2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

It is only required to present facts if you are on team tank. That is clear.

I am always happy to back anything I say with facts

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by traptor

YuYup franncis went so far to say that even if they set high prices for these guys and they are met, they shouldn't move them.


Its also a little strange to see friedman come out in HNIC and say there's nothing around the Flames currently, when the Olympic freeze is a few weeks away and theres only a week between the Olympic freeze and deadline.


You think st the very least they would be in heavy talks around Rasmus.

Regarding Rasmus, Dreger was on Barn Burner the other day. He said he didn't have any new information, but from what he understands this situation could still end up in several directions depending on the next several weeks.

Dreger mentioned most likely he is traded for futures. But could also see a situation where he is traded for fire power up front. And can still see a world where he is extended. Just thought it was interesting that he mentioned there were so many possibilities.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Not saying Gavin McKenna is going to be the next Connor McDavid, probably not, but for an organization starving for a marketing angle, imagine all the young Calgarians wearing a Gavin McKenna, if he turns out as projected, it's 100 percent worth positioning yourself at the draft this year for a shot at him.

I live in Edmonton and see what Connor has done for this franchise, it's massive, for baloney to come out and say McKenna might not work out, it just screams marching orders from ownership, this org seems hell bent on making playoffs, even if it costs them perpetual mediocrity.

Hoping that Andersson is traded sooner that later

Hopefully, they have that star already in Parekh. He’s crazy marketable if he turns into a superstar and should sell a ton of jerseys.

The concern is that is he, wolf, Coronato and the collection of current prospects enough to carry the team into the new building. If they’re not selling tickets because the team is still not looking good, they’re going to lose that initial opening momentum and a lot of money for a longer time.

That to me is the bigger reason to make some harder trades now and hopefully land a couple top 5 prospects in the next couple drafts.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ST20

If you subscribe to the fact that Francis speaks for ownership then the most recent Flames talk with Francis is pretty telling. He went from the team really needs to lean into this rebuild year to the team is going to wait and see how this plays out and shouldn't just trade guys... Not the exact words but that is what I took from it. It's similar to last year where they did not want to discuss trades while the team was in contention for the playoffs.

In my opinion alot of moves over the past 3-4 years have been reactionary but these are my interpretations that we don't need to argue as they have been argued over and over in the past.

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Yeah, its what many of us have noticed. There is no overall direction or longer term strategy to build a contender. There are day to day activities and shifting priorities that are situational.
This would be good operation if we were built properly. But we arent, so its an error because theres no way to build properly without top of draft talent, and currently no plan on how to acquire that talent.

I 100% agree that they could take steps to speed up the process.

But lets be more honest about queues about a direction. Moving UFAs at the deadline is reactionary to some extent because they didn't sign them. If they didn't really want to sign them it's less reactionary.

But a team that spent to the cap for about 15 straight years not spending money in back to back off seasons, not adding at a trade deadline when in a playoff spot, and not looking to improve over the summer is a direction.

I get that fans want it to be more aggressive but they clearly have a direction to move contracts before they expire, hold on to draft capital and get younger.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

It is only required to present facts if you are on team tank. That is clear.

That is complete BS and you know it.

Be better.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Not exactly true. If you have a team that covets Andersson, and the Flames have to add to obtain a high potential center that is buried, you pull that trigger. Even if that means trading our late 1st, or a nice prospect from a place of positional strength.

If Calgary offered the overpay of Andersson, 1st and Mews I don't think that there wouldn't be a pause in any GM with established center depth.

For a high potential centre prospect like Misa? Not just a pause but a complete non-acceptance.

Now you might get a centre prospect the calibre of Reschny but that would be even unlikely. Centre prospects that might become #1 centres are just too valuable to part with unless you are getting a premium young asset back.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Bingo

That is complete BS and you know it.

Be better.

This was in response to a poster presenting something as a fact, when it wasn't a fact. And telling me that I need to present facts.

I really don't care myself.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

This was in response to a poster presenting something as a fact, when it wasn't a fact. And telling me that I need to present facts.

I really don't care myself.

Great ... then focus on the person that you think hasn't presented something factual.

Make that point.

Don't do the victim route of lumping people into some sort of fictional group inaccurately.

[D as in David]

Someone will have to remind me which of their draft picks Montreal used to select Suzuki.

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by ST20

If you subscribe to the fact that Francis speaks for ownership then the most recent Flames talk with Francis is pretty telling. He went from the team really needs to lean into this rebuild year to the team is going to wait and see how this plays out and shouldn't just trade guys... Not the exact words but that is what I took from it. It's similar to last year where they did not want to discuss trades while the team was in contention for the playoffs.

In my opinion alot of moves over the past 3-4 years have been reactionary but these are my interpretations that we don't need to argue as they have been argued over and over in the past.

Yeah...I listened to the interview, just turned my stomach, they peddle the biggest crap sometimes, they have just this visceral, "never turn to the dark side," hate for the word "rebuild" , it's so over the top, for the life of me, I just don't get it. I don't think there is another team in the NHL, with this much disdain for the word, show me one.

They are what they are because of how the run their business, and the results seem to back up that premise, yeah maybe a little unlucky, but they continually shoot themselves in the foot with short sighted moves.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

This was in response to a poster presenting something as a fact, when it wasn't a fact. And telling me that I need to present facts.

I really don't care myself.

That is fair. Kadri made it clear to management that he wanted to stay in Calgary. What we do not know is if management went to him and said “hey, I know you said you want to stay in Calgary but do you actually want to stay or will you move to a different city”. That is accurate, nobody has said that they asked him to waive. Conversely, despite you presenting it as a fact, nobody has said that management did not ask that question of Kadri.

[Red Potato Standing By]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

And here come the sharks lol. Funny you bring up Royle and Dissentower, those are 2 great posters who are respectful and I agree with most of their posts.

And again, it was said Kadri preference last year was to stay here. We did not ask him to waive. We do not know if he would have.

Is it a hundred percent accurate that they didn’t ask him in private if he would waive? Quite possible they asked he said no, but both agreed he could word it publicly so as to make no one look like the bad guy?( I am speculating of course not stating it as fact)

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Red Potato Standing By

Is it a hundred percent accurate that they didn’t ask him in private if he would waive? Quite possible they asked he said no, but both agreed he could word it publicly so as to make no one look like the bad guy?( I am speculating of course not stating it as fact)

No one really knows for sure. The same way only Conroy knows what the offers are for any players this year.

[Red Potato Standing By]

So why state it as fact they didn’t ask?

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I 100% agree that they could take steps to speed up the process.

But lets be more honest about queues about a direction. Moving UFAs at the deadline is reactionary to some extent because they didn't sign them. If they didn't really want to sign them it's less reactionary.

But a team that spent to the cap for about 15 straight years not spending money in back to back off seasons, not adding at a trade deadline when in a playoff spot, and not looking to improve over the summer is a direction.

I get that fans want it to be more aggressive but they clearly have a direction to move contracts before they expire, hold on to draft capital and get younger.

You are right, I just don't think it's enough, we are in year four of apparently not "rebuilding " if you ask management/ownership, which is scarier to think, because if they were rebuilding they actually might be further ahead in their development, but now they are just a team not good enough to make the playoffs, who also won't trade vets, unless a "crazy" offer is made, like that's likely to happen.

I get why people say they seem directionless, because it really seems to present that way.

Ownership/management needs to have authentic conversations about the reality of where there team projects. I am sorry but you can not convince that this team is rebuilding when you hear comments "we are concerned about the culture of the room" give me a break these are professional athletes, it's part of the business.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Red Potato Standing By

So why state it as fact they didn’t ask?

It was posted by an insider on here, I believe. But that was so long ago and I don't have the fact myself. I am not an insider.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by browntrout

You are right, I just don't think it's enough, we are in year four of apparently not "rebuilding " if you ask management/ownership, which is scarier to think, because if they were rebuilding they actually might be further ahead in their development, but now they are just a team not good enough to make the playoffs, who also won't trade vets, unless a "crazy" offer is made, like that's likely to happen.

I get why people say they seem directionless, because it really seems to present that way.

Ownership/management needs to have authentic conversations about the reality of where there team projects. I am sorry but you can not convince that this team is rebuilding when you hear comments "we are concerned about the culture of the room" give me a break these are professional athletes, it's part of the business.

That’s interesting. How are you involved in the business?

[The Original FFIV]

Kevin Allen with an article on hockeybuzz about teams with interest in Andersson. I like Kevin Allen and view him as credible dating back to his days as the NHL writer at USA Today

Says we will probably get our asking price as a team would see Andersson as a finishing piece on a championship defence

Stars/Leafs/wings/kings/panthers said to be teams interested.

https://www.hockeybuzz.com/2026/01/0...-connor-bedard

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think a team in a playoff spot that desperately wants to make the playoffs adds at the trade deadline when they have all the cap space they'd need and all the draft capital needed to make it happen.

They didn't.

That same team wouldn't sit out a summer not adding anything when they were essentially tied for the last playoff spot the previous season if they wanted to make the playoffs.

They're not trying to get better. They are trying to get youngers. They're likely not progressing things as fast as the average fan would like.

Fair points, but they don't outline the entire picture.

First of all the Flames did add Frost and Farabee. Pelletier(B prospect on a hot streak) + 2nd + Kuzmenko(flipped for a 3rd) went the other way. Sure they didn't do it at the deadline, and neither Frost nor Farabee were rentals, but they still actively tried to improve the team for futures, and I'm pretty sure that playoffs were a part of the end goal.

As for trading for rentals at the deadline. The risk/reward didn't allow the Flames. They were either tied for the last wildcard spot, or just a point back, in a 4 team race for 1 spot. Spending quality assets on a coin flip is how GMs lose their jobs.

The Flames also reportedly tried to add in the summer, but players need to want to come here as well. They were really hoping Rantanen would become a free agent. They were also actively looking for a LD, and Ryan Lindgren was a name that came up, but the thin market resulted in them settling for bringing back Hanley. Finally, the amount of bodies on this team was also a factor, and didn't give them any room to add more.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

That is fair. Kadri made it clear to management that he wanted to stay in Calgary. What we do not know is if management went to him and said “hey, I know you said you want to stay in Calgary but do you actually want to stay or will you move to a different city”. That is accurate, nobody has said that they asked him to waive. Conversely, despite you presenting it as a fact, nobody has said that management did not ask that question of Kadri.

The likelihood that Conroy did NOT talk to Kadri multiple times last season is nearly zero. Even if they do not have a regular meeting between the GM and one of the star players on the team, you would assume that they have some kind of touchpoint throughout the season to ensure alignment between the team strategy and Kadri's preferences.

Even further than that, knowing what we know about Conroy I think it is safe to assume that he talks to everyone on the NHL roster and coaching staff throughout the year. The guy likes to talk and it is a valuable asset in his GM toolbox.

These guys get paid 6-8 figure salaries. I highly doubt they do so and then have zero meetings on their calendars with the manager that signs the contracts.