2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

At the end of the day one thing that appears to be true as it has been said by Conroy, Maloney, and echoed by the FAN960 media is that the Flames plan and hope to be competitive in 1.5 seasons when they open the new rink. I think there is probably even a 1 year grace period as there will be excitement around the new rink regardless of team performance but they sure as hell want to be on a pretty clear path to contention by then.


It is why I think this is the season to sell off the remaining veteran trade chips in Andersson, Coleman and Kadri. Picking high this year is a must and adding the best trade chips which are typically young assets and picks will arm Conroy to have what it takes to acquire that veteran or RFA piece that becomes available over the summer. I could definitely see Conroy walking to the draft and making a top 10 pick and also coming away with another core piece via trade.

I feel confident with a couple of years of high picks they can sell hope in Scotia Place but I do have a hard time seeing a path to where they look like a legit contender in fall 2027

They have softened that somewhat this year.

In the much maligned interview with Francis this is what Maloney said.

SN: When you say long-term, do you have a goal in mind in terms of when you expect this team to be competitive?

DM: In an ideal world. We're hoping to have a little pop in momentum going into the new building.


I think a little pop in momentum is very different from wanting to be competitive by then.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Maybe the hockey people should be open to other ideas. When have Don Maloney or Murray Edwards ever built a cup contending hockey team?

I am not sure continuing to re biggle is the right move. I just don't know why so many people are opposed to criticizing a hockey team that has 2 playoff series wins in 20 years.

It isn't like I am suggesting the Florida Panthers or Lightning or another winning organization do things differently. I am suggesting that the Flames maybe should consider trading these vets. The method we have been doing for 2 decades has not worked, so why are you so angry that people have other suggestions to build a winner?

Me angry?
no

If anything I'm disappointed in your lack of commitment. You've been preaching "tank" like its the only plan. Fair enough, I will assume that you are an extremely knowledgeable hockey mind. Judging by your insistence on "tanking" perhaps one of the best hockey minds in Calgary.
My only question is, if "tanking" is the best path to top talent bar none, why not simply forefeit?

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah I worry when you have Francis on the radio again this morning going on about how you can't trade Coleman and Kadri because of the message it sends to the dressing room during a playoff push.

And how the organization goal not necessarily to win a Stanley cup, but to make the playoffs (his words not mine).

Now maybe he's out to lunch but I was cringing when I heard him on the radio this morning.

[Bert]

Conroy imo has done a fantastic job. Sucks people aren’t on board because he’s not doing things fast enough for their liking. Pointing to the past when he wasn’t in charge and discounting what he had actually done, not what the rumors say. All he has done is squire young players and picks, and his bread and butter is scouting, which I think he has done a very good job with. Just be patient and let the man cook, cause he’s only started dinner, and it already smells good. Wait for the man to serve it before complaining.

[Bert]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah I worry when you have Francis on the radio again this morning going on about how you can't trade Coleman and Kadri because of the message it sends to the dressing room during a playoff push.

And how the organization goal not necessarily to win a Stanley cup, but to make the playoffs (his words not mine).

Now maybe he's out to lunch but I was cringing when I heard him on the radio this morning.

Francis is a hack. I dislike him almost as much as that hotdog costume wearing pun idiot from up north. And Spector.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah I worry when you have Francis on the radio again this morning going on about how you can't trade Coleman and Kadri because of the message it sends to the dressing room during a playoff push.

And how the organization goal not necessarily to win a Stanley cup, but to make the playoffs (his words not mine).

Now maybe he's out to lunch but I was cringing when I heard him on the radio this morning.

Francis "is assumed to speak for management" someone posted earlier...well, maybe that is no longer true and he's just spewing?

[Robbob]

I think a lot of people reach or make connections that aren't there with ownership and the structure.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah I worry when you have Francis on the radio again this morning going on about how you can't trade Coleman and Kadri because of the message it sends to the dressing room during a playoff push.

And how the organization goal not necessarily to win a Stanley cup, but to make the playoffs (his words not mine).

Now maybe he's out to lunch but I was cringing when I heard him on the radio this morning.

Francis is full of it. Always was and always will be.

If you are not outright ignoring what he says then at the very least take a cup of salt with whatever information comes out of him. Even if he has marching orders for what to say, chances are he is reading last month's memo because he couldn't find the new one in his inbox.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah I worry when you have Francis on the radio again this morning going on about how you can't trade Coleman and Kadri because of the message it sends to the dressing room during a playoff push.

And how the organization goal not necessarily to win a Stanley cup, but to make the playoffs (his words not mine).

Now maybe he's out to lunch but I was cringing when I heard him on the radio this morning.

He's also beat the rebuild drum earlier this year, so it's hard to say how much speaks for the organization these days.

There is a path to moving Coleman if they trade Andersson relatively soon. The team will fall back after he's gone and IMO then the whole message it sends to the team narrative falls by the wayside.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

They have softened that somewhat this year.

In the much maligned interview with Francis this is what Maloney said.

SN: When you say long-term, do you have a goal in mind in terms of when you expect this team to be competitive?

DM: In an ideal world. We're hoping to have a little pop in momentum going into the new building.


I think a little pop in momentum is very different from wanting to be competitive by then.

It definitely is.

The thing is right now this club is being carried by its oldest players, and some of these guys are quite old by NHL standards. So what exactly is the plan for a pop in momentum? Logically it would be easier if you were being carried by your younger guys right now, but that is not the case outside of Wolf.

The Flames are kind of in a funny spot in their rebuild. They probably are still descending.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2008569378317754639

[Jiggy]

Remember when Francis said "A Noah Hanifin extension will be coming soon"

[Jay Random]

I think I can state with absolute certainty that most of what Francis says is just himself talking and doesn’t come from management. He is not a ventriloquist’s dummy, and Murray Edwards’ hand is not up his butt. Edwards is a busy man and needs his hands for other purposes.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

He's also beat the rebuild drum earlier this year, so it's hard to say how much speaks for the organization these days.

There is a path to moving Coleman if they trade Andersson relatively soon. The team will fall back after he's gone and IMO then the whole message it sends to the team narrative falls by the wayside.

"Fall back". There are only 2 spots below them.

• Flames have the hardest remaining schedule
• Canucks have the 22nd hardest remaining schedule and should be able to climb above the Flames
• Jets have the 5th hardest remaining schedule and are hugely underperforming. They need to do something if they want to save this season (ie. trade for Kadri and fix their C depth)

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Just to be ***CRYSTAL** (ooh soo icy) clear - He (Craig Conroy) can move ANYONE.

That’s a relief!

Now I can focus my anger on him if things don’t work out perfectly.

Haha, seriously though that’s good to hear and is worth repeating every few weeks when we get down and start looking for excuses for this seemingly endless futility.

[Tbull8]

Love everything Blake Coleman brings to the team, but this could actually turn out very well for the flames. Guy is having a career year, still has term, and doesn’t need to be moved right away. With all of the interest I can definitely see a contender biting the bullet and overpaying at this point.

[Knut]

Smoke around Coleman starting to build it seems

Andersson out this week.
Coleman close to the deadline.
Kadri likely stays for the year IMO. Mentor Zayne. Offseason move.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

Remember when Francis said "A Noah Hanifin extension will be coming soon"

Francis has made a lot of bold proclamations over the years, so I honestly doubt he speaks for ownership at all. Francis is a mouthpiece for Francis.

Remember his waffling over whether or not he thought Gaudreau was staying?
His insistence that Boudreau would be the head coach in 2017?

[TheIronMaiden]

Francis's job is to increase engagement, and as we know, rage bait always works.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah I worry when you have Francis on the radio again this morning going on about how you can't trade Coleman and Kadri because of the message it sends to the dressing room during a playoff push.

And how the organization goal not necessarily to win a Stanley cup, but to make the playoffs (his words not mine).

Now maybe he's out to lunch but I was cringing when I heard him on the radio this morning.

The challenge with Calgary's position is that they're communicating a message and strategy to a number of audiences who have conflicting expectiations, which is why their message has been so heavily debated on this board. They're communicating to:

1. Rabid fans (this board)
2. Couch fans (the majority)
3. Players

It's not the same message; for the first, they're communicating to sell long term competitiveness, the second, they're communicating to sell tickets, and to the players, they're selling compete, buy-in and team culture.

A reporter like Francis is likely being used to communicate to the less involved fans as they need to sell tickets to the current product; he's also communicating somewhat to the players to keep them motivated and build longer term culture.

I don't think it's completely misleading either as they want to be competitive and win the Cup this year, and they really don't want to trade their non-UFA vets unless they're blown away, so that's a good message to push until the trade deadline. But they also get the reality of where the team is at and that they're playoff chances are almost zero and they need to get assets for Andersson and eventually guys like Coleman and maybe Kadri.

There's a reason Peter Hanlon was promoted to assistant general manager, as his job is very much to make sure Conroy and the rest of management walk this line with a strategic message throughout the rebuild.