2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[ResAlien]

Well sure that's easy to see and I think that's been the way the team's been run for my entire life. I know some folks around here don’t agree with it being pointed out but the classic Flames mushy middle is pretty obviously where they're comfortable living. Try and take big swings in FA or a trade now and then to be good but never commit to a full restock and rebuild. That's the downside of the retool vs what most consider a true rebuild. I imagine almost losing the team once scarred them forever which is too bad because operating from a position of fear of failure dooms any endeavour.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Not wrong, but Kadri and Danault are 2 different players.
One is still putting up big points, pulls the team into the fight, has snarl and a cup ring.

The other doesn't and plays a soft game.
If I'm MTL I know which one fits better on my already pretty soft team.

Danault is a very good shut down C still is he not? Montreal really doesn't have that (I don't think). So yes, very different players, but perhaps very different needs.

I recall that cup run of 2021. He may not have the snarl but he was instrumental in pulling that team through IMO.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Whats miserable? Carolina has won 1 game past the 2nd round in 20 years

A franchise that missed the playoffs in 10 of 11 seasons.

This is the franchise people want to Flames to emulate? I'm confused as to why?

Because they are presently a good team? A few ago you could say Florida had a crappy PO record.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I think it's a rebuilding move but not a total tanking move.

I doubt anyone should argue that Calgary is not in a rebuilding mode of sorts.

But equally I don't think anyone should argue that they are tanking as well.

I think the argument lies as to whether Calgary is doing enough to ensure a bottom 3 finish vs. a 4-7 finish.

They are not tanking, no team has ever really ranked the way fans on here describe tanking so for a franchise to do that would be a first. There is one way for them to tank, trade Wolf. Most people seem to think that is a bad idea

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Because they are presently a good team? A few ago you could say Florida had a crappy PO record.

Only took them 15 years from the start of the rebuild !

I look forward to our first playoff birth in 2032 and our first time winning a conference finals game in 2038!

If we’re following the Carolina model of excellence !

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Not wrong, but Kadri and Danault are 2 different players.
One is still putting up big points, pulls the team into the fight, has snarl and a cup ring.

The other doesn't and plays a soft game.
If I'm MTL I know which one fits better on my already pretty soft team.

Danault can center Anderson and Gallagher and fit right in on that line.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Only took them 15 years from the start of the rebuild !

I look forward to our first playoff birth in 2032 and our first time winning a conference finals game in 2038!

If we’re following the Carolina model of excellence !

Or the Florida one. Weiss started their rebuild in 2001.

[ComixZone]

Daily Faceoff

I’ve heard from team sources that the Wild like Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri. Kadri, 35, comes with a hefty AAV of $7-million until 2029, but would (at least on paper) check all the boxes for the Wild; as a center and someone who brings grit, Kadri would surely fit right into a Guerin type of team. But given Kadri’s age and contract, I imagine the Flames would need to retain on any prospective deal for the Wild to entertain.



The Flames are willing to retain on Kadri if the price is right, but the amount will be contingent on if whether can clear it with ownership. Assuming ownership gives the green light, I’m told the Flames are open to retaining up to 50 percent, according to team sources. Speaking with people close to the situation in Minnesota, the feeling I get is that the Wild would be open to giving up a first round pick and a prospect should the Flames make Kadri a $5-million (or less) player.

The other wrinkle in this is Kadri’s 13 team no-trade list, which I’m told by sources from both the Flames and Wild includes Minnesota. The Flames would consider approaching Kadri about amending said clause if a deal made sense; could Minnesota’s recent moves help convince the 2009 seventh-overall pick? According to several league sources, they think that could be the case.

Kadri makes a lot of sense for Minnesota.

As far as fit, well...they no longer have a 2026 1st round pick.

Top prospects/young players:
David Jiricek
Danila Yurov
Jesper Wallstedt
Riley Heidt
Ryder Ritchie
Charlie Stramel
Aron Kiviharju
Adam Benák

[SuperMatt18]

If we are retaining 50% I'd want more than a 1st and a prospect that's for sure.

[ComixZone]

Also:

https://twitter.com/user/status/2001019503988052364

https://twitter.com/user/status/2000793007768133661

[Ashasx]

[ForeverFlameFan]

Kadri at 50% should be giving us 2 1sts and a very good prospect. 10.5m retained over 3 years should net that. I don't think Minnesota needs much retention though.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Royle9

If CGY does nothing (and I’ve been told the opposite of what was just said by Friedman)
Then I don’t know how I can support this team with 3 different sets of season tickets.
It would be the most absolute train wreck of mis-management we’ve seen in decades.

We need 2/3 to be gone, anything less and we’ve blown our best window in years.
What has this team shown you that screams “quick fix” and “let’s let this play out, we’ve got the answers in this room”.

I’m not panic mode yet, but this narrative Friedman has spun a few times now scares me… wish I knew his source(s)

Friedman's quote:

"They're not tearing it down, for one thing they believe they'll not be able to with Wolf being Wolf... they're going to let this year play out, they're not going to do short-term fixes and they're going to try and get the best pick they can"

Is confusing, but the last sentence suggests they are going to let this year play out, without doing short-term fixes, to be as low as possible in the standings ("get the best pick they can"). That sounds promising.

The "not tear it down" part somewhat contradicts that though, but when read with the last part is not necessarily full doom and gloom.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

I think that you - and others who bring this up - are missing the point of the argument from the Flames' management. Yes, the Flames have not won much in the last 20 years. If they get rid of all the players on the roster who have in fact won something then who is around to actually show the younger players what it takes to win.


It is probably a bit of older PTSD from the Iginla days when, despite having some talent on the roster, they really struggled to win at all. It is similar to the Gaudreau rebuild as that team really struggled to consistently do what was needed to win.


It would be a fair retort that those teams were not talented enough so the team itself was poorly constructed. That is probably a fair criticism. However, I do not think the team is completely wrong to conclude that at times the Flames's players in those two different eras were unwilling to do what was needed to win on a consistent basis. So, the emphasis on teaching and culture is not as foolish as it first appears.

I agree to some extent. That said this organization put a premium on "what it takes to win". That's how mistakes like Brouwer, and Bollig were made in an attempt to bring in winners. Even Neal was such an attempt after he lost in the previous 2 cup finals with Vegas and Nashville.

This team has plenty of players that can help the younger players. If you move Andersson, Coleman, and Kadri, then you still have Huberdeau, Weegar, Bahl, Backlund, Frost, Farabee, Coronato, and even Hanley. You could probably move another 2-3 players from that list and not hinder anyone's development.

Finally, I noticed that younger players often evolve to play a similar style to their veterans. In TB Hagel started playing more like Kucherov. In LA Danault started playing similar to Kopitar. In FLA, Lundell similar to Barkov, etc. Meanwhile we have Backlund, and other talented 2nd/3rd liners.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Or the Florida one. Weiss started their rebuild in 2001.

I guess you could say they started again in 2010. But they ended up winning a nice 13 years later with only three guys they drafted playing any significant role (1 of which was a "mushy middle draftee). And two guys they drafted high traded away.

Not too many teams did a burn it down tank and succeeded. Colorado didn't do it that way - they alternated picking high and then mid level for over 10 years. By the time they won, their first high pick had been off the team for 4 years.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I guess you could say they started again in 2010. But they ended up winning a nice 13 years later with only three guys they drafted playing any significant role (1 of which was a "mushy middle draftee). And two guys they drafted high traded away.

Not too many teams did a burn it down tank and succeeded. Colorado didn't do it that way - they alternated picking high and then mid level for over 10 years. By the time they won, their first high pick had been off the team for 4 years.

It is pretty clear to see when most teams win the cup it is around 8-11 years after they draft their superstars that they win the cup.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

It is pretty clear to see when most teams win the cup it is around 8-11 years after they draft their superstars that they win the cup.

I think it just took a while for Crosby and Ovechkin to win. Not all teams have that superstar drafted. Chicago won in Kane's 3rd year and Toews 4th year.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Well sure that's easy to see and I think that's been the way the team's been run for my entire life. I know some folks around here don’t agree with it being pointed out but the classic Flames mushy middle is pretty obviously where they're comfortable living. Try and take big swings in FA or a trade now and then to be good but never commit to a full restock and rebuild. That's the downside of the retool vs what most consider a true rebuild. I imagine almost losing the team once scarred them forever which is too bad because operating from a position of fear of failure dooms any endeavour.

It's funny how so many Canadian teams follow the same path of not fully committing to a rebuild. Vancouver and Ottawa totally botched their rebuilds and now one team is rebuilding again and the other is stuck in the mushy middle. There's a reason that Canadian teams aren't winning Stanley Cups and it's because the teams just haven't been managed as well as some of the American teams are. The moment any of them find a small handful of young, promising talent, ownership/management immediately starts looking to accelerate the rebuilds and before you know it, they are back where they started with nothing to show for it.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by blankall

I think it just took a while for Crosby and Ovechkin to win. Not all teams have that superstar drafted. Chicago won in Kane's 3rd year and Toews 4th year.

4 years for Crosby. Not bad, really.

[atb]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

They are not tanking, no team has ever really ranked the way fans on here describe tanking so for a franchise to do that would be a first. There is one way for them to tank, trade Wolf. Most people seem to think that is a bad idea

As good as Wolf is, you remove Andersson, Kadri, and Coleman from the team, I don't see how Wolf even keeps them from a bottom 5 finish. I think it's crazy for management to think otherwise.