2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

The thing that fans need to remeber come June: the team that ends up drafting McKenna, Stenberg, Verheoff - they’re in that position because they embraced it. They accepted short term defeat for the larger good.

If the Flames aren’t there, it was managements choice. They have the ability to choose that path right now.

Inaction is them choosing not to be there. If we draft 9th instead of 3rd, and we have Coleman and Kadri? The math is simple, management chose not to give the team that draft opportunity and they should be judged on that.

The Jets are embracing the tank?

[Hoop27]

If the current offers are garbage then you do not make a trade. The only guy that MUST be dealt is Andersson and I'm assuming he will be for a good return. When it comes to Kadri and Coleman if a trade absolutely blows you away then sure you make the deal.

Everyone around here has been crying for ages about drafting a #1 center which I agree would be nice to pull off but this draft isn't it. The Flames will likely have three 1st's for this draft and there are good players (Including centers) in the middle to late 1st round. I'm hoping for Caleb Malhotra myself. Keep stocking the cupboards. Finally thanks to the guys that share the rumors!

Some people need to breath. Andersson will be moved. If the team somehow manages to keep winning and challenges for the playoffs then fine. Don't go waste any youth or picks to make that happen but if they make it then good for the kids that helped get them there.

Originally Posted by ComixZone

The thing that fans need to remeber come June: the team that ends up drafting McKenna, Stenberg, Verheoff - they’re in that position because they embraced it. They accepted short term defeat for the larger good.

If the Flames aren’t there, it was managements choice. They have the ability to choose that path right now.

Inaction is them choosing not to be there. If we draft 9th instead of 3rd, and we have Coleman and Kadri? The math is simple, management chose not to give the team that draft opportunity and they should be judged on that.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Sec214

His team has a list of teams. IMO its not pretty.

Confirmed teams so far Carolina, Colorado, Las Vegas, Dallas, Florida (state wide).

Some of these teams are willing to go short term bigger dollar. Some don't make sense trade wise. Some think they can wait till free agency and are throwing hot garbage at the flames VEGAS.

His rental market is has like 12-14 teams.

To me that's more than fair of an extension list for Ras, really you can't expect a guy to be willing to extend with 10+ teams before even playing a game there.

The only mistake I think he has is leaving out some teams that maybe aren't contenders now, but could be. San Jose and Detroit being the main two.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I'm sorry but there is no business case for keeping Coleman.If that is th e level of their strategic thinking, God help us all.

Disagree.

He is playing some of the best 2 way hockey we have seen in this city for a long time. He is clearly a fan favorite and he is signed beyond this year.

The business case is pretty obvious....they still need to sell tickets and Coleman helps them achieve that. Keeping him one more year is not unreasonable at this point.

I would agree that if a deal is presented that Conroy really cant refuse and its a team that BC would accept going too, then yes the move has to be made. Thats a lot of "ifs" though. That being said, he is a guy that every singe team who believes they have a shot this year...would absolutely love to bring in, so its possible one GM blows away CC with an offer.

He cannot be here past TDL next year though, there is no case to be made for that.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

To me that's more than fair of an extension list for Ras, really you can't expect a guy to be willing to extend with 10+ teams before even playing a game there.

The only mistake I think he has is leaving out some teams that maybe aren't contenders now, but could be. San Jose and Detroit being the main two.

As a family guy though it's clear this is not just about the on-ice state of the teams, it's about where he wants to set-up his family.

[Matty81]

I think they would sell more tickets with a young star to market the team around than Blake coleman personally. If Murray thinks ticket sales will crater because kadri and coleman are gone I think he will be pleasantly surprised if he does it and can bring in a Lawrence, stenberg or mckenna. The only bad outcome is he trades them and they still pick 10th or something, which is honestly an outcome of his and Maloneys own doing for waiting so long to accept where the team is big picture and piling up the wins they are now with a bunch of veterans who serve no purpose here in the big picture objective of actually trying to win a Stanley cup given timelines and talent on the roster

But if those guys get traded and the flames still win more than expected its at least not management's fault any more its just a bit of bad luck re outcomes

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

And who is he replacing? Slavin? Miller? Unless one of them are going to their off-side, sure feels like Carolina can't allocate ice time to everyone.

Someone has to move to their off side and adding Ras just makes the ice time issue worse and he isn'y coming cheap.

Use those assets for a center. Their d is loaded

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

As a family guy though it's clear this is not just about the on-ice state of the teams, it's about where he wants to set-up his family.

People perhaps put too much of an emphasis on "about to be a contender" when it comes to this. Players know that only one team wins the cup each year. Iggy learned the hard way that chasing cups is a slippery business. I think quality of life (and the amount of money they make) is probably higher on their list.

That said, SJ was always a popular place for vets. I suspect Rasmus hates Detroit because of what happened there.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

People perhaps put too much of an emphasis on "about to be a contender" when it comes to this. Players know that only one team wins the cup each year. Iggy learned the hard way that chasing cups is a slippery business. I think quality of life (and the amount of money they make) is probably higher on their list.

That said, SJ was always a popular place for vets. I suspect Rasmus hates Detroit because of what happened there.

That and for various reasons Detroit wouldn't be at the top of my list in terms of where I would move my family.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Matty81

But if those guys get traded and the flames still win more than expected its at least not management's fault any more its just a bit of bad luck re outcomes

lol we both know that’s not true.

Management has traded most of the roster away (basically all of the top players) primarily for picks or younger players and left a boatload of cap space unused and people still blame them.

[SuperMatt18]

To me that list reads more as a "places that are contenders with lower taxes" than a list of "best places to set up my family"

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

To me that's more than fair of an extension list for Ras, really you can't expect a guy to be willing to extend with 10+ teams before even playing a game there.

The only mistake I think he has is leaving out some teams that maybe aren't contenders now, but could be. San Jose and Detroit being the main two.

Sharks have no incentive to trade assets for a player like Ras if they think they could get him July 1. Sharks org is playing with house money, their pipeline is full and Macklin is the real deal and elite at both ends of the ice.

They can draft any position of need.

The market can attract top UFA talent easily.

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

The Jets are embracing the tank?

Jets need to fire the coach.

He's expired in the locker.

Ownership are CHEAP, it's a shame.

[united]

December 30 update from The Athletic's model that simulates the remainder of the season 50,000 times.

Hot streak has resulted in some material movement.

Median finish: 30th place with 77 points, 3 points ahead of Kraken and 7 points ahead of the Blackhawks. Canucks, Blues, and Sharks all projected to finish with fewer than 80 points as well FWIW.

Pick first: 10% of simulated seasons
Pick top five: 53% of simulated seasons
Pick top ten: 85% of simulated seasons
Make playoffs: 8% of simulated seasons (88 points to get in)

Originally Posted by united

December 16 update from The Athletic's model that simulates the remainder of the season 50,000 times.

Median finish: firmly in 32nd place with 73 points, 2 points behind the Blackhawks and Kraken at 75. Blues, Sharks, Predators, Canucks all projected to finish with fewer than 80 points as well FWIW.

Pick first: 12% of simulated seasons
Pick top five: 66% of simulated seasons
Pick top ten: 91% of simulated seasons
Make playoffs: 3% of simulated seasons (90 points to get in)

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Sharks have no incentive to trade assets for a player like Ras if they think they could get him July 1. Sharks org is playing with house money, their pipeline is full and Macklin is the real deal and elite at both ends of the ice.

They can draft any position of need.

The market can attract top UFA talent easily.

That's fair.

They are rumoured to have interest in the player, but also have no real pressure to overpay in a trade or try to rush things.

Celebrini and the rest of the youngsters are good enough, and the market is attractive enough, that they will be able to attract premier UFAs when the time comes.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Flames67

Our informants have gone quiet…

Probably because everyone's going a little stir crazy for news but there's nothing to share

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I don’t really buy the argument that picking 9th instead of 3rd is some kind of disaster. The draft isn’t won or lost by one slot, especially when the odds are stacked against you anyway. Lottery luck has never exactly been on our side, so banking on jumping spots isn't guaranteed.

What does matter is volume. More picks = more darts at the board. And honestly, our scouting staff has earned the benefit of the doubt. Look at the players they’ve found in recent years. they clearly know how to identify talent. I’d much rather have multiple picks in the top 64 range than put all our hopes into one high pick and pray the lottery goes our way.

Let the scouts cook. That’s how you actually build something sustainable. I'd love McKenna/Stenberg/Lawrence, they're more likely to be franchise-altering. At this point, that seems like a best-case scenario. I've learned we aren't exactly very successful with odds like that unless you're the franchise up north. We can increase our odds at franchise players with more darts thrown with our current scouting crew.

It’s permissible for Calgary to draft at the top and have multiple picks as well.

I am not certain why if the Flames fall to the bottom due to trading Andersson, Coleman and Kadri they don’t even more darts plus some potential bullseyes.

It’s certainly not either/or. Calgary can have the “best of both worlds”, like Hannah Montana.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Sharks have no incentive to trade assets for a player like Ras if they think they could get him July 1. Sharks org is playing with house money, their pipeline is full and Macklin is the real deal and elite at both ends of the ice.

They can draft any position of need.

The market can attract top UFA talent easily.

Exception being a playoff push. If they are ok missing the playoffs, fair comment. If they want to push for a spot, then they have to add. They are stuffed with prospects, so losing 1-2 won’t impact them as much as others.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Jets need to fire the coach.

He's expired in the locker.

Ownership are CHEAP, it's a shame.

Crazy how that can happen in a year. I don’t think losing ehlers is the problem. That’s a team stuck in mushy middle. And can’t blame ownership, they aren’t a have franchise. Not good enough to miss. Not good enough to go deep

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Jets need to fire the coach.

He's expired in the locker.

Ownership are CHEAP, it's a shame.

TBH to me that's them not trying to salvage the season. Fire Arneil in the offseason, but you're not contending in the central this season anyways.

All their core pieces are locked up long term. They have some UFAs they can likely move at the deadline (Nyquist, Toews, Schenn, Miller, Stanley, Pearson)

For a team like Winnipeg having a bad year because the team hates the coach, clearning out UFAs to recoup some assets, and then bottoming out for a top 5 pick isn't the worst thing.

Adds a potential elite piece to a team that is already pretty good. McKenna, Stenberg, or Verhoeff would really change the outlook of that Jets contention window IMO.