2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Mushy middle mode aka Calgary Flames mode lol.

Yeah.

Mushy middle would be an unacceptable result this season, and it’s something I don’t imagine Conroy will allow to happen.

He can’t give them the same vote of confidence as he did last year, because they didn’t deliver. Progression in Conroy’s capability as a GM to me would be him getting proactive before the deadline and saying “no, I can’t waste another season being conservative in my actions”.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Mushy middle mode aka Calgary Flames mode lol.

Currently tied for 29th in the league = mushy middle.

[Groot]

N/m

[Sandman]

Jeez, we’re either 2 spots from the bottom, or two points out of a playoff spot- or both.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Jeez, we’re either 2 spots from the bottom, or two points out of a playoff spot- or both.

That’s the mushy middle in the NHL.

The league is structured to keep teams in it.

Being content with that sort of positioning (content being inaction) would be foolish.

This season the difference between a top-5 pick and drafting 12th is likely to be minimal, but the impact on organization is drastic.

[Badgers Nose]

Flames don’t have the horses to outrace the other western bubble teams. They couldn’t outpace Blues last year, this year they have younger more skilled competitors too.

They will fade when Ras is gone.

Why you haf to be mad? Is jus game.

[3thirty]

At least Vegas has stalled since signing Hart and we have their 1st.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That’s the mushy middle in the NHL.

The league is structured to keep teams in it.

Being content with that sort of positioning (content being inaction) would be foolish.

This season the difference between a top-5 pick and drafting 12th is likely to be minimal, but the impact on organization is drastic.

Can you guys at least come up with a new term? I’m find it really hard to take people seriously who say “mushy” this often. What about… “the middle”? Are we losing something without “mushy”?

That aside, I really don’t think the definition of that would be one point ahead of a top 3 pick. It’s a rare thing that it also happens to be a few points back of the playoffs. But calling the 29th overall team in the NHL “mushy middle” feels kind of absurd.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That’s the mushy middle in the NHL.

The league is structured to keep teams in it.

Being content with that sort of positioning (content being inaction) would be foolish.

This season the difference between a top-5 pick and drafting 12th is likely to be minimal, but the impact on organization is drastic.

Gotta go for those 2 games worth of playoff revenue.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

At least Vegas has stalled since signing Hart and we have their 1st.

Exciting! Hopefully they finish bottom-10.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

If you look at my post history I am always posting proposed trades for discussion. Saying Andersson is not going to return a top center prospect is not being a wet blanket, it’s being realistic. Top centers are almost always drafted, end of story.

The intent wasn’t to spark anything up with you. I think we should look at the Hanifin deal as a comparable. The Flames will get a better prospect back than what we got for Hanifin, but it’s probably close to the framework of what it will be.

No problem, I am not sparked. I just feel that tempering expectations is an unnecessary exercise here. Someone will fly off the handle no matter what is happening. The main thing is that we shouldn't be dousing the conversation when you could instead just offer alternatives or figure out actual valuations for how a trade could happen.

Top centers are almost always drafted... but maybe not the team they play for. Eichel, Suzuki, Strome, Kadri, Bennett. There are a bunch of teams that have traded or signed Cs that are now holding down their #1 or #2 lines. It may be unlikely but it is not impossible and there are a number of teams that are overloaded with Cs and they need what we have (#1RD).

This is an exciting opportunity that does not happen often for the Flames.

TBH, I think Hanifin is a weak comparable. Andersson plays a "better" position (RD over LD) and has a much better market (more teams are interested). Hanifin's agent damaged the market significantly in a way that Andersson has not.

Also, the Flames have a number of good assets that are available to be added to an Andersson trade. That is something that I do not believe we really had during the Hanifin trade as it was still very early in the rebuild.

As the Flames are getting to have a pretty deep prospect base, consolidation of some "quantity" to get a single quality piece back is a great opportunity in the Andersson trade conversation. Andersson + Vegas 1st + Basha/Battaglia is the kind of package that could give another GM something to think about.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

If you’re offered a top 6 young F for ras, you have to take it. You may as well ask for a unicorn back in a Ras trade as that or a top young C have as much likelihood of being the return.

Top teams aren’t trading a top C prospect for Ras. I really hope I’m wrong, but I would be stunned to see that kind of return for what will in all likelihood be a rental, or if traded to someone on his list, an inferior return because the acquiring team holds all the cards and knows it.

That may well be. My feeling is that the reason Andersson is still on the Flames is because Conroy's price is a top young C and other GMs are balking at the price.

I hope one of the other GMs blinks first and meets Conroy's price before he has to adjust his ask. Andersson's play right now is definitely helping Conroy's case.

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Ras wants to be the belle of the ball at Free Agency. It’s a once in a career opportunity for him.

The only way that doesn't happen is if a team offers more than what Ras and his agent have marked as best case scenario. Would any team really want him for that much that they would over pay? Flames know him best and they don’t. Interested teams probably take their chances in free agency if big bucks are involved.

He gets traded as a rental. Conroy wants a 1st and a prospect or equivalent and that’s why the trade is taking so long. Teams are reluctant to pay that for a rental.

Now that teams are no longer allowed to put trade conditions around players signing an extension, you cannot have a separate "rental" value as the player may decide to sign an extension after the trade and the previous team loses out on that value if they assume he is going to walk to UFA.

From Conroy's perspective he is trading away Andersson and the rights to negotiate with Andersson for the rest of the year. At that point it is up to the other GM to get the extension across the finish line.

I am curious what Andersson thinks his upper offers are expected to be? Does he think he is going to get $10M? Most of us would say that Andersson is better than Bouchard but Bouchard does have 11 more points right now on the season... On the other hand Dobson just got $9.5M (with RFA years included) and they have the same point total right now.

If the Sharks came in and offered him $9.5Mx8, would he sign? I think so.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Gotta go for those 2 games worth of playoff revenue.

Conroy should be fired if that is what he has been trying to do since he became GM

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Conroy should be fired if that is what he has been trying to do since he became GM

I don’t believe Conny thinks that way, but it sure seems likes Edwards’ mandate.

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

It would be somewhat disturbing if they were in sell mode right now, so far out from the deadline, almost a sure fire sign of a fire sale. I am sure that Conroy has the aptitude to go from listening to dealing if someone actually comes to him with something serious.

Not to mention the last time the Flames were in sell mode they got 1 great return on Lindholm and 3 underwhelming returns on Tanev, Zadorov and Hanifin. Team's aren't dumb, when your backed into a corner they're not going to pay up unless they have too. Vancouver and New York both wanted Lindholm and Calgary was able to play that into a great return, the other 3 returns ended up being soft.

Flames aren't in a position where they HAVE to sell anyone off except Anderson. Anderson should get a strong return based on the fact he's likely the #1 trade target and plays a premium position. My hope with the West being so soft and the Flames still being in the thick of it is that some teams look at the season Coleman is having and step up and offer a deal that forces the Flames hands. We will see if it materializes.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I don’t believe Conny thinks that way, but it sure seems likes Edwards’ mandate.

Edwards should fire himself then or his authority has been usurped by somebody. His team does not spend to the cap, it does not trade futures for players that can help them now, it does not overpay for its own UFAs to try to get into the playoffs. In every single way imaginable he is either being completely duped/is a moron if the goal is to make the playoffs.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Edwards should fire himself then or his authority has been usurped by somebody. His team does not spend to the cap, it does not trade futures for players that can help them now, it does not overpay for its own UFAs to try to get into the playoffs. In every single way imaginable he is either being completely duped/is a moron if the goal is to make the playoffs.

Flames are clearly waiting until closer to the trade deadline to maximize cap space for additions.

[HockeyKhan]

The love-hate relationship I have with this thread is astounding.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Wolven

That may well be. My feeling is that the reason Andersson is still on the Flames is because Conroy's price is a top young C and other GMs are balking at the price.

I hope one of the other GMs blinks first and meets Conroy's price before he has to adjust his ask. Andersson's play right now is definitely helping Conroy's case.



Now that teams are no longer allowed to put trade conditions around players signing an extension, you cannot have a separate "rental" value as the player may decide to sign an extension after the trade and the previous team loses out on that value if they assume he is going to walk to UFA.

From Conroy's perspective he is trading away Andersson and the rights to negotiate with Andersson for the rest of the year. At that point it is up to the other GM to get the extension across the finish line.

I am curious what Andersson thinks his upper offers are expected to be? Does he think he is going to get $10M? Most of us would say that Andersson is better than Bouchard but Bouchard does have 11 more points right now on the season... On the other hand Dobson just got $9.5M (with RFA years included) and they have the same point total right now.

If the Sharks came in and offered him $9.5Mx8, would he sign? I think so.

Dobson is 25, so not a comparison. Same for Bouchard who is 26.

I think teams would be reluctant to go 8 years with Andersson. Especially Calgary.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by HockeyKhan

The love-hate relationship I have with this thread is astounding.

Checking this thread feels like a bit of an abusive relationship…. Maybe if I go back this time it’ll be different.