2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Ped

According to Greg Wyshynski, Marc-Andre Fleury would consider coming back, and there are teams that have been reaching out. He assumes, probably correctly, that the Oilers might be one of those teams.

That would absolutely ruin his legacy.

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Dec 28th

Your circles say anything about Tampa?

[Caged Great]

If Huberdeau was getting paid 5-6 million, he'd be perfectly fine as a 2nd line winger.

The problem is that he's getting 10.

Another problem is the Flames face is that even if they wanted to buy him out, they'd only save 200K in each of 2026/27, 27/28, and 29/30. They'd only save 2.7 mil in 28/29 and 4.7 million in the final year of the deal, while adding 800K to the cap each of the five years after.

Realstically, it's cheaper for the Flames to literally eat half the contract and trade him at any point because they won't save money otherwise. Either that or have a dead cap hit for the entire duration.

Neither is a good option.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If Huberdeau was getting paid 5-6 million, he'd be perfectly fine as a 2nd line winger.

The problem is that he's getting 10.

Another problem is the Flames face is that even if they wanted to buy him out, they'd only save 200K in each of 2026/27, 27/28, and 29/30. They'd only save 2.7 mil in 28/29 and 4.7 million in the final year of the deal, while adding 800K to the cap each of the five years after.

Realstically, it's cheaper for the Flames to literally eat half the contract and trade him at any point because they won't save money otherwise. Either that or have a dead cap hit for the entire duration.

Neither is a good option.

Except that it's not a problem at all. It's not like the flames would be spending that money elsewhere right now. They have tons of cap space and, quite frankly, have no young superstars to give the money to anyway.

Maybe in 3 or 4 years...it's a "problem". Right now? Not a problem.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by MacFlame

Except that it's not a problem at all. It's not like the flames would be spending that money elsewhere right now. They have tons of cap space and, quite frankly, have no young superstars to give the money to anyway.

Maybe in 3 or 4 years...it's a "problem". Right now? Not a problem.

Yup, barring some crazy drafting or trades then Huberdeau’s contract is really only a potential issue in the last couple years of his deal. They’ll be able to work around it I think.

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Your circles say anything about Tampa?

Nope and I don't see it as a fit for what the flames are looking for.

Carolina, Washington, Dallas, Anaheim, Detroit and Senators are the teams I'm hearing about. Columbus has cooled since they got Mason Marchy, I heard they were interested in Joel Farabee.

Flames are wanting sub 24 year old assets that fit their needs, draft capital and cost controlled assets if over the age of 26.

Flames have a meetings and events planned in Minnesota next week and lots of other team brass will be there.

January will be extremely active. Teams want to get ahead of the Olympic break.

[5abi]

Do we think Huberdeau lost his Talent? His talent was dependent on this line mates in Florida?

[dino7c]

I think its more team style of play doesn't fit...that said he is still an above average NHLer

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by MacFlame

Except that it's not a problem at all. It's not like the flames would be spending that money elsewhere right now. They have tons of cap space and, quite frankly, have no young superstars to give the money to anyway.

Maybe in 3 or 4 years...it's a "problem". Right now? Not a problem.

For the purposes of hitting the cap floor, Huberdeau's contract is just great.

If the Flames are wanting to be competitive though, it puts a huge damper on that.

Realisitically, the Flames are fine to eat the deal as is for the next 3 years and trading a 2 year 5 million dollar player shouldn't be that hard if he's still producing around the same amount.

Even if they get to the final year, they'd save 3.67 million by buying him outright and only cost them 1.8 the year after. Worst case, they can deal with it rather easily.

[dino7c]

With a more talented team I could see Huberdeau pulling a Kadri and having a couple crazy good years in his mid 30s.

Guys aren't smokers and alcoholics like the old days...I think we will see more and more players play well late into their 30s.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

For the purposes of hitting the cap floor, Huberdeau's contract is just great.

If the Flames are wanting to be competitive though, it puts a huge damper on that.

Realisitically, the Flames are fine to eat the deal as is for the next 3 years and trading a 2 year 5 million dollar player shouldn't be that hard if he's still producing around the same amount.

I think I get what you're saying....just tired of reading opinions on this contract like its some sort of huge issue for the flames. Its really not at all a problem. If they were a team up against the cap, competing for the stanley cup right now, I would also consider it a problem. There is just no reason to focus on this (or any) Flames contract at all right now. Its a non-issue.

[Sec214]

Disconnecting for a few days unless something develops.

Enjoy the holidays folks take sometime for yourselves and enjoy the company.

Call a friend.

GFG.

Oilers ####ing suck.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It's not about focusing the PP design to help Huberdeau. The PP sucks now because they aren't using him right. The goals they do score - usually ebcause he's been directing the play. His 5x5 is down but nowhere near his PP production.

His previous lines on other teams? Bennett had his best year with him, and Duclair dropped off the map after Huberdeau left. Kadri had his second and third best year playing with Huberdeau. Frost is way better with Huberdeau this year than without him last season.

Duclair's problem has always been injuries. He was on pace for roughly 30 goals in Ottawa as well before getting injured. His 30 goal season in Florida was more a reflection of staying healthy for once. That accomplishment belongs to him. Bennett's best year was also last year when he had 51 point, was a PPG player in the playoffs, and won the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by 5abi

Do we think Huberdeau lost his Talent? His talent was dependent on this line mates in Florida?

Huberdeau got a lot of easier matchups in Florida while Barkov's line took the bulk of the tougher minutes. We don't have a Barkov.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by 5abi

Do we think Huberdeau lost his Talent? His talent was dependent on this line mates in Florida?

Talent isn't the issue. The issue is that he isn't a big game player and in Canada, the game is just bigger in general. I don't think he could handle the weight put on him.

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Huberdeau got a lot of easier matchups in Florida while Barkov's line took the bulk of the tougher minutes. We don't have a Barkov.

He also feasted on the PP which Florida could load up more than most teams. He was 7th on Panthers in even strength ice-time for forwards (13:54 per game), but first in PP ice-time per game (3:41 per game). People like to make fun of McDavid and Draisaitl for racking up McPoints on the PP, but Huberdeau was right up there with them. Roughly 20% of his time on average was spent on the PP.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Duclair's problem has always been injuries. He was on pace for roughly 30 goals in Ottawa as well before getting injured. His 30 goal season in Florida was more a reflection of staying healthy for once. That accomplishment belongs to him. Bennett's best year was also last year when he had 51 point, was a PPG player in the playoffs, and won the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe.

It was his best post season. Regular season it was his second best on a PPG basis.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Huberdeau got a lot of easier matchups in Florida while Barkov's line took the bulk of the tougher minutes. We don't have a Barkov.

Yup. Barkov is a top 5 player.

[dino7c]

Barkov missed 15 games and Huberdeau was still scoring at an incredible rate durning that time

[Teroy]

Huberdeau's contract was a big mistake. Not because of the cost, but because his talent level didn't deserve it. He benefitted from his team mates in Florida. Just because he makes a good pass doesn't mean he's talented. At his cost, he's supposed to be driving the team. It's not up to his team mates to make him look good. The team's style of play has nothing to do with it.

[stemit14]

Huberdeau’s contract does not bother me at all at this point. They need it to reach the floor. The bigger issue is that the Huberdeau was the biggest piece in the return for Tkachuk and has the least value since. Had the perceived value of Huberdeau at the time been in the form of draft picks or young prospects, the flames would be in a better spot. All spilled milk at this point and I will give credit to Huberdeau for adjusting in t his game to more of a grinding style that fits with the team. He works hard and drives to the net. And I think he is becoming a leader on the team.