2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[GioforPM]

McQueen actually fell to 10th (he'd been ranked top 5 before his injury).

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dino7c

same scounts that thought Wolf and Gaudreau couldn't play in the NHL

Once again, scouts are wrong all the time. But I have 15 years' worth of draft data that says that picks early in the draft are more likely to be stars than later and the odds slowly go down round by round and no anomalies that lower round has better results than a higher round. They must being doing something right and until you publish your draft list and develop a reputation of being a reliable source or say I have season tickets to Providence and seen McQueen play 100s of hours, I will defer to the scouts until they play in the NHL or scouts start to voice concerns.

Point is, it's 16 games in and a bit early for everyone to just change their mind and rank Reschny ahead of McQueen.

Funny thing is I pulled a told you so that the Flames could rebuild with Wolf in net around 6 games in this year and you, Pepsi and Enoch all said to give it 20-25 games before pulling out that claim. 16 games in and Reschny is better no question, and McQueen is being traded for a rental and a depth player. lol

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I just don't think it's realistic. How often, within 12 months of being drafted, have top 10 or top 15 picks been traded?

Never? I don't know.

It does require a number of unlikely factors to come together:

• Ducks going from almost a decade in the basement to top of the division in the first 30 games of this season
• Weak RD market with lots of interested teams, most of those teams have LD available but not extra Cs
• Pending UFA willing to sign a contract, maybe??
• Division rivals making a trade that could seriously influence the division for years to come

I do not think very many GMs would be able to pull the trigger.. but after trading Zegras, I think Verbeek would actually consider the trade in order to win playoff games this season.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Funny thing is I pulled a told you so that the Flames could rebuild with Wolf in net around 6 games in this year and you, Pepsi and Enoch all said to give it 20-25 games before pulling out that claim. 16 games in and Reschny is better no question, and McQueen is being traded for a rental and a depth player. lol

No one said rental. That's just your editorial to trivialize the value of the Flames assets while overinflating the Ducks asset.... because that is fun? lol

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Yegor started very slow in his best year with us. Some players do this annually. See Jarome Iginla. Backlund does this as well. January seems to be when he gets rolling.

This team has major issues in the locker room, no reason to judge anyone right now until that is resolved. Just hoping that the issues doesn't linger with players who were in the plans long term.

Yegor has 7 points in his last 11 games and is +8. 0 points on the PP. Not bad production for a player who starts slow every year.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Wolven

No one said rental. That's just your editorial to trivialize the value of the Flames assets while overinflating the Ducks asset.... because that is fun? lol

I'm just realistic when I project what we can get. McQueen and Minty and a conditional 2nd was the post I commented on. I said take out the pick and I would still do it. 50% RS and maybe we get McQueen and Minty, doubt it but maybe.

[united]

On the Hanifin trade comparative to the prospective Andersson trade, Friedman discussed the Hanifin trade and Conroy's learnings briefly on the December 5 episode of 32 Thoughts as they discussed the Canucks-Sherwood situation. I wasn't happy with the Hanifin return, personally, but I'm willing to give a new GM a few chances to learn and I'm confident Conroy has much unlike his predecessor.

“I think even without permission, teams are trying to figure out, if I trade for Sherwood and I want to keep him, what does (a contract) look like? And you know, so that affects your decision-making, too. So, that's what (the Canucks) are kind of going through.

I remember talking to Craig Conroy after they made the Noah Hanifin deal with Vegas. And Craig Conroy said after that, that it's probably not the process he would want to do again, because they gave Vegas permission (to talk contract). And even though they didn't sign the extension as part of the deal, it didn't take long for it to happen after. So you can basically look at this and say, Vegas made that trade pretty much knowing what it would take to sign Hanifin - in the ballpark - and Hanifin's representative, Pat Brisson, knew what Vegas wanted to do.

And when Vegas made that (trade), I think people around, I remember people around were kind of like, this (signing) is going to get done. There will be an extension (with Vegas) and eventually there was.

And I remember Craig Conroy talked about it afterwards. He said that if he was in that situation again, next time he would change it. He would make the trade he was happy with first and then say, okay, you want to talk to this player, and (potentially) sign an extension. You have that power, you have that ability. But, if you sign an extension, this is the trade we're agreeing to. It's done. And I actually, I had a GM call me after hearing that clip. And he said that that's a lesson that I think a lot of us have learned. That sometimes you think it's better: Oh, yeah, okay. You sign an extension with that team, and then we'll work out a trade. But you've actually lost power. The (other) team can say, hey, we've got an extension here, where else are you going to trade him to now?

And so teams don't like it that way. Now they reverse it. They do it the other way.”

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think the best comp that I can think of for McQueen right now that fits with Anaheim's pool is Adam Lowry.


Granlund and Strome do not make McQueen expendable. Granlund has 2 years after this one left on his deal, and Strome has one. Neither is what I would call a great 3rd line center. McQueen goes back to the NCAA for a season after this one, then jumps into the NHL the season after on the wing (maybe next to Granlund even) and then takes over as the 3rd line center. If he ends up displacing MacTavish, great. If not, and he is a 2B or even a solid #3 center, that's ok too. Anaheim is set down the middle for the next decade.


Leo Carlson 6'3", MacTavish 6'1" (but plays big), McQueen 6'5" down the middle. That's scary. Sennecke 6'3" (fast and physical), Gauthier 6'2" on the wings. Solberg is only 6'2", but I wouldn't call him physical - I call him violent.


That's going to be a tough team to play against in the playoffs. Guys like Kreider, Granlund and Strome are placeholders (Kreider is 34 already - turns 35 before the season starts again and is a UFA after next season). I think they will probably be flipped for other pieces, or simply walk as UFAs as their contracts expire. I don't see Anaheim in a position to win now, but i see them as the #2 team in the west right behind San Jose in around 3 seasons, but one you would prefer not to play against in the playoffs. I have them ranked as the most likely team to win a cup between them, San Jose and Chicago. They seem to be building with the playoffs in mind.


They are building themselves up to be a nasty but skilled team. Having an 'Adam Lowry" joining them in a couple of seasons is an absolutely perfect addition to their philosophy, and I don't think he is expendable. I think he will be a vital component. Plus, the Ducks are #1 in the Pacific right now, with their window JUST opening up. They can be patient. If they want, maybe they get to sign Andersson as a UFA in the off-season? They certainly are going to be one of the preferred destinations in the NHL now (especially with their owner who is willing to spend). High on taxes, but great spot to play in, and a very young but good team.


The Ducks also have a LOT of assets. They can out-bid most teams for Andersson if they really wanted to without including McQueen. For instance:


1st in 2006, 2nd in 2006, Gaucher (22nd OV in 2022), Nilson (45th overall in 2025). That's the equivalent of 2 first round picks and 2 second round picks. Nilson is rated higher on almost all lists that I see than Gaucher, and they are both centers. Maybe they add another piece to this if other teams offer-up a lot.


I don't think they will need to include McQueen, and I think they chose McQueen specifically as he fits their philosophy - Granlund and Strome are placeholders who do not fit their philosophy, and given their ages and contract status, aren't going to be around for any cup runs (unless they happen to start this year).

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I'm just realistic when I project what we can get. McQueen and Minty and a conditional 2nd was the post I commented on. I said take out the pick and I would still do it. 50% RS and maybe we get McQueen and Minty, doubt it but maybe.

I don't know... Trying to get both is crazy (even for me) and retention won't really help since the Ducks have $11M in cap space.

Coleman doesn't do anything for the Ducks. Their top 9 wingers are all solid:

• Kreider + Terry
• Gauthier (over PPG) + Sennecke (already has 10 goals in his rookie season)
• Killorn and Vatrano on the third pair. Also, did you know Vatrano has 21, 37, 22 goals in the last three seasons???? I had no idea.

Really, the only holes I see in their org is #1RD and the health of their goalies.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think the best comp that I can think of for McQueen right now that fits with Anaheim's pool is Adam Lowry.


Granlund and Strome do not make McQueen expendable. Granlund has 2 years after this one left on his deal, and Strome has one. Neither is what I would call a great 3rd line center. McQueen goes back to the NCAA for a season after this one, then jumps into the NHL the season after on the wing (maybe next to Granlund even) and then takes over as the 3rd line center. If he ends up displacing MacTavish, great. If not, and he is a 2B or even a solid #3 center, that's ok too. Anaheim is set down the middle for the next decade.


Leo Carlson 6'3", MacTavish 6'1" (but plays big), McQueen 6'5" down the middle. That's scary. Sennecke 6'3" (fast and physical), Gauthier 6'2" on the wings. Solberg is only 6'2", but I wouldn't call him physical - I call him violent.


That's going to be a tough team to play against in the playoffs. Guys like Kreider, Granlund and Strome are placeholders (Kreider is 34 already - turns 35 before the season starts again and is a UFA after next season). I think they will probably be flipped for other pieces, or simply walk as UFAs as their contracts expire. I don't see Anaheim in a position to win now, but i see them as the #2 team in the west right behind San Jose in around 3 seasons, but one you would prefer not to play against in the playoffs. I have them ranked as the most likely team to win a cup between them, San Jose and Chicago. They seem to be building with the playoffs in mind.


They are building themselves up to be a nasty but skilled team. Having an 'Adam Lowry" joining them in a couple of seasons is an absolutely perfect addition to their philosophy, and I don't think he is expendable. I think he will be a vital component. Plus, the Ducks are #1 in the Pacific right now, with their window JUST opening up. They can be patient. If they want, maybe they get to sign Andersson as a UFA in the off-season? They certainly are going to be one of the preferred destinations in the NHL now (especially with their owner who is willing to spend). High on taxes, but great spot to play in, and a very young but good team.


The Ducks also have a LOT of assets. They can out-bid most teams for Andersson if they really wanted to without including McQueen. For instance:


1st in 2006, 2nd in 2006, Gaucher (22nd OV in 2022), Nilson (45th overall in 2025). That's the equivalent of 2 first round picks and 2 second round picks. Nilson is rated higher on almost all lists that I see than Gaucher, and they are both centers. Maybe they add another piece to this if other teams offer-up a lot.


I don't think they will need to include McQueen, and I think they chose McQueen specifically as he fits their philosophy - Granlund and Strome are placeholders who do not fit their philosophy, and given their ages and contract status, aren't going to be around for any cup runs (unless they happen to start this year).

Plus, they could blow assets for Coleman who helps them now but not long term and then they have a better options available and they already blew assets to get lessor players.

Trouba has been good and if I remember correctly, his wife has 2 city options to work in. LA and NY. I could see him signing long term for much less to stay put.

Ras is option #1 for RHD right now and maybe all this year, but I doubt they are in a rush to add him for top prospects. Add him if he signs, maybe but they have some young stars to sign and a guy like Carlsson is trending towards $12M vs $10M. He puts up 90+ points and he might get $13M+.

Gauthier is also pacing for 80+ points. He could be getting $9M+ and Lacombe already got $9M. Trouba staying for a hometown discount and keeping your top prospects might be the better play for Anaheim.

Unless its a big splash that helps now and long term, they are not parting from players like McQueen because he has 13 points in 16 games.

[mile]

Steinberg mailbag:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...a-sweepstakes/

My understanding is Calgary is willing to listen on veteran players right now. But I can also tell you the Flames won’t be trading players simply for the sake of it. Offers will need to move the needle in a big way, especially for players under contract beyond this year, like Kadri and Blake Coleman.

And that’s the way it should be.

These players are too valuable to be moved for anything less than what the team believes their value is. And to hit those targets, the Flames will likely have to wait, even as those players continue to lead the way on the ice.

And, honestly, I think serious offers will materialize in time. But until they do, general manager Craig Conroy has to, and will, remain patient. Luckily, it’s not new to him, as he was in this position two seasons ago with multiple key veterans.

Also says odds of Andersson being traded are very strong, Coleman’s as decent, and Kadri’s as uncertain because contracts like his are rarely moved mid-season

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by mile

Steinberg mailbag:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...a-sweepstakes/

Also says odds of Andersson being traded are very strong, Coleman’s as decent, and Kadri’s as uncertain because contracts like his are rarely moved mid-season

That’s the right approach imo.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by mile

Steinberg mailbag:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...a-sweepstakes/



Also says odds of Andersson being traded are very strong, Coleman’s as decent, and Kadri’s as uncertain because contracts like his are rarely moved mid-season

So does this calm people down?

Where does this level of media / connection sit in the hierarchy?

[TOfan]

How about Farabee for Byram?

Assume Coleman’s sticking around this season.

Who says no?

[Ped]

Not a trade but rumours floating around that Buffalo is going to turf Adams and replace him with Jarmo Kekalainen. No idea as to the validity.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Ped

Not a trade but rumours floating around that Buffalo is going to turf Adams and replace him with Jarmo Kekalainen. No idea as to the validity.

bad organizations doing stupid things

time is a flat circle

[dammage79]

Kekalainen is exactly what the Sabers need. A pure gun slinger of a GM. That guy makes fun trades.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Bingo

So does this calm people down?

Where does this level of media / connection sit in the hierarchy?

Are we allowed to trust this one? Or is this for clicks?

[JTech780]

Originally Posted by TOfan

How about Farabee for Byram?

Assume Coleman’s sticking around this season.

Who says no?

Me. Farabee has been great, the guy comes to play every night, works hard, goes to the dirty areas, kills penalties. Why would we want to trade him?

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Ok so who is giving up that?

Lots of teams would be interested in a young blue-chip C prospect. The Canucks, Flyers, Bruins, Islanders, Blue Jackets, Kraken off the top of my head. As to what they might offer, they all have some nice pieces that would help a team looking to take the next step.

It’s not that Andersson isn’t a nice piece. But without term (and Andersson seems certain to go to market unless he winds up in Vegas or maybe Dallas), it’s just not the sort of deal a team in Anaheim’s position makes.