2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[CFO]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Dallas has some nice pieces, they would make a good trade partner.

They do?? No one really excites me or fills a need in the pipeline from what I can see.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by CFO

They do?? No one really excites me or fills a need in the pipeline from what I can see.

Hemming, Bischel, 2027 1st I think are the main pieces Sandman is referring to.

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

Hemming, Bischel, 2027 1st I think are the main pieces Sandman is referring to.

Hemming's numbers are not that great for his D+2 year. He does have 3 goals in 3 games for Finland in current WJC.

Bischel+Schmidt+2027 1st should be enough if we retain and it is a sign and trade.

Suspect Bischel is off limits with his hit totals and some comments from GG.
6-foot-7, 231 pounds would give us the twin towers on the left side for many years to come and support our smaller mobile offensive D men on the right side.

Would Hemming+Schmidt+1st+another pick be enough for retention and sign and trade?

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I know you said it is obvious to everyone where we stand and where we are headed. But I don't actually think this is necessarily true for Flames ownership and upper management.

Do you have confidence that Murray Edwards and Don Maloney know what needs to be done if we want to become a true contender? I don't. Why would we have any confidence in these two? Neither has ever built a winner before.

I like the players and I like Conroy. I have zero confidence whatsoever in the people above Conroy in the organization. My confidence on a scale of 1 to 100 with those two is about a 1. And that is the real issue a lot of fans have, it isn't with the players or Conroy.

I sometimes question what ‘success’ means for Flames ownership. Is it prioritizing the on-ice product, pursuing elite talent, and icing a highly entertaining product capable of winning a cup?

Or is it more about the off-ice experience? Creating a fun environment for fans to enjoy and stay competitive, as best they can, and let the chips fall?

Is it better to swing for the fences or just get on base?

Certainly, in both instances, there needs to be a business case to support one or the other I suspect the latter is the safer approach to hit their margins year in year out. Truthfully none of us know what the books look like. What is the payroll for the organization? Not just players, full staff for the Flames and Wranglers. Operating costs including travel and equipment? Food and beverages? Building operational costs? Promotional efforts, ticket costs and seasons ticket numbers and renewals? Boxes sold? Advertising partners? Etc etc etc.

I think as fans we are singularly focussed on the team building aspects, myself included, but we don’t see the full picture. But if I were to make an on the surface conclusion, the Flames aren’t or haven’t been as interested in acquiring their superstar talents by way of drafting high in the draft by sinking to the very bottom. Never once a top 3 pick in their history (only team in the to be able to say that outside of Vegas) and look how they did acquire their most recent franchise/era defining talents. Iginla-trade, Kiprusoff-trade, Regher-trade, Gaudreau-4th round selection, Giordano-undrafted signing, Tkachuck-6OA pick.

The Flames have their way of doing things. Hard to understand because we don’t see the full picture. I’m fairly convinced though that if we do end up with that top 3 pick this year it will be, in part, due to lottery luck (which would also be a first).

Not intending to attack/criticize the organization here but this is how I see it and I don’t think they are necessarily alone. Very few, if any, teams intentionally tank. Perhaps some fo at the deadline but almost every single team at tre beginning of a season aspires to improve, even the bottom feeders.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

Hemming, Bischel, 2027 1st I think are the main pieces Sandman is referring to.

Yup, those are the main pieces, plus maybe Cam Schmidt, but there’s a few others who could fill in the equation.

-D Tristan Bertucci is a guy who I have really liked since his draft year, and is looking more and more like a top-4 defender. He’s big, mean, and physical, but has posted 13 points in 28 games in his rookie AHL season.

-Don’t discount Emil Hemming yet, these young power forwards sometimes take longer to develop, and he’s had issues with transitioning to NA.

-C Atte Joki was taken in last summer’s draft, but he’s still 18 until July, and putting up excellent numbers in the Liiga- 10 points in 27 games. He’s 6’2”, physical, and has well-developed defensive awareness, but can also contribute in the other end. Needs work on his skating though.

-Nobody will care, but I really like 19 year-old Dawson Sharkey, who is like a 6’1”,190lb demon on skates. The Stars drafted him in 2025, which was his D+1 season (he’s 19), after putting up 39 points and 124 PIM in 54 games. This season, he’s at 31 points in 31 games, with 55 PIM. He’s crazy physical and mean, loves to battle, and has goal-scorer’s hands. He skates well, pushes overwhelming pace, and has relentless motor.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Very well said and that's why I'm not holding anything against Conroy or the Flames until this season is over. A monkey can see the precipice we're standing on with regards to where we are now and where we're headed.

It's a rebuild and needs to be embraced and I trust Conroy to understand that and execute accordingly, but don't fully trust the organization as a whole to do so. And as much as Pepsi/gio/dino/bingo mock and go at posters ("don't worry they're loser weirdos" as we're called), this is absolutely a valid concern. I won't pre judge this season like some are, but I am absolutely judging this season as to what happens by the end of it.

Andersson will be gone, even if diss thinks he's heard there's still a chance at a contract. Coleman and Kadri (along with Andersson) are leading the Flames to wins at an older age where drop offs happen suddenly, which may continue into the new year towards a playoff spot. They are too old to be a part of the next Flames core/contending period, so your options are sell at an absolute high with 1.5 years left on their contracts, get 3 major trade returns and likely start to fall down the standings, or keep them until a lower or possibly similar return next season so we can compete this season, because as transplant99 said "it's bad for business to sell them this season, but next season you have to". I will see what Conroy does this season, and I'm hopeful and won't judge like many are doing months before the deadline.

But I also understand that there is rumours and precedent of powers beyond the GM leading directions that favor current revenue and making poor decisions based on week to week standings, which is why some of us are afraid of the Flames results that are starting to head towards a playoff chance "HAHAHAHAH 1 point out of a playoff spot? How about STILL CLOSE TO THE BASEMENT TOO, YOU ***ing IDIOT HAHAHAHAHA".

It's become a tank vs anti tank "crowd" discussion over the last few months, but many reasonable fans also would like to see us lean into the season for a higher pick, WHILE selling high on three assets. That isn't some crazy, unreasonable opinion. And no that doesn't mean "OH, So we just take SPARE PARTS for our players so we can fall in the standings? Because that's what you're definitely saying!!!!".

Originally Posted by jayswin

It's fair to speculate that if the right offer came along that blew them away they'd obviously take it and "you tankers would get what you want". But it's also fair to speculate the other way that maybe they are reluctant as an organization to trade those two players in case the season is salvageable or that they just don't see the importance of trading players until it is absolutely necessary in their final year because they want to win games, too (which many of us would disagree with, and not because we're stupid)

Both are speculation and discussion on a message board, but one side is mocked as pretending they know the motives and strategy of the team, while the other is presented as the reasonable and measured take, lol.

Well said. I also don’t think the Flames need or must get some crazy huge return for the 3 big assets. Like, make sure you’re getting 1st rounders, maybe a prospect or 2 in each trade. You definitely do not need a sum of crappy parts, just shoot for like a great asset in return or couple really good ones don’t get greedy (this is what Murray does though). Take the magic beans. Get as many as you can. Stop asking for a ####ing player back. In every trade they’ve made that AaronGavey is convinced are rebuilding trades, they’re getting players back.

These are NHL management teams not fantasy team idiots. Nobody is going to “blow your doors off” with some crazy offer for 35 year olds they’re just going to move on to a different but similar option. I very highly suspect the Flames price, set by Maloney and Edwards not Conroy, is unrealistic.

As has been said. The value of a top 3 pick >>>>>>>> the added value of holding out on these trades for some other random B level asset. When it comes to the NHL, getting the highest quality assets in a market like Calgary requires either insane luck (like Gaudreau) or drafting a top player and those players are way more probable to crystallize in picks 1-3, not 9.

This isn’t that difficult. It isn’t some strategic brilliance, they do need to tank or this out of playoffs realm is gonna last 15 years not 4. They’re trying so hard to”not be Buffalo” that they’re absolutely going to end up being like Buffalo and I dunno if they’ve noticed Buffalo’s attendance figures but it isn’t pretty.

The Flames definitely look like a) there’s way too many cooks in the kitchen and b) they’re being generally mismanaged.

[Roko]

Careful guys, probably shouldn’t share an opinion on here that is pro tank.

Glad to see many others support leaning into this season. Let San Jose or Utah chase WC2

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Roko

Careful guys, probably shouldn’t share an opinion on here that is pro tank.

Glad to see many others support leaning into this season. Let San Jose or Utah chase WC2

The one thing I agree with a lot of fans on here though is if they win, no sense in dragging down the site and bitching about it. I still enjoy the wins despite it being probably not in the best interests of the Flames long term and like Knut has been saying it’s a good thing watching the players play with pride and what do people expect them to do?

I think the pro tank crowd should just stay quiet. Nobody likes whiners.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I was not given that information.

Rasmus has been pretty vocal about wanting to go UFA and experience the full “courting” period for maximum value. Not to say that’s the only scenario here, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

However I’ve been told that he would likely consider extending in Dallas, especially if his good friend comes along.

[Ryan Coke]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Rasmus has been pretty vocal about wanting to go UFA and experience the full “courting” period for maximum value.
However I’ve been told that he would consider extending in Dallas, especially if his good friend comes along.

Coleman?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't understand why Mavrik Bourque always has to be the rumoured return in any deal involving Dallas. I don't see much upside with him. He would be a an inconsequential throw-in.

A lot of times people get focused on players as potential Flames in their draft year. They tend to not give up on them even when they don’t perform well on other teams.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Coleman?

Si.

Though I’d be curious to know how much Blake’s sold Dallas (as a place to live) to Andersson as they’ve been keeping an eye on him since the summer.

[Calgary4LIfe]

For all the arguments made that the players "forced Calgary into a rebuild since they didn't want to re-sign here", I would posit this as a rebuttal:


From everything we have heard, most of them wanted to re-sign here, but Conroy didn't spend much time in negotiations. One could even go so far as to argue that it was Conroy that led this team into a rebuild and wanted to move most of the vets out. If he really wanted to re-sign players like Lindholm, he would have at least entertained negotiations a little longer, or even had Nonis stay in touch.


We know that Lindholm's agent didn't get a response from the Flames since November that year. Zadorov wanted to stay, but again the Flames didn't want to offer him a deal. Ditto for Toffoli. Hanifin it sounds like they were willing to re-sign, and ditto for Tanev, but on a short-term deal only. Markstrom had term. Mangiapane had no negotiations at all.


It is not difficult to make the argument that Conroy simply - and politely - pushed these guys out the door, and the plan was to rebuild and draft high. Didn't work out last season with the Flames exceeding expectations, but it is on-track this season.


This argument is just as valid as anyone's argument that it was the players that forced Calgary into a rebuild. I think Conroy saw what a mess of a team it was after Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Monahan left, even if the pieces remaining - and added - were good pieces. There was no path to success there, and they showed exactly that for the first 4 months of Conroy being on the job as GM.


Either way, the argument turns into: "When did the Flames realize that they were forced into a rebuild?" No team actively chooses to rebuild if they feel they have legitimate options on the table. There were no options left - whether it was Conroy choosing to trade-out most of the vets and enter into a rebuild, or because he was forced into a rebuild because the vets would only re-sign for top-dollar. The difference is the same - the Flames are in a rebuild, and they didn't wait so long that they ended up losing so much value like they did in 2012-13. This was a much more proactive rebuild in comparison - or more accurately, the Flames were quicker this time around recognizing the need for a rebuild, and avoiding the devaluation of so many assets.


Feaster's rebuild trades were awful, even when we ignore the Iginla and Bouwmeester missteps. Trading out Tanguay and Sarich for O'Brien and Jones? Would have been better to trade them out for picks (even low picks) and just signing vets for free. Not like those guys were the types of vets that you think of surrounding your young prospects with. This is a much better rebuild so far.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Well said. I also don’t think the Flames need or must get some crazy huge return for the 3 big assets. Like, make sure you’re getting 1st rounders, maybe a prospect or 2 in each trade. You definitely do not need a sum of crappy parts, just shoot for like a great asset in return or couple really good ones don’t get greedy (this is what Murray does though). Take the magic beans. Get as many as you can. Stop asking for a ####ing player back. In every trade they’ve made that AaronGavey is convinced are rebuilding trades, they’re getting players back.

These are NHL management teams not fantasy team idiots. Nobody is going to “blow your doors off” with some crazy offer for 35 year olds they’re just going to move on to a different but similar option. I very highly suspect the Flames price, set by Maloney and Edwards not Conroy, is unrealistic.

As has been said. The value of a top 3 pick >>>>>>>> the added value of holding out on these trades for some other random B level asset. When it comes to the NHL, getting the highest quality assets in a market like Calgary requires either insane luck (like Gaudreau) or drafting a top player and those players are way more probable to crystallize in picks 1-3, not 9.

This isn’t that difficult. It isn’t some strategic brilliance, they do need to tank or this out of playoffs realm is gonna last 15 years not 4. They’re trying so hard to”not be Buffalo” that they’re absolutely going to end up being like Buffalo and I dunno if they’ve noticed Buffalo’s attendance figures but it isn’t pretty.

The Flames definitely look like a) there’s way too many cooks in the kitchen and b) they’re being generally mismanaged.

I definitely think they should trade the it 3 vets if possible (it’s pretty certain that Andersson will go). But just looking at the trade proposals, it’s pretty clear that while people love to complain that Conroy isn’t moving fast enough, there are actually quite limited options for trade partners. And the fact is that there’s no concrete rush to trade Kadri and Coleman - there are just fears about falling off a cliff, even though Coleman is better than last season and Kadri hasn’t lost a step (and look at Backlund this year). There is no real pressure to trade them aside from the notion that it will make the team worse (which might not even happen).

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I definitely think they should trade the it 3 vets if possible (it’s pretty certain that Andersson will go). But just looking at the trade proposals, it’s pretty clear that while people love to complain that Conroy isn’t moving fast enough, there are actually quite limited options for trade partners. And the fact is that there’s no concrete rush to trade Kadri and Coleman - there are just fears about falling off a cliff, even though Coleman is better than last season and Kadri hasn’t lost a step (and look at Backlund this year). There is no real pressure to trade them aside from the notion that it will make the team worse (which might not even happen).

It’s definitely a reasonable position to think they’ll carry more value with more contract term left though. So I think that’s why “the urgency” (plus yes, to try and slide back down standings) but I know you know all this anyway and your position isn’t changing. It’s all been talked to death for like 3 months. Pretty sure people aren’t changing their minds.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Very well said and that's why I'm not holding anything against Conroy or the Flames until this season is over. A monkey can see the precipice we're standing on with regards to where we are now and where we're headed.

It's a rebuild and needs to be embraced and I trust Conroy to understand that and execute accordingly, but don't fully trust the organization as a whole to do so. And as much as Pepsi/gio/dino/bingo mock and go at posters ("don't worry they're loser weirdos" as we're called), this is absolutely a valid concern. I won't pre judge this season like some are, but I am absolutely judging this season as to what happens by the end of it.

Andersson will be gone, even if diss thinks he's heard there's still a chance at a contract. Coleman and Kadri (along with Andersson) are leading the Flames to wins at an older age where drop offs happen suddenly, which may continue into the new year towards a playoff spot. They are too old to be a part of the next Flames core/contending period, so your options are sell at an absolute high with 1.5 years left on their contracts, get 3 major trade returns and likely start to fall down the standings, or keep them until a lower or possibly similar return next season so we can compete this season, because as transplant99 said "it's bad for business to sell them this season, but next season you have to". I will see what Conroy does this season, and I'm hopeful and won't judge like many are doing months before the deadline.

But I also understand that there is rumours and precedent of powers beyond the GM leading directions that favor current revenue and making poor decisions based on week to week standings, which is why some of us are afraid of the Flames results that are starting to head towards a playoff chance "HAHAHAHAH 1 point out of a playoff spot? How about STILL CLOSE TO THE BASEMENT TOO, YOU ***ing IDIOT HAHAHAHAHA".

It's become a tank vs anti tank "crowd" discussion over the last few months, but many reasonable fans also would like to see us lean into the season for a higher pick, WHILE selling high on three assets. That isn't some crazy, unreasonable opinion. And no that doesn't mean "OH, So we just take SPARE PARTS for our players so we can fall in the standings? Because that's what you're definitely saying!!!!".

You have a lot of fiction in this post. You are putting words in the wrong mouths, and ignoring express posts saying exactly what you claim isn’t being said. And exaggerating a lot more.

[SuperMatt18]

What does Dallas have to land both Andersson and Coleman though.

I feel like they don't have the assets for both

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't think there is an 'anti-tank' crowd.


I have been very vocal for a rebuild now for a long time. What I disagree with is posts that try to say that the Flames are not currently in a rebuild, as well as posts wanting to trade-out Andersson, Kadri and Coleman ASAP in order to tank 'properly'.


It seems like a good 95% (if not more) understand that a rebuild is happening. The main bone of contention seems to be from a very small handful of posters continually stating (and demanding) that until Andersson AND Kadri AND Coleman get traded NOW, the Flames are screwing this up, while completely ignoring facts like contenders who want to add those players haven't yet accrued enough cap space, while also ignoring that the Flames are only a few points from last place in the league.


Just show a little patience. Those bad teams are going to win their share of games still. There is no need to panic, and fill up every thread with this panic about still holding onto those three players, and complaining LOUDLY after every single win. It is tedious to read (or skip) through so many of these posts daily.


I trust that Conroy knows that these 3 players aren't part of the future here in Calgary, and that they do hold value, and that they are all likely traded out this season. I would be shocked if the Flames don't end up comfortably in the bottom 3 of the standings when the season ends. I really don't see the need to panic about it. I will panic about it when the trade deadline passes and there aren't moves made, and the Flames are in the mushy middle at that time.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

It’s definitely a reasonable position to think they’ll carry more value with more contract term left though. So I think that’s why “the urgency” (plus yes, to try and slide back down standings) but I know you know all this anyway and your position isn’t changing. It’s all been talked to death for like 3 months. Pretty sure people aren’t changing their minds.

In a vacuum a longer contract carries more value. But it also makes a trade harder. Teams can afford rental salaries a lot more than ones with more term. Other teams (say, SJ) have guys coming up who they won’t want blocked by a Kadri or Coleman. I haven’t witnessed rental prices wing a whole lot less than contacts with a couple years anyway. And if the goal is just to try and slide in the standings, that doesn’t have to be limited to this year anyway. Plenty of rebuilding teams slid down (versus suddenly drafting 1OA). Before SJ drafted Celebrini they drafted 4, 11 (which they traded) and 7OA.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

What does Dallas have to land both Andersson and Coleman though.

I feel like they don't have the assets for both

Rantanen