2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Roko]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Friedman with an odd tweet now specifically singling out Kotkaniemi as having trade interest (no specific teams listed as being interested though). Just find it curious that he'd post that about this particular player so I'd expect him to be moved asap.

https://twitter.com/user/status/2009623026674123102

He talks about it in detail on the 32 thoughts episode that just came out.
I guess he has been scratched and there have been offers for a fresh start following him not making the Finnish Olympic squad.

Edit: he suggests Winnipeg maybe.

[GioforPM]

Kotkaniemi is smack in the middle of an 8 year $4.8M contract and he’s proven out to be a 30 point, 12 goal guy. And now he’s being scratched regularly. On a team that is dressing Jordan Staal and Mark Jankowski at C.

[dammage79]

If the Flames get something worth moving Kadri for I can see the Flames grabbing Kotka.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dammage79

If the Flames get something worth moving Kadri for I can see the Flames grabbing Kotka.

I dislike the length of his contract for what he brings.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Washington has a wealth of amazing prospects that they could easily part with:

RW Terik Perascak, LW Lynden Lakovic, LW Ilya Protas, LW Andrew Cristall, D Cole Hutson, C Milton Gastrin, D Cam Allen, LW Eriks Mateiko, LW Ivan Miroshnichenko

Ilya Protas please.
Flames need some size up front to eventually compete with the Anaheim's of the division. Protas will be a great complimentary winger (like his brother).

[Ashasx]

https://twitter.com/user/status/2009639939583906141

You would have to think the Canes would have to give up assets to get rid of this contract. That's something I would consider if I were the Flames, but I wouldn't even pick the player off waivers.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

Would honestly love him on the Caps. I bet him and Wilson become really good friends after their battles too

If he doesn’t like LA for family reasons can’t imagine him staying in Baltimore passed this contract.

But you are right, ot would be fun to see them join forced chirping in the playoffs. That’s FLA level maybe.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

https://twitter.com/user/status/2009639939583906141

You would have to think the Canes would have to give up assets to get rid of this contract. That's something I would consider if I were the Flames, but I wouldn't even pick the player off waivers.

If you can get anywhere near Monahan level rates on the years remaining, then you absolutely do a deal. They are asset rich and he does have reclamation potential.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I just gave you 4 very well respected vets that can play top 9. Again, why the made up criteria for top 6?

Because that’s the question I asked because I that’s what I wanted to know. I can look up a list of UFAs myzelf but I don’t see any, really.

I would be surprised if JPP or Jenner make it to UFA. And Hayes is a 13th forward, by the way.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Kotkaniemi is smack in the middle of an 8 year $4.8M contract and he’s proven out to be a 30 point, 12 goal guy. And now he’s being scratched regularly. On a team that is dressing Jordan Staal and Mark Jankowski at C.

Flames already have, for the most part, enough dead cap on the roster with Huberdeau the way he has been playing. Far too risky for them to add to that with Katkaniemi.

One is enough and could very well be a problem in another three years or so anyway.

KK would have to come with a reason to take on the player/contract. If the canes took Marleau off the Leafs hands for one year remaining at $6M for a first round pick, the Flames should require, I would think, at least the equivalent value of two first round picks and you could add from there ($19.2M total remaining dollars).

Maybe the Canes retain but if I were the Flames, unless their scouting department thinks they can salvage the player, I’d want no part of that.

[Heavy Jack]

I’d totally do a JK + 1st for future considerations but because there isn’t really any injury history there I can’t see the Hurricanes doing that. He doesn’t have a lot of faceoffs taken so far this year but the previous 3 years he had 51 percent averages on 600-700 faceoffs per season. Big bodied and only 25, Flames have done well in the past with reclamation projects from Carolina, definitely something to consider.

Pros
Fits age range
Center who’s big
Good faceoff history prior 3 years
Cost should be at buy low

Cons
4 years left on a big-ish contract
Seemingly has lost any scoring touch he may have had early on
Has played on a top team and has stood out for the wrong reasons


Mock trade

To Calgary
JK
2nd round pick

To Carolina
Poirier - They drafted his brother


Flames get a 2nd round pick and move on from a prospect that hasn’t been able to crack the main roster for taking on the JK contract.

Not sure how close/fair that mock trade is but the Flames can offer all situations to a player like JK to try and get his career back on track.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Flames already have, for the most part, enough dead cap on the roster with Huberdeau the way he has been playing. Far too risky for them to add to that with Katkaniemi.

One is enough and could very well be a problem in another three years or so anyway.

KK would have to come with a reason to take on the player/contract. If the canes took Marleau off the Leafs hands for one year remaining at $6M for a first round pick, the Flames should require, I would think, at least the equivalent value of two first round picks and you could add from there ($19.2M total remaining dollars).

Maybe the Canes retain but if I were the Flames, unless their scouting department thinks they can salvage the player, I’d want no part of that.

I don’t know much about the player but if he’s at all considered trouble in the room that’s a deal breaker as well.

Essentially though, this is Mangiapane except on an 8 year deal. That contract was a huge mistake for Carolina. It’s pretty likely they buy him out.

[traptor]

Not sure if he would go there but they are a contender, Kadri would be a good fit in that canes team.

I'd take KK as part of the package back, hed be a useful stop gap and he's only 25.

Kk + 1st + Nadeau

[Badgers Nose]

Heavy Jack, that’s probably pretty close.

Incentive to take these high touted prospects that have fallen to reclamation level is often much lower than we anticipate.

[GioforPM]

I suppose if KK was part of a bigger deal as the money coming back I’d consider it. But they aren’t in cap trouble and the best deal for them is Kadri (who apparently won’t go there).

[Bingo]

I just don't know if a 2nd round pick is a high of price to add a potential boat anchor.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by traptor

Not sure if he would go there but they are a contender, Kadri would be a good fit in that canes team.

I'd take KK as part of the package back, hed be a useful stop gap and he's only 25.

Kk + 1st + Nadeau

Carolina has been reported to be on his no trade list.

[sureLoss]

Maybe a Kotkaniemi for Sharngovich swap with some minor prospects to balance it out.

[Badgers Nose]

Fourth line of Stromgren - JK - Klapka would be a big improvement and would probably out score the current one by a lot. When they are hot move them up the lineup as Huska is want to do.

I’m with Bingo though. I’d want a lot more picks back or a young player.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Maybe a Kotkaniemi for Sharngovich swap with some minor prospects to balance it out.

Ohhh this one is actually pretty good thing to consider. I could see Sharky’s shot and style mixing in well with Carolina and the fact that JK is a 25 YO center with 500 games played is something we need more than a streaky goal scoring winger.