2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[BigThief]

I do like tall centers playing with the Friars.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

McQueen
Elite - 5th
Bob - 7th
Button - 5th
Ferrari - 17th
Kennedy - 6th
McKeens - 9th
FC - 8th
Daily - 9th
Cosentino - 10th
Bukla - 7th
Recruit - 9th
Dobber - 12th
Smaht - 12th

Reschny
Elite - 33rd
Bob - 29th
Button - 13th
Ferrari - 31st
Kennedy - 25th
McKeens - 38th
FC - 25th
Daily 22nd
Cosentino - 21st
Bukala - 20th
Recruit - 17th
Dobber - 22nd
Smaht - 25th

16 games into season and random guy says nothing saying McQueen is better. It's very possible Reschny ends up better, but McQueen's rank has not changed due to 5 less points in 18 games in NCAA.

One player was invited to the WJC, one was not. Why is that?

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Groot

One player was invited to the WJC, one was not. Why is that?

Draft rankings basically stop mattering the day after.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Slow start. Far less CHL production at the same ages. Worse on the dot. He’s nearly a full year older (an entire hockey season older) and has 6 inches on Reschny.

It was a more speculative pick than most (all scouting is speculative of course) because of missing most of his draft season.

It’s not that much has changed in 16 games. It’s that nothing has. And things certainly needed to change for McQueen to deserve being picked that high.

That's basically the reason for the difference in the two prospects - One is 6'5 and one is 5'11

Big centers have a higher floor and usually a higher ceiling - A 3rd or 4th line center who's 6'5 will always find work

I think all things equal there's an argument Reschny is just as "good" - But 6 inches and 30 lbs means a lot in the NHL

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Groot

One player was invited to the WJC, one was not. Why is that?

Zayne Parekh didn't go last year, does that mean he isn't as good as the 7 that went?

Reschny is playing well, go with the hot hand, it's a short tourney.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Draft rankings basically stop mattering the day after.

Do they? With very little data at this point, the opinions of professionals that do this as a business vs random internet posters on CP. I guess.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Draft rankings basically stop mattering the day after.

Exactly, I agree. One being invited to WJC and the other not means that some have Reschny ranked higher now, so referencing draft rankings as an argument that McQueen is still ranked higher is a faulty, and quite frankly useless, argument.

[Jiri Hrdina]

The WJC is assembled based on a lot of factors including what roles they are filling, but also what players are best for the team right now. That's very different than a long-term projection of who will be the best NHL player.

I think Reschney was selected because of his versatility and because right now he is playing better than McQueen. And in a short tourney that matters.

That doesn't mean teams feel he's a better projected player than McQueen.

Though I do think that Reschney's stock has risen since the draft, and McQueen's has probably fallen a touch (him and Lindstrom for similar reasons).

[Bingo]

Pointless getting into a value comparison but momentum has certainly gone the opposite way for both players.

If you go back to a year ago today McQueen was a top 5 pick guaranteed while Reschny hadn't exploded yet in the second half and then the playoffs.

So the gap has certainly closed.

That continues with McQueen not getting invited to the World Junior Camp and arguably gets another log on the fire if Reschny makes the team.

[CalgaryFan1988]

My son would be ecstatic if the Flames acquired McQueen and he sported #95.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

McQueen
Elite - 5th
Bob - 7th
Button - 5th
Ferrari - 17th
Kennedy - 6th
McKeens - 9th
FC - 8th
Daily - 9th
Cosentino - 10th
Bukla - 7th
Recruit - 9th
Dobber - 12th
Smaht - 12th

Reschny
Elite - 33rd
Bob - 29th
Button - 13th
Ferrari - 31st
Kennedy - 25th
McKeens - 38th
FC - 25th
Daily 22nd
Cosentino - 21st
Bukala - 20th
Recruit - 17th
Dobber - 22nd
Smaht - 25th

16 games into season and random guy says nothing saying McQueen is better. It's very possible Reschny ends up better, but McQueen's rank has not changed due to 5 less points in 18 games in NCAA.

McQueen's rank stopped being relevant when he was drafted and where he was drafted stopped being relevant as soon as the draft was over. You think anyone cares today?

2021
9OA Tyler Boucher
23OA Wyatt Johnson

2020
7OA Alexander Holtz
18OA Dawson Mercer

2019
5OA Alex Turcotte
15OA Cole Caulfield

2018
9OA Vitali Kravstov
23OA K'Andre Miller

2017
7OA Lias Andersson
20OA Robert Thomas

2016
5OA Olli Joulevi
26OA Tage Thompson

etc etc.

"But the draft rankings!"

Look at the actual players and their actual production at the same age and make an argument for McQueen. I'm genuinely interested to hear your reasoning beyond "but he was drafted higher."

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Groot

Exactly, I agree. One being invited to WJC and the other not means that some have Reschny ranked higher now, so referencing draft rankings as an argument that McQueen is still ranked higher is a faulty, and quite frankly useless, argument.

So you are saying after 16 games that the opinions of every list I listed has changed and has Rescnhy ahead of McQueen? I really doubt after 16 games everyone has completely flipped their list?

Desnoyers and Frondell are off the worse starts then last year. I guess Reschny is better than they are as well. Just throw out the ranking?

[howard_the_duck]

Rankings going back years, of course you'll see values that have swung wildly.

I think it's fair to call sample size into account so early this year. Reschny could very well end up better than McQueen in the long run.

Still, I think the size and skill combination with McQueen, 'toolsy' guys like this always have a higher currency because they're so rare.

I doubt a quarter of a season has changed the scouting community's view of him too much.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Rankings going back years, of course you'll see values that have swung wildly.

I think it's fair to call sample size into account so early this year. Reschny could very well end up better than McQueen in the long run.

Still, I think the size and skill combination with McQueen, 'toolsy' guys like this always have a higher currency because they're so rare.

I doubt a quarter of a season has changed the scouting community's view of him too much.

I'm sure some have, but I really doubt all have after just 16 games. Especially when McQueen missed the last 5 months of last season. You have to think maybe he is off to a slow star and could get going soon.

Some might start from scratch and disregard all the data prior to this 16 game stretch, just not sure why anyone would do this.

We should trade Andersson and Coleman for Michkov, Frondell, Desnoyers too. All trending in the wrong direction.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think there still have to be some concerns about McQueen's injury history. It's probably too early to say he is out of the woods or will become the player many people expected he would become leading up to the draft. I still see him as a pretty high risk pick, but with potentially a high reward as well.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Rankings going back years, of course you'll see values that have swung wildly.

I think it's fair to call sample size into account so early this year. Reschny could very well end up better than McQueen in the long run.

Still, I think the size and skill combination with McQueen, 'toolsy' guys like this always have a higher currency because they're so rare.

I doubt a quarter of a season has changed the scouting community's view of him too much.

If it doesnt it should?

With any small sample the question has to be asked is it a blip or a trend? Multiple factors can be at play in a short sample but it is a legitimate question as the talent ramps up how does a prospect respond?

Personally i place high value at actually playing higher levels its why i have stenberg ahead of mckenna. You can talk skill in jr all you want but stenberg is almost point per game as a kid in a professional league. Real results, not projection.

All you can ask of a prospect is to be doing well in the league they are in and if you are falling short absolutely questions should begin to be asked.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

So you are saying after 16 games that the opinions of every list I listed has changed and has Rescnhy ahead of McQueen? I really doubt after 16 games everyone has completely flipped their list?

Desnoyers and Frondell are off the worse starts then last year. I guess Reschny is better than they are as well. Just throw out the ranking?

Yes, that is what they are saying. The draft rankings are speculation from a year ago that were used to guess where players would be drafted by teams and now that is over. Draft pedigree will continue to sway people's opinions of the players but at some point you will end up with Jake Bean (former 13OA pick) playing 3rd pair minutes for the Flames.

Looking at McQueen, he is too good to be the Ducks #3C but likely not good enough to unseat Carlsson (#2OA) or McTavish (#3OA) and their difference in age is small enough that he'll never inherit their spot in the depth chart. McQueen is going to want out (at some point) to find a team that has a spot for him.

Verbeek could keep McQueen and see how this plays out but with his team on the top of the Pacific (I doubt anyone saw that happening this quickly) he could adjust his plans and make moves to reward his team for their excellent start to the season and try to hold that spot for a playoff home stand.

Is it a certainty? No, Verbeek has been pretty unpredictable. But if the Ducks decide to enter the bidding war for Andersson, they can easily beat out the Stars, Knights, 'Canes, Red Wings, etc.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Wolven

lol, what?

Andersson can also sign an extension. He can do so the day he is traded. He could also do so in June after a playoff run. All of those things are possible.

To get McQueen out of the Ducks, Andersson almost certainly needs to be open to an extension and Verbeek needs to be ready to pay him. Right now the Ducks have $40M in cap space for next season, which sounds like a lot but they still need to sign Carlsson, Gauthier, Zellweger, Mintyukov, and Moore.

Even though I expect Carlsson and Gauthier to get big contracts, they should be softened by the fact that they are just coming off their ELCs and have a lot of RFA years to incorporate. If they are $10M AAV or under then that should leave plenty of space for the D.

I think the Ducks could easily offer Andersson $9Mx8 and not hurt their cap structure too much. Most of that cap space is with Trouba ($8M) and Gudas ($4M) right now.

Andersson is noncommittal to anyone, sounds like he wants to go to UFA. Any trade that happens is under the assumption that he will NOT extend. If there were still conditional trades (involving an extension) allowed, I think Andersson would have been dealt by now.

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

My son would be ecstatic if the Flames acquired McQueen and he sported #95.

Ka-Chow!

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Yes, that is what they are saying. The draft rankings are speculation from a year ago that were used to guess where players would be drafted by teams and now that is over. Draft pedigree will continue to sway people's opinions of the players but at some point you will end up with Jake Bean (former 13OA pick) playing 3rd pair minutes for the Flames.

Looking at McQueen, he is too good to be the Ducks #3C but likely not good enough to unseat Carlsson (#2OA) or McTavish (#3OA) and their difference in age is small enough that he'll never inherit their spot in the depth chart. McQueen is going to want out (at some point) to find a team that has a spot for him.

Verbeek could keep McQueen and see how this plays out but with his team on the top of the Pacific (I doubt anyone saw that happening this quickly) he could adjust his plans and make moves to reward his team for their excellent start to the season and try to hold that spot for a playoff home stand.

Is it a certainty? No, Verbeek has been pretty unpredictable. But if the Ducks decide to enter the bidding war for Andersson, they can easily beat out the Stars, Knights, 'Canes, Red Wings, etc.

Jake Bean was drafted 10+ years ago, McQueen has played 16 games since his draft.

Why do teams pay millions for scouts if they have no clue what they are doing?