2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

With Seguin out, I do think Hamilton would make some sense to Dallas, with retention. 9m x 3 (expires 2028) is a tough cap hit considering they've got to re-sign Robertson. What if we stepped in and eat some Hamilton salary, along with 50% retention on Coleman? That should be fetching us a good return from Dallas while NJ gets out of a 9m contract and only has to pay the Hamilton retention and a player like Lyubushkin. CGY and NJ could each eat 1.8m, DAL sends Lyubushkin (3.25 x 2) to NJ. Bichsel is a great piece for Dallas, however, they've got to give to get to grab someone like Hamilton at only 5.4m

NJ retention: 9m x 20% (1.8m) = 7.2m
CGY retention: 7.2m x 25% (1.8m) = 5.4m

To CGY:
(Dougie Hamilton 1.8m retention, exp. 2028)
(Blake Coleman 2.45m retention, exp. 2027)
Liam Bichsel - .918m x 2
2027 1st (DAL)
2029 2nd (DAL)
Oskar Back - .825m x 2

- Highly unrealistic, but this is where Calgary could obtain a player with high potential (Bichsel) and getting a 1st by helping a contending team grab a good player with retention. Might seem like a biased view, but I don't think we are in the wrong asking for this much in return when we are helping out Dallas with a combined 9.9m in cap savings over a 3-year span.

To NJ:
(Dougie Hamilton 1.8m retention, exp. 2028)
Ilya Lyubushkin - 3.25m x 2

- Jersey saves a 4m for another cap need(s) and will figure out Palat later. They'll need space for Nemec re-signing.

To DAL:
Dougie Hamilton - 5.4m x 3
Blake Coleman - 2.45 x 2

- 3.6m (1.8m x 2 teams) x 3 and 2.45m retention to Coleman gives Dallas 15.3m in cap savings over the 3-year span (3.6m x 3, 2.45 x 2). This allows them to extend Robertson with ease and roll with that crazy good top 4 defense that can all eat 22+ minutes. The bottom pairing would barely have to come in.

I didn't want to rain on your parade, but the NHL nixed double retention in the new CBA.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The new salary retention rules come into play. To double retain, the player has to be on your roster for at least 75 regular season days.

Is that not part of the new CBA or did it go into effect immediately? If so, then Calgary can just retain more on Hamilton and less on Coleman.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Is that not part of the new CBA or did it go into effect immediately? If so, then Calgary can just retain more on Hamilton and less on Coleman.

It started for the 2025/26 season.

https://puckpedia.com/news/CBA-Transition

Immediate Implementation (effective for the 25-26 season)

New Playoff Salary Cap
Limits/changes to LTIR, reducing the benefits a team receives in LTIR
No Deferred Compensation (effective Oct 7, 2025)
Restriction on Paper Loans
Restriction on a second retention on a traded contract
AHL Loans for 19 year old players not yet in effect, but an effort is being made to negotiate this with the CHL for the 25-26 season
Four Recall rule

[ForeverFlameFan]

I'd be asking more from Dallas then if I altered what I put to more retained from Hamilton and less by Coleman. NJ maybe can pay the 2nd instead of Dallas to avoid retention.

Seguin really puts a damper on Dallas' plans with the extra year of his cap hit and buyout proof.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

With Seguin out, I do think Hamilton would make some sense to Dallas, with retention. 9m x 3 (expires 2028) is a tough cap hit considering they've got to re-sign Robertson. What if we stepped in and eat some Hamilton salary, along with 50% retention on Coleman? That should be fetching us a good return from Dallas while NJ gets out of a 9m contract and only has to pay the Hamilton retention and a player like Lyubushkin. CGY and NJ could each eat 1.8m, DAL sends Lyubushkin (3.25 x 2) to NJ. Bichsel is a great piece for Dallas, however, they've got to give to get to grab someone like Hamilton at only 5.4m

NJ retention: 9m x 20% (1.8m) = 7.2m
CGY retention: 7.2m x 25% (1.8m) = 5.4m

To CGY:
(Dougie Hamilton 1.8m retention, exp. 2028)
(Blake Coleman 2.45m retention, exp. 2027)
Liam Bichsel - .918m x 2
2027 1st (DAL)
2029 2nd (DAL)
Oskar Back - .825m x 2

- Highly unrealistic, but this is where Calgary could obtain a player with high potential (Bichsel) and getting a 1st by helping a contending team grab a good player with retention. Might seem like a biased view, but I don't think we are in the wrong asking for this much in return when we are helping out Dallas with a combined 9.9m in cap savings over a 3-year span.

To NJ:
(Dougie Hamilton 1.8m retention, exp. 2028)
Ilya Lyubushkin - 3.25m x 2

- Jersey saves a 4m for another cap need(s) and will figure out Palat later. They'll need space for Nemec re-signing.

To DAL:
Dougie Hamilton - 5.4m x 3
Blake Coleman - 2.45 x 2

- 3.6m (1.8m x 2 teams) x 3 and 2.45m retention to Coleman gives Dallas 15.3m in cap savings over the 3-year span (3.6m x 3, 2.45 x 2). This allows them to extend Robertson with ease and roll with that crazy good top 4 defense that can all eat 22+ minutes. The bottom pairing would barely have to come in.

I think they eliminated double salary retention.

Ras to NJ

for

Hamilton and 1st

Hamilton and Coleman to Stars (Both 50%)

for

Lybushkin, Bichsel, Hemming 1st in 2027

Flames retain more salary but get even more. Both teams involved value the cap space in the near future more than we do.

Markstrom RS comes off the books in the summer and we gain 1 spot back next year if we need to make a deal and RS

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I think they eliminated double salary retention.

Ras to NJ

for

Hamilton and 1st

Hamilton and Coleman to Stars (Both 50%)

for

Lybushkin, Bichsel, Hemming 1st in 2027

Flames retain more salary but get even more. Both teams involved value the cap space in the near future more than we do.

Markstrom RS comes off the books in the summer and we gain 1 spot back next year if we need to make a deal and RS

I did think about Andersson to NJ as a pure rental and Dallas sending us Lyubushkin instead of the double retention route I went (I thought for sure it was part of the new CBA, so that's on me).

I am just hoping Detroit, Washington, Montreal, or any other contending team with a good prospect pool would come in and offer something substantial for Andersson after seeing what Hughes got. A pending UFA and not a franchise D will decrease the value, however, it should still be a great deal, nonetheless.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I did think about Andersson to NJ as a pure rental and Dallas sending us Lyubushkin instead of the double retention route I went (I thought for sure it was part of the new CBA, so that's on me).

I am just hoping Detroit, Washington, Montreal, or any other contending team with a good prospect pool would come in and offer something substantial for Andersson after seeing what Hughes got. A pending UFA and not a franchise D will decrease the value, however, it should still be a great deal, nonetheless.

If that is an option from a different team that is willing to pay more. I wonder if we could do Hanley for Hamilton. They might want a depth d back and trading Hanley gets rid of his $1.75M for next year and a body out for a young kid to take his spot.

Flames complete the trade with the Stars and get more for Ras elsewhere.

IMO the Flames don't want to part with everyone at once, they need to capitalize on RS situations.

To end up with a blue-chip prospect for Ras and 1st, Bischel, Hemming and only lose Coleman and Hanley would be a huge return. Only can get that much if you retain 50% though.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I think they eliminated double salary retention.

Ras to NJ

for

Hamilton and 1st

Hamilton and Coleman to Stars (Both 50%)

for

Lybushkin, Bichsel, Hemming 1st in 2027

Flames retain more salary but get even more. Both teams involved value the cap space in the near future more than we do.

Markstrom RS comes off the books in the summer and we gain 1 spot back next year if we need to make a deal and RS

Ras is worth considerably more than a 1st and taking on half of Hamilton's salary.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I think they eliminated double salary retention.

Ras to NJ

for

Hamilton and 1st

Hamilton and Coleman to Stars (Both 50%)

for

Lybushkin, Bichsel, Hemming 1st in 2027

Flames retain more salary but get even more. Both teams involved value the cap space in the near future more than we do.

Markstrom RS comes off the books in the summer and we gain 1 spot back next year if we need to make a deal and RS

I think the 3-way is a little overcomplicated.


I think
Rasmus and Coleman to Stars (Both 50%)

for

Lybushkin, Bichsel, Hemming 1st in 2027

looks like a fair deal on both sides.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by traptor

I think the 3-way is a little overcomplicated.


I think
Rasmus and Coleman to Stars (Both 50%)

for

Lybushkin, Bichsel, Hemming 1st in 2027

looks like a fair deal on both sides.

I think the Hamilton scenario makes more sense for all teams involved.

Ras is a UFA and probably wants $8-9M. Stars can't afford that and pay Roberrtson and Harley's new deal kicks in.

Hamilton 50% RS gives them Hamilton instead of Ras, but they get him at $4.5M. They need that cap savings.

Flames will be below the max spend on the cap for a few more years IMO.

Ras can be traded without RS, and the return doesn't change much.

Adding Hamilton in the mix for RS gains us way more assets as the Devils want to move him and the Stars could want him more than Ras. Adding way more for money than players IMO makes sense for the flames.

[Harry Lime]

Quinn Hutson, brother of that Habs bum, called up by the Oil. Natural goal scorer, I'm excited to see if they ruin him by putting him with Frederick or henrique.

[Flamesfan05]

3 way deals are rare unless it’s for scrub for salary.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Maybe Coleman's retention can be on NJ's books? They only get 2 years at 2.45, we get 3 years of Hamilton at either the same rate or a little more (30% is 2.7m). 50% of Coleman to NJ, 30% Hamilton to Calgary.

[ForeverFlameFan]

To CGY:
(Dougie Hamilton 2.7m retention, exp. 2028)
Liam Bichsel - .918m x 2
2027 1st (DAL)
2029 2nd (DAL)
Oskar Back - .825m x 2

To NJ:
(Blake Coleman 2.45m retention, exp. 2027)
Ilya Lyubushkin - 3.25m x 2

To DAL:
Dougie Hamilton - 6.3m x 3
Blake Coleman - 2.45m x 2

I'd say the max Calgary should go is 3m on Hamilton. Anything past 1/3 retention is a bit much. That's equivalent to taking more than a year's worth of his normal cap hit.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

To CGY:
(Dougie Hamilton 2.7m retention, exp. 2028)
Liam Bichsel - .918m x 2
2027 1st (DAL)
2029 2nd (DAL)
Oskar Back - .825m x 2

To NJ:
(Blake Coleman 2.45m retention, exp. 2027)
Ilya Lyubushkin - 3.25m x 2

To DAL:
Dougie Hamilton - 6.3m x 3
Blake Coleman - 2.45m x 2

I'd say the max Calgary should go is 3m on Hamilton. Anything past 1/3 retention is a bit much. That's equivalent to taking more than a year's worth of his normal cap hit.

If the Flames owners approve it, why not 50%? That extra $1.8M is not a concern other than Murray not wanting to pay money for nothing.

Who do the Flames have that is getting a big raise other than Wolf? Zary is having a terrible year and has 2 years left. Farabee has 2 years left. Frost isn't playing his way into a big raise. Parekh is the only other player, and he hasn't done anything this year. I expect he will by the end of his ELC, but 1 player getting a big raise when the cap is going up $8M a year is not a concern.

Gridin could get a big raise, but if he plays well then someone else is expendable. I just don't see it as a risk.

[Toonage]

Dougie didn't part ways on good terms, wonder if that would factor into a deal like that at all.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Dougie didn't part ways on good terms, wonder if that would factor into a deal like that at all.

Why? It's not like he and the Flames would have anything to do with each other except for a monhtly bank deposit.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Why? It's not like he and the Flames would have anything to do with each other except for a monhtly bank deposit.

Would the Flames be paying him?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Would the Flames be paying him?

It sounded like Flames would retain.

[ComixZone]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2000669469799059669

Flames fans trying to understand team direction at any given point...



Actions will show the fans what happens, but I think a lot of us do believe that without action we will largely end up in the same spot as last year

...and if that happens again, then the actions show that's what they want to be...and that's weird. This is a weirdly run team. I don't say that in a negative sense, it's just a weird team. They're very content with not rocking the boat, and I think their results show that. They've pretty much never been bold. Sure under Treliving there was always the glimmer of boldness, but it never happened.

For a team named for fire, they're very much run in the style of water.