2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Thank you for hopefully clarifying this for people who keep repeating the opposite. And it is indeed ownership/management holding us back potentially and not the players themselves.

Originally Posted by Royle9

It’s very widely known that the Avs wanted Kadri last deadline, but at that time Kadri had full control and preferred to stay in Canada/push for a playoff spot because Calgary was once again right around it at the deadline.

To be perfectly clear, when you say Royle clarified it you are thanking him for confirming that you were incorrect and that the Flames never had a chance to get the Nelson return last year because he said that Kadri would not waive his NMC. That is what you are thanking correct?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

We know they will move, but I have my doubts about their willingness to move just anywhere. Especially Kadri.

Are there seriously 20 teams that (a) need Kadri; (b) can afford Kadri - both interms of cap and compensation in the trade; and (c) are not on his NT list (which we know includes teams like the Hurricanes)?

I think they should look at Ottawa. I know he'd go there, since he was vocally open to Montreal and obviously Toronto, and I think they need a 2C. Hell, Montreal may still be on the table since I don't think Danault solves anything for them.

You do? I doubt that.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

To be perfectly clear, when you say Royle clarified it you are thanking him for confirming that you were incorrect and that the Flames never had a chance to get the Nelson return last year because he said that Kadri would not waive his NMC. That is what you are thanking correct?

We didn't ask him to waive last year because we were chasing a playoff spot.

Stop making things up to prove a point lol.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

We know they will move, but I have my doubts about their willingness to move just anywhere. Especially Kadri.

Are there seriously 20 teams that (a) need Kadri; (b) can afford Kadri - both interms of cap and compensation in the trade; and (c) are not on his NT list (which we know includes teams like the Hurricanes)?

I think they should look at Ottawa. I know he'd go there, since he was vocally open to Montreal and obviously Toronto, and I think they need a 2C. Hell, Montreal may still be on the table since I don't think Danault solves anything for them.

Ottawa does not need Kadri, they have Stutzle, cozens and Pinto down the middle. Ottawa does need a right shot dman, Jensen sucks now and they are currently playing Spence in the top 4 and he is not a top 4 dman.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

We didn't ask him to waive last year because we were chasing a playoff spot.

Stop making things up to prove a point lol.

Kadri did not want to go, that is what he said. I even quoted it for you so that you could read it yourself. He also never said they did not ask him to waive, he said that Kadri was very aware that the Avs were poking around and that Kadri preferred to stay in Calgary. Can you point to where you get that they did not ask him to waive?

I of course know the answer to my rhetorical question because you are just making things up.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Doubt 20+ teams would be in on Kadri and their minds very well may change as the team gets closer to a playoff spot.

I can see a bunch of teams being interested in Kadri.... I think the bigger question is around where he would be willing to waive to go?

I expect that a lot of the US would be on his "no" list.

Coleman likely has a much larger list of places he would be willing to go, especially since his remaining contract is shorter.

It will certainly be interesting to see if any of this gets momentum after Andersson is moved.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Royle9

It is.
Both guys have said they would move if the Flames feel it’s better for the franchise.

No they won’t accept trades to doomed franchises like Buffalo etc, but their “lists” of acceptable teams are far greater than you might think.

I’d argue that 20+ teams would make offers if Craig came out and declared both guys are 100% available.

Too add to this people have to remember that Conroy is in a tough spot here. While he absolutely has the green light to do whatever he thinks will benefit the team he knows that ownership would prefer the playoffs. So if the team is as close as they are to that and he sells off Andersson, Kadri, and Coleman and the team just misses and ends up in the mushy middle again not only are the fans unhappy but so is his bosses. Andersson is much easier to trade off given his contract situation but the other two is not as comfortable to try and manage.

As Royle has said both Kadri and Coleman are open to working with the team to get the right fit but let's be clear, both those players would prefer to stay in Calgary right now. Maybe that changes if they go into a huge slump but that's where those guys stand. Now if CC gets an offer that he can't refuse he will absolutely move those guys but it's gonna take an overpayment from everything I have gathered. I know team tank doesn't like it but that's the reality of the situation.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Kadri did not want to go, that is what he said. I even quoted it for you so that you could read it yourself. He also never said they did not ask him to waive, he said that Kadri was very aware that the Avs were poking around and that Kadri preferred to stay in Calgary. Can you point to where you get that they did not ask him to waive?

I of course know the answer to my rhetorical question because you are just making things up.

Preferred to stay in Canada, but he could have waived still for a couple teams including the Avalanche. We will never know.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Too add to this people have to remember that Conroy is in a tough spot here. While he absolutely has the green light to do whatever he thinks will benefit the team he knows that ownership would prefer the playoffs. So if the team is as close as they are to that and he sells off Andersson, Kadri, and Coleman and the team just misses and ends up in the mushy middle again not only are the fans unhappy but so is his bosses. Andersson is much easier to trade off given his contract situation but the other two is not as comfortable to try and manage.

As Royle has said both Kadri and Coleman are open to working with the team to get the right fit but let's be clear, both those players would prefer to stay in Calgary right now. Maybe that changes if they go into a huge slump but that's where those guys stand. Now if CC gets an offer that he can't refuse he will absolutely move those guys but it's gonna take an overpayment from everything I have gathered. I know team tank doesn't like it but that's the reality of the situation.

Was it Kadri’s preference to stay in Calgary last year as well when he had absolute control on whether he could be traded or not?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

That's because as you just mentioned this forward group is built with East/West players who cannot play to their abilities in Huska's system. There is nothing in Huska's past to make anyone remotely think the way he coached is going to change if we get more offensive talent. We already have decent offensive talent but they are not allowed to play that way. That's why a guy like Huberdeau who was an 80-100 point player before coming here is now a 40-50 point guy. What you think he forgot how to play? He had to reinvent himself from one of the league's best playmakers into a gritty plug.

Huby was an elite player, no doubt. But his transformation started way before Huska got his hands on him. So not sure you can really pin that on him - if anything he recovered from whatever mind virus Sutter installed, playing under Huska.

I'm not going to dig them up, but other posters have provided stats that show players having some of their best offensive years under Huska. And that his Wranglers teams were not always low scoring, just when they lacked the talent.

Of the guys I listed, only a couple are good enough at playing East West that they can afford to play that way; Huby, Kadri...

The others can try, but they are not talented enough to have that offset the defensive liabilities they would present playing that way. They would look good on the perimeter not scoring any goals if you like that sort of thing, and would have their heads caved in at the opposite side of the ice. Seems that way to me at least.

I think Huska has made lemonade out of the lemons he has.

Regardless what you think of him, he's the coach we've got and that isn't changing any time soon.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Preferred to stay in Canada, but he could have waived still for a couple teams including the Avalanche. We will never know.

Colorado is in Canada now? Or is there somewhere else where anybody has ever said that Kadri would waive to go to Colorado? Happy to see the posts that talk about how Kadri would have waived for Colorado.

[really?]

Originally Posted by Royle9

It is.
Both guys have said they would move if the Flames feel it’s better for the franchise.

No they won’t accept trades to doomed franchises like Buffalo etc, but their “lists” of acceptable teams are far greater than you might think.

I’d argue that 20+ teams would make offers if Craig came out and declared both guys are 100% available.

What is troubling is reading media reports that teams in a similar position to the Flames like the Blues, Sharks, Canucks,… have decided to sell while the Flames remain undecided. If holding a majority veteran roster with no playoff appearances for three years, and presently being outside the playoffs while in the midst of a significant heater doesn’t tell the decision makers that you are a seller then I am beginning to question if this group has the resolve to do any real heavy lifting.

We only hear what the team feeds to the media and maybe they have made a decision to actively pursue deals and are keeping this decision internal, but it is of interest that a young team the Flames are currently looking up at in the standings (Sharks) appear to be looking to acquire future assets at the cost of present players. That is bold and the reason they have guys like Cellebrini, Misa and Smith.

I trust that everyone involved in running this outfit is driven by a deep desire to win a cup, but wanting something doesn’t equate to achievement. I still believe the Flames are playing it coy and the 3 vets often discussed are moved by the deadline, but this recent streak has me feeling like the Flames could easily revert to business as usual. The reality is this opportunity dies at the deadline as Coleman becomes a vet rental and Kadri’s age becomes a bigger factor in any future deal. At that point if the Flames were to miss the playoffs again I don’t think a simple explanation about mediocre offers and trade complexities would satisfy the paying fan base, and I doubt even Maloney would be excited about heading that presser.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Preferred to stay in Canada, but he could have waived still for a couple teams including the Avalanche. We will never know.

We do know, because he isn't wearing Avalanche colours right now.

The fact that he is still on the Flames is evidence that he wanted to stay in Calgary and had full control with his NMC.

Claiming anything other than that is just imagination play.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Too add to this people have to remember that Conroy is in a tough spot here. While he absolutely has the green light to do whatever he thinks will benefit the team he knows that ownership would prefer the playoffs. So if the team is as close as they are to that and he sells off Andersson, Kadri, and Coleman and the team just misses and ends up in the mushy middle again not only are the fans unhappy but so is his bosses. Andersson is much easier to trade off given his contract situation but the other two is not as comfortable to try and manage.

As Royle has said both Kadri and Coleman are open to working with the team to get the right fit but let's be clear, both those players would prefer to stay in Calgary right now. Maybe that changes if they go into a huge slump but that's where those guys stand. Now if CC gets an offer that he can't refuse he will absolutely move those guys but it's gonna take an overpayment from everything I have gathered. I know team tank doesn't like it but that's the reality of the situation.

Fun balancing act.

I do wish that Conroy would hurry up with the Andersson trade. If it causes the team to slip back down the standings before the trade deadline then that makes the other two trades easier to pull off.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I’d argue that 20+ teams would make offers if Craig came out and declared both guys are 100% available.

I really wish he would, but the team is playing itself into a position where I don't think he will.

Hopefully a contender steps up with a really nice offer.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Fun balancing act.

I do wish that Conroy would hurry up with the Andersson trade. If it causes the team to slip back down the standings before the trade deadline then that makes the other two trades easier to pull off.

Then someone needs to step up and offer a compelling package for Andersson. I want him dealt too, but not just for the sake of trading. We need to get good value for him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You do? I doubt that.

Ok OK, I don't know. But he likes Canada, he says yes to Toronto and Montreal and what city is between those two?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Ottawa does not need Kadri, they have Stutzle, cozens and Pinto down the middle. Ottawa does need a right shot dman, Jensen sucks now and they are currently playing Spence in the top 4 and he is not a top 4 dman.

I think Kadri is an upgrade on Cozens. They have similar points now but Kadri has done that with Farabee and Coronato/Sharangovich. Put Kadri between Tkachuk and Batherson like Cozens has right now and see what he does.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Ok OK, I don't know. But he likes Canada, he says yes to Toronto and Montreal and what city is between those two?

Well, I don't think most people choose what city they want to play in, based on what other cities it's in between.

IIRC, there have been reports that he doesn't want to go there. Maybe no one mentioned to him that it's near Montreal, I don't know, but...

Let's put it this way: what NHL city is the closest to Calgary? Edmonton. So if you like Calgary, you're going to like Edmonton too?

Spoiler alert: no

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Well, I don't think most people choose what city they want to play in, based on what other cities it's in between.

IIRC, there have been reports that he doesn't want to go there. Maybe no one mentioned to him that it's near Montreal, I don't know, but...

Let's put it this way: what NHL city is the closest to Calgary? Edmonton. So if you like Calgary, you're going to like Edmonton too?

Spoiler alert: no

I just think Ottawa is likely not on his NT list. He likes Canada. And he's from Ontario. I've never heard that he doesn't want to go to Ottawa. TBF, he's move resistant even when he likes a city, which is why he refused to waive for Calgary, hoping it would result in him not being traded at all from Toronto.

No one likes Edmonton, that's not a fair argument. Ottawa is a very nice city, not a dump.