaction would be them sticking their head in the sand and thinking "we're not this bad, this year - it's just we aren't getting the bounces, they'll turn for us next year"...meanwhile other teams will make meaningful improvements either to their active roster or to their future.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Thinking about that Friedman comment a bit more...I think that course of action would probably be the most offensive thing they could do to their fanbase.

"Hey, we're awful - and we're not going to make use of this time to try and improve it. Instead, we're going to run it back and try and peddle this now 36 year old centre, and 35 year old winger as key components"

That'd be brutal to have to endure as a Flames fan.

It would be but listening to the whole segment he also said that the Flames would listen on Kadri if someone ponies up and gives them a reason too, which is good. I dont want them desperate to sell him, I want that big Nelson return.


Taking in the whole convo, it does feel like posturing (i hope...)