2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

No, most people (when not focused on flames management and their entourage) including many flames fans, and basically any other observer of the league (insiders, talking heads, dolts like Eklund) are loudly asking "what the hell are the flames even doing?"

It's time we stop believing that our own farts smell the best.

I mean people that don't pay attention yes...who has traded more players than the Flames in the last few years? All while having near league high cap and not signing any UFAs.

Last year they had a 96 point season with no significant UFAs....nobody blows up their team in that year. Like give me one example?

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I mean people that don't pay attention yes...who has traded more players than the Flames in the last few years? All while having near league high cap and not signing any UFAs.

Last year they had a 96 point season with no significant UFAs....nobody blows up their team in that year. Like give me one example?

According to Royle, the Jets?

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

I also think the culture rot in Edmonton came from the top. Lowe, nepotism in the hockey ops and coaching staffs. It wasn’t just the wrong mix of vets.

Culture ALWAYS starts at the top.

[dino7c]

Pretty hard to judge the Flames on what they do in a bottom 3 season when they have never had one lol

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Culture ALWAYS starts at the top.

Totally. And people (myself included) can feel a certain way about Murray Edwards, but the flames have built a really well respected culture from the top through several regimes of hockey ops and players in that room.

I think this also means they can sustain moving on from some veteran players in the name of a rebuild.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I figured there's be excuses for all those examples.

Kadri had one 87 point year, where he filled in for Mackinnon with Rantanen on his wing. The rest were all lower than what he's done in Calgary.

Coleman has his best season here and looks to be having his second best this season.

Bahl didn't have "similar numbers" - he doubled his points.

I'm not sure why defencemen's points don't count. And the thing about forwards is that Calgary just hasn't brought many in over the last few years. Frost, Farabee, Sharangovich are the main ones. I guess Kuzemenko (who had a big bump when he arrived but then fell off). Calgary has just not imported many forwards in the last 5 years. They were more working Coronato/Zary/Klapka/Pospisil into the lineup.

I don't think those are excuses, when you're obviously trying to nitpick a point. If you don't want to pick a career year, let's look at their average production(82 game pace):

Kadri(COL) 3-year average: 26.7G, 71.4P
Kadri(CGY) average: 27.1G, 65.0P

---

Coleman(TBL+NJD) 3-year average: 23.5G, 40.8P
Coleman(CGY) average: 20.6G, 41.3P

---

Weegar(FLA) 3-year average: 9.6G, 44.8P
Weegar(CGY) average: 10.0G, 41.6P

---

Sharanogvich(NJD) 3-year average: 21.2G, 42.4P
Shanargovich(CGY) average: 23.5G, 44.2P

In all those cases, there's a very minor change in production. The reason I didn't consider D-men was because I was commenting about KK. And sure, a guy like Bahl could improve to a 20P d-men from a 10P d-men, but I don't know how much of it is due to the Flames unlocking his offensive game.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Totally. And people (myself included included) can feel a certain way about Murray Edwards, but the flames have built a really well respected culture from the top through several regimes of hockey ops and players in that room.

I think this also means they can sustain moving on from some veteran players in the name of a rebuild.

If you trust that the Flames have built a well respected culture from the top, you have to trust that those at the top know enough about what it takes to build and maintain that culture to know what they need on the roster and who is bringing the right elements.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

If you trust that the Flames have built a well respected culture from the top, you have to trust that those at the top know enough about what it takes to build and maintain that culture to know what they need on the roster and who is bringing the right elements.

Culture is part of their reluctance yes. The other is their philosophy on winning and making the playoffs every year.

Backlund and Weegar and other vets can be the culture ambassadors that carry the torch. Conroy and Huska and coaching staff also play a big part in it. They don’t need to hang on to vets past their expiration dates to maintain a culture.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Carolina is one of the best teams in the league and yet they have Staal who is a 4th liner and Janko at center. I think if they traded with the Flames Frost for JK and a 2nd, they gain cap space, gain at center and keep their best assets.

They could then make a run at another center who is better than Frost and a better 2nd line option. Move Frost to the wing and have him in case of injuries. Janko also depth at center in case of injuries.

JK is worth the risk that he is better than he is playing and plays a style that could fit as a 3rd liner near the end of the deal when Backlund is gone and young players come in who are better than he is.

I can tell you right now I have never had an inkling the Flames are looking to move Frost. They really like the player.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Culture is part of their reluctance yes. The other is their philosophy on winning and making the playoffs every year.

Backlund and Weegar and other vets can be the culture ambassadors that carry the torch. Conroy and Huska and coaching staff also play a big part in it. They don’t need to hang on to vets past their expiration dates to maintain a culture.

Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. But if they’ve built a well respected culture I expect they know the answer better than anyone.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I don't think those are excuses, when you're obviously trying to nitpick a point. If you don't want to pick a career year, let's look at their average production(82 game pace):

Kadri(COL) 3-year average: 26.7G, 71.4P
Kadri(CGY) average: 27.1G, 65.0P

---

Coleman(TBL+NJD) 3-year average: 23.5G, 40.8P
Coleman(CGY) average: 20.6G, 41.3P

---

Weegar(FLA) 3-year average: 9.6G, 44.8P
Weegar(CGY) average: 10.0G, 41.6P

---

Sharanogvich(NJD) 3-year average: 21.2G, 42.4P
Shanargovich(CGY) average: 23.5G, 44.2P

In all those cases, there's a very minor change in production. The reason I didn't consider D-men was because I was commenting about KK. And sure, a guy like Bahl could improve to a 20P d-men from a 10P d-men, but I don't know how much of it is due to the Flames unlocking his offensive game.

Kadri had one big year. Two of the years his projections over 82 games before Calgary were
57 points
47 points

He has never had a year as bad as the 47 point year in Calgary. 2 out of 3 of the years have been better than the 57 points prorated and the other year was one point shy. Kadri had one really good year that throws off the average significantly.

The idea that offensive players outside of Huberdeau come to Calgary and somehow become worse is more or less completely made up. They just are not that good.

[united]

Seems the Devils may be a team ripe for a swindling.

All the insiders have started ramping up their narratives surrounding Hamilton and Palat turning down multiple trades each because both will only go to teams on their trade lists (which is their right) with the leaks no doubt coming from the frustrated Devils. The Devils are nearly capped out, sitting at 49/50 contracts, and pretty much every notable player aside from Mercer is either untouchable or has full trade protection.

With the Devils drifting further and further from the playoffs, Fitzgerald likely knows his days are numbered barring a significant and swift turnaround: the perfect time to pounce. Hopefully the Flames are happy to help him make an ill-advised move that either saves his job if it works or is the next guy's problem if it doesn't.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I can tell you right now I have never had an inkling the Flames are looking to move Frost. They really like the player.

Backlund replacement?

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Totally. And people (myself included) can feel a certain way about Murray Edwards, but the flames have built a really well respected culture from the top through several regimes of hockey ops and players in that room.

I think this also means they can sustain moving on from some veteran players in the name of a rebuild.

Have they? They've flubbed a bunch of issues on the PR side in the past few years and haven't made the playoffs in the past 3 years. The two best players they had in the last 10 years both bolted out the door when they had the chance. Hanifan and potentially Rasmus have screwed them over when it comes to trades by forcing them to deal to certain locations.

Why do we think the culture is that great?

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. But if they’ve built a well respected culture I expect they know the answer better than anyone.

There’s still the whole winning side of it. And if I’m prioritizing one over the other, at this point in time, it’s making moves in the name of turning this thing around.

Culture is nice and all, but it can’t come at the expense of winning.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Kadri had one big year. Two of the years his projections over 82 games before Calgary were
57 points
47 points

He has never had a year as bad as the 47 point year in Calgary. 2 out of 3 of the years have been better than the 57 points prorated and the other year was one point shy. Kadri had one really good year that throws off the average significantly.

The idea that offensive players outside of Huberdeau come to Calgary and somehow become worse is more or less completely made up. They just are not that good.

Look at players who've left: Mangiapane, Pelletier got worse. Zadorov, Lindholm, Kuzmenko, Hanifin are about the same. Even Mantha is around the same as his limited time here.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Kadri had one big year. Two of the years his projections over 82 games before Calgary were
57 points
47 points

He has never had a year as bad as the 47 point year in Calgary. 2 out of 3 of the years have been better than the 57 points prorated and the other year was one point shy. Kadri had one really good year that throws off the average significantly.

The idea that offensive players outside of Huberdeau come to Calgary and somehow become worse is more or less completely made up. They just are not that good.

I didn't say they become worse. I said have a hard time thinking of any that became significantly better. Kotkaniemi is currently on pace for a 20 point season, he's arguably playing worse than Jankowski for Carolina, so my most optimistic projection for him in CGY is 30 points as a 3/4C.

I don't think you can simply ignore Kadri's monster season, just like you can't ignore Coleman's 30G season in CGY.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Have they? They've flubbed a bunch of issues on the PR side in the past few years and haven't made the playoffs in the past 3 years. The two best players they had in the last 10 years both bolted out the door when they had the chance. Hanifan and potentially Rasmus have screwed them over when it comes to trades by forcing them to deal to certain locations.

Why do we think the culture is that great?

I think they’re well regarded as an organization that gives back to the community, treats players really well, and overall Calgary is a very family-friendly market which it has going for it. They’ve instilled the values of giving back in the community to all their players through the years which I think is really commendable and is fairly exemplary in the league.

On the ice, working hard and being able to play dependably in their own end seems like the Flames way under several coaching regimes over the years. So they’ve definitely got a team identity that has stood the test of time and is part of their culture.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by united

Seems the Devils may be a team ripe for a swindling.

All the insiders have started ramping up their narratives surrounding Hamilton and Palat turning down multiple trades each because both will only go to teams on their trade lists (which is their right) with the leaks no doubt coming from the frustrated Devils. The Devils are nearly capped out, sitting at 49/50 contracts, and pretty much every notable player aside from Mercer is either untouchable or has full trade protection.

With the Devils drifting further and further from the playoffs, Fitzgerald likely knows his days are numbered barring a significant and swift turnaround: the perfect time to pounce. Hopefully the Flames are happy to help him make an ill-advised move that either saves his job if it works or is the next guy's problem if it doesn't.

I would love to trade with the Devils, they are not a good team. There first this year will likely be a good pick. It will as unfortunate for the Flames that they actually made the playoffs last year.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I can tell you right now I have never had an inkling the Flames are looking to move Frost. They really like the player.

It's ok to keep him too, especially if Kadri moves. But for me, he is 1 year away from UFA. He plays under 16 mins a night but gets over 3 mins a night on the #1 PP. That is up there with the league leaders, and the Flames have the worst PP in the league, he has 7 PP points. He does not play on PK or match up against the other team's best players.

I still think he is decent after saying all that but there were rumours that teams have called on Frost. IMO it would be a great idea to get an asset for him with JK if that is an option. He is trending towards a 3rd line center, but he hasn't shown anything so far that he is a Backlund type with 0 PK minutes and limited minutes against elite players.

40-point pace on the #1 PP isn't proving that he is a 1st or 2nd line player. Yegor is a player we are running out of town, and he plays more against elite players, more on the PK and less on the PP and more minutes with 4th liners and is producing close to the same. Flip the roles and Frost would be getting run out of town.

6 weeks ago, the thought was we got Frost cheap to take Farabee. Yet Farabee all of a sudden is ahead in goals, 1 point back and plays a more defensive role and a big PK role for this team.

If teams call on Frost, you have to look at it. He isn't that good