2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Hughes?

Lol . Ya, right, ...teams will be lined up to pay a hefty amount of assets knowing he's gone to NJ. I know teams every year over pay to get over the hump but Hughes is way above Anderson as a comparable. Anderson had one 50 point season and alot of 20ish point seasons and 1 30 point season. Hughes lowest points a season is 3 with 5gp but since he's playing as a full time nhler is lowest is 41pts in 58 played (injury year) . He averages 70 points a year the only out side being 92 points 2 years ago. He doubles anders9n in points year over year and hasn't been a - player since his sophomore year.

IMO any gm trying to trade for Hughes unless it's a guarantee your team is going to make the finals AND win should be fired for the amount of assets that would take probably 5 years to recover because he's going to leave for nothing. If your teams already that good that you can make the finals you probably don't have anything near asking price as it has already ben spent.

Anyways Hughes is not a comparable. He is easily a teir possibly 2 heirs above Anderson.

[CFO]

Out of no where - Flames extend Rasmus and deal weegar. Be a Flames thing to do.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Do you know how far apart they are?

Last I heard they are 2M per season apart. Flames were interested in something in the 4-5 year length and Ras wanted max term. That was back in the summer though so things could have changed. It's a pretty big gap when you think of it in the context of if he signed a 7 year deal he leaves $14M on the table. This is Ras's big pay day contract after being underpayed on his last deal in his mind.

I also reported before the start of the season when many were saying the door was closed on him returning that it was not. That being said I can't see the Flames giving in and signing that big ticket deal unless Conroy doesn't get the offers he is looking for and adds a m-ntc to that big contract so he can revisit trading him at a later date. Not sure why Andersson would agree to that though when he can just go to market.

[ForeverFlameFan]

With the cap going up, 65m/8 years is as far as I'd go with Rasmus. I think he is likely looking for 9ish, and that's when we have to part ways.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

With the cap going up, 65m/8 years is as far as I'd go with Rasmus. I think he is likely looking for 9ish, and that's when we have to part ways.

$9.5M is what I had heard.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

$9.5M is what I had heard.

Yeah, I can't justify an almost 8 digit contract to Rasmus. He's better than Nurse, but he shouldn't be making Nurse-ish money. Someone will definitely give it to him though. Just can't be Calgary.

[Vinny01]

I feel that the Canucks are taking the opposite approach the Flames just took by telling their team to get it together or moves start to happen. Flames are dangling the carrot while the Canucks are bringing out the stick based on the team being near the bottom.

Rutherford is the type to make changes. Doug Armstrong has the same approach. Threaten to blow the team up and hope they pull themselves out. The Flames approach in the media is to tell the fans and their players that they love and believe in their team.

Which teams will make the big moves? Canucks have pretty crappy vets and EP and Hughes do not appear to be available so it is Sherwood, Kane, maybe Garland (who just signed a 6x6 extension that kicks in next year). I think the flames with Kadri, Coleman, Andersson have more desirable assets. If the Canucks put Hughes on the market that would be something but it feels like a summer/draft deal

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dino7c

This season? not a chance

the context was Rhett wishing we could be like the Canucks who supposedly made their vets available

Their insider said they’d trade Hughes this season if they think he won’t re-sign.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I feel that the Canucks are taking the opposite approach the Flames just took by telling their team to get it together or moves start to happen. Flames are dangling the carrot while the Canucks are bringing out the stick based on the team being near the bottom.

Rutherford is the type to make changes. Doug Armstrong has the same approach. Threaten to blow the team up and hope they pull themselves out. The Flames approach in the media is to tell the fans and their players that they love and believe in their team.

Which teams will make the big moves? Canucks have pretty crappy vets and EP and Hughes do not appear to be available so it is Sherwood, Kane, maybe Garland (who just signed a 6x6 extension that kicks in next year). I think the flames with Kadri, Coleman, Andersson have more desirable assets. If the Canucks put Hughes on the market that would be something but it feels like a summer/draft deal

You can use the stick approach if you play and live in a desirable market. Vancouver is probably a mid to high market in terms of where players and their families want to live. Calgary is probably at the low end of desirability; the team literally had to blow up one of the top teams in the league because its two best players wanted out. After the Gaudreau/ Tkachuk exits, I can see why the team puts a priority on guys who want to be here.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Maybe you don’t feel like it, but you did muddy things up by putting in unnecessary conditions. How many years in a row of first round knockouts are acceptable? Maybe we had an up and coming roster for 2 years, so losing then is ok. Then maybe you get the injury bug for a couple years, so we can excuse those too. Then maybe your star forward bolts in free agency. The excuses really pile up quickly and now we’ve got a roster of losers 3 soon to be 4 years in a row with no elite talent among the forwards or prospects.

No I didn't.

You made a blanket concrete statement, and I said there are different situations.

That's life, not muddying.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Their insider said they’d trade Hughes this season if they think he won’t re-sign.

I hope not. Last thing we need is Hughes hitting market and making Anderson plan B for most teams. Right now Anderson would be the best D to acquire at the deadline.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by 868904

You can use the stick approach if you play and live in a desirable market. Vancouver is probably a mid to high market in terms of where players and their families want to live. Calgary is probably at the low end of desirability; the team literally had to blow up one of the top teams in the league because its two best players wanted out. After the Gaudreau/ Tkachuk exits, I can see why the team puts a priority on guys who want to be here.

I don’t know if Vancouver is much more desirable for players than Calgary? I am trying to think of any notable free agents they were able to get in the last decade? Debrusk is all that comes to mind right now.

I just think that is Rutherford’s style.

I do agree with your comment on the sensitivity of the organization who is still reeling from losing Gaudreau and Tkachuk. That Flames team though was good for 2 years of the Gaudreau/Tkachuk era and pretty mediocre to average the other 4 years. Playoff sweep, miss playoffs, division win out in 5 games, bubble team win play in and lose in round one, miss the playoffs, win division and lose in round 2.

[SuperMatt18]

Playoffs should always be the goal of the players, as you should always be reinforcing the need to win and compete to the players.

But behind the scenes I do think organizations in a rebuild should always have a plan and the plan doesn't need to necessary be always trying to make the playoffs because there are times where prioritizing playoffs and player development might not be possible at the same time.

I actually think Flames might be at that crossroad a bit right now. Ryan Huska has the team playing a style that is best to try to win games in terms of it being low risk, low event and a bit passive. But I'm not 100% sold its best for long term player development.

Same with player utilization at times. If you're always looking to make the playoffs you're generally less willing to accept the risk that comes with playing young players in spots that might be more risky.

[Toast_Man]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I hope not. Last thing we need is Hughes hitting market and making Anderson plan B for most teams. Right now Anderson would be the best D to acquire at the deadline.

I saw your comment and was curious what kind of trade protection Hughes has... which is nothing! I can't imagine the haul he would get if he was available at the trade deadline.

[442scotty]

Andersson is currently playing at the level he’s capable of and probably has an even higher gear. If he could play at this level %90 of the time he’d be worth resigning but which Andersson would we get after he signs a retirement contract? Another Sharky?

[Roko]

The Canucks announcing vets are available is what the fans wanted the flames to do at minimum. “We are not where we wanted to be and are exploring all options” was all Maloney needed to say.

Anyways, extend Conroy cowards

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Why are you blaming Conroy for stuff that happened 15-20 years ago? What bad or short sighted move has Conroy made so far?

Where did I say it was all Conroys fault? Why are you putting words in my mouth?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Roko

The Canucks announcing vets are available is what the fans wanted the flames to do at minimum. “We are not where we wanted to be and are exploring all options” was all Maloney needed to say.

Anyways, extend Conroy cowards

I haven't seen anything announced from the Canucks.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I haven't seen anything announced from the Canucks.

It was leaked to Friedman and he reported it last night.

End of the day the Canucks ownership is even worse than Edwards when it comes to resisting a rebuild.

Rutherford wants to make the team younger but not tanking or anything

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

It was leaked to Friedman and he reported it last night.

End of the day the Canucks ownership is even worse than Edwards when it comes to resisting a rebuild.

Rutherford wants to make the team younger but not tanking or anything

Yup I know that. That's different from "announcing it".
And I'm not defending the Flames messaging from Maloney. It's a mess.
It was just that these things inaccurately stated, and become mis-truths. Like that the Canucks have announced they are willing to trade their vets.