2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Tbull8]

Why exactly did the flames let Aspirot walk? Multiple seasons on the wranglers, leaves for the bruins and now he’s an everyday nhler

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That depends on what your cap situation actually is. You underestimate just how much cap trouble contenders have been in in recent years.

Yet you assume, based on the fact that the player was not traded, that the team was not open to trading him.

Do you honestly expect that answer to be published in the media for the fans? Do you, in fact, have any information AT ALL about what conversations Conroy has with other GMs?

Yet here you are complaining because a particular player was not traded at the time you think he should have been, merely because you assume there was an offer that the team should have accepted in order to follow your plan.

So apparently if you don't trade everyone, according to you, that proves you were not open to a trade. Which is the exact opposite of what you just said. Pick a lane.

No team would have had an issue fitting in Rasmus Andersson at $2.575M at the 2024 draft, cap issues or not. I'm pretty confident saying that, maybe a couple years earlier but the cap jumped from $83.5M in 23-24 to $88M in 24-25.

As for the rest.

I'm allowed to have my own opinion that Conroy could have been more pro-active in shopping Rasmus Andersson.

I also believe that if Craig Conroy would have put Rasmus Andersson on the trade market at the 2024 draft, and would have said we are willing to trade Andersson with 50% retention, that a trade would have happened because teams would have lined up to acquire that player.

Once again it's my opinion, neither you or I will ever know exactly what went on behind the scenes at that time, so it's pointless arguing about it.

Because you can try and act all high and mighty, but the fact is your opinion about it and my opinion about it are guesses on both sides and we will never know.

I will add I also understand why Conroy didn't shop Andersson at that time. They had lost Hanifin, Zadorov, and Tanev from the d-core the prior season. They had added pieces like Hanley, Miromanov, and Pachal but those were just warm bodies.

You trade Andersson there and you are fully committing to team tank and you are running a rookie goalie behind a very thin d-core that would have lost 4 of their top 5 dmen from the prior season.

So I do get it. I would have just taken the risk that you might have been able to fill out a serviceable d-core in another way.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think you guys are all missing that I said 2024 draft.

He didn't have his 31 point season yet, he didn't have a NTC yet (that would have kicked in July 1 2024), and he would have had 2 full years remaining on a contract that was already great value at $4.55M and would have probably been the best value contract in the league if you retained for 2 years and shopped him around at $2.275M.

Yes him having a career season to date so far this season has helped salvage the situation a lot, but in the end that will only come to fruition if he actually agrees to re-sign with a team willing to pay the bigger value.

I mean, you're right (in my eyes). I, and many others, have been banging on the rebuild drum since after 2022/2023. Conroy came onboard for the 2023/2024 season with a number of grenades with the pin already pulled.

They, as an organization, wanted to maintain status quo and 'calm' the organization down in that 2024/2025 season - and all we got for it was moral victories and a mushy middle finish. There was no reason for Conroy to stop breaking it down after he got rid of Toffoli, Zadorov, Lindholm, Tanev, Hanifin, and then Markstrom. The delay for that 2024/2025 was fruitless, and delayed the inevitable - but 'no no no, we don't rebuild' - and what you're arguing for was just the continuation of the tear down, and I wholeheartedly agree. The rip down should have continued, and Montreal should have got Florida's pick - and we should have one of Schaefer/Misa/Frondell/Martone/Martin/McQueen/Kindel already in the bag. We don't. Nothing was built in 2024/2025, it wasn't some magical launch pad for this 'new core' of veterans - it was just a season burned...and yeah, it has had trickle down effect...that's in the past, but the organization should still look at it as a failed season, and they shouldn't (and appear in line to not) make the same mistake again, and that's reason to rejoice. They've made plenty of mistakes and now it's time to put those lessons learned into practice.

Deal Andersson, deal Kadri, deal Coleman and move on into the next era. It sounds like we're getting what I wanted, I just think they're over a year late.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I will add I also understand why Conroy didn't shop Andersson at that time. They had lost Hanifin, Zadorov, and Tanev from the d-core the prior season. They had added pieces like Hanley, Miromanov, and Pachal but those were just warm bodies.

So you know exactly why they kept Andersson, but you're arguing against it anyway, just for the hell of it? I see.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Sigh...he hadn't had a bad season yet at the 2024 draft. That would have been the 2025 draft, and I'm not surprised they weren't able to get full value for him then.

At the 2024 draft he was coming off 50, 49, and 39 point seasons. And with 2 years at $4.55M he would have been good value without retention, and would have been immaculate value with retention, especially with no NTC.

Actually Andersson had a bad half season right before the 2024 draft.

He had 28 points from the start of the season in late October through January. Then he got 11 points for the entire rest of the year through April. (averaging a little over 4 points per month. His production was essentially less than half what it was before.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

So you know exactly why they kept Andersson, but you're arguing against it anyway, just for the hell of it? I see.

I can understand why somebody did something, yet still disagree with it.

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Actually Andersson had a bad half season right before the 2024 draft.

He had 28 points from the start of the season in late October through January. Then he got 11 points for the entire rest of the year through April. (averaging a little over 4 points per month. His production was essentially less than half what it was before.

GMs wouldn't have worried about it at that point IMO, because the team was a mess from a trade perspective with Lindholm, and gang all being moved.

However the bad 24-25 season then for sure compounded it and it's why the value wasn't there at the 2025 draft (combined with NTC and questionable contract status).

Now him playing like a top 20-30 NHL d-man again this season has helped things a lot after a poor season last year.

And I truly hope I'm wrong and will eat crow if that's the case. If they can move him for something like has been rumoured (top prospect + 1st) then it's all worked out.

But if on March 6th we are sitting here having the same discussion we had after the Hanifin trade about how the Flames had expected better offers but Andersson wouldn't re-sign, so his trade market was limited and it's not their fault, then I will be frustrated, because IMO it will be their fault this time.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

But if on March 6th we are sitting here having the same discussion we had after the Hanifin trade about how the Flames had expected better offers but Andersson wouldn't re-sign, so his trade market was limited and it's not their fault, then I will be frustrated, because IMO it will be their fault this time.

Kudos to you for being proactive, I guess. Instead of waiting for that to actually happen, you're complaining about it in advance. I guess you get some kind of reward for beating the rush?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Kudos to you for being proactive, I guess. Instead of waiting for that to actually happen, you're complaining about it in advance. I guess you get some kind of reward for beating the rush?

Well considering I'm arguing that the Flames should have been more proactive it feels fitting that I myself am being proactive in this circumstance.

And to be clear for the most part I think Conroy has been great so far.

He handled the 23-24 season turmoil well, maybe could have moved some of those guys earlier and maybe could be argued he didn't get the best return for all assets (Tanev and Hanifin specifically) but he was dealt a pretty #### hand and made it work.

I think there was the potential to maximize the return on Andersson a bit more IMO but also do get why he didn't want to cripple the dcore further with Wolf coming up.

And now I think he's at another bit of an inflection point where he has to decide if he's going to be more proactive and be more aggressive in moving Kadri and Coleman or if he waits.

Verdict remains to be seen on the outcome of that situation.

[dino7c]

Are we forgetting how much Ras sucked last year? I think him playing well is more valueble than an extra year. IMO the return is going to be as good or better now.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

But if on March 6th we are sitting here having the same discussion we had after the Hanifin trade about how the Flames had expected better offers but Andersson wouldn't re-sign, so his trade market was limited and it's not their fault, then I will be frustrated, because IMO it will be their fault this time.

It will be their fault they didn’t trade Andersson for the imagine return you had when you imagined him being at peak value?

I don’t know. That’s probably not something I’d lose any sleep over if I were you.

If we’re sitting here on March 6 and Andersson is traded then that’s fun and there will be a new prospect/pick we can talk about it. Obviously we all want a good return but man, some of you guys spend way too much time imagining yourself inside the minds of management.

[Geeoff]

it's worth noting that retaining salary on Rasmus for 3 seasons would take up a retention slot in each year, giving us effectively fewer retention slots

[dino7c]

We have a thread praising the Canucks great rebuild announcement...meanwhile they traded the 2025 12th overall pick for a 29 year old that isn't very good and a pick for E. Kane this summer.

But the Flames totally waited too long lol, same posters.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Are we forgetting how much Ras sucked last year? I think him playing well is more valueble than an extra year. IMO the return is going to be as good or better now.

My personal feeling is the return likely would have been:

2024 Draft > Now w/extension >> Now w/o extension > 2025 Draft

If Rasmus will agree to re-sign in a place like Detroit, then I think the return now will likely be similar to what they could have gotten in 2024, and allowed them to better introduce Wolf to the NHL with a more serviceable d-core in front of him.

My worry is if Rasmus won't re-sign somewhere then the gap beteeen the first two scenarios and what they end up getting is going to be a bit painful.

Originally Posted by dino7c

We have a thread praising the Canucks great rebuild announcement...meanwhile they traded the 2025 12th overall pick for a 29 year old that isn't very good and a pick for E. Kane this summer.

But the Flames totally waited too long lol, same posters.

Nope not the same posters.

I just said any credit for the Canucks is idiotic.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

My personal feeling is the return likely would have been:

2024 Draft > Now w/extension >> Now w/o extension > 2025 Draft

If Rasmus will agree to re-sign in a place like Detroit, then I think the return now will likely be similar to what they could have gotten in 2024, and allowed them to better introduce Wolf to the NHL with a more serviceable d-core in front of him.

My worry is if Rasmus won't re-sign somewhere then the gap beteeen the first two scenarios and what they end up getting is going to be a bit painful.



Nope not the same posters.

I just said any credit for the Canucks is idiotic.

Some of the same posters...

If the Flames get poor returns for Ras and others you guys will have a point...but until that happens its just constant whinging for no reason.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Some of the same posters...

If the Flames get poor returns for Ras and others you guys will have a point...but until that happens its just constant whinging for no reason.

Here's the thing, it wasn't "constant whinging", it was just a viewpoint on the discussion that was in this thread that was happening in the thread.

There was a series of posters lamenting the concerns about Andersson just saying no to an extension, which is a real risk that clearly has the potential to impact the return they get for him.

And a comment was made by me, didn't see any other posters really here which is why I was confused by the Canucks comment you made, stating that IMO letting it get to the same point that it did with Hanifin (pending UFA with trade protection who can refuse to re-sign and limit the trade return) was a mistake.

Now I hope Andersson chooses to re-sign and it nullifies that risk, but it's still a risk and takes the control out of the Flames hands. Andersson holds all the cards now.

But honeslty as annoying as the Rhett44 and some of the others on this site can be with the tank talk and all that stuff. I find it equally annoying that any time a criticism of the organization gets stated there are a group of posters that feel the need to defend the organization and attack those posters.

Both sides of these extremes are what derails and kills the discussion.

Like seriously anytime the organization is criticized right now I feel like the Bat Signal goes off and it's like "Bingo, Jiri, Dino7c, GioForPM, Jay Random, to the BatMobile!"

I think I'm pretty even keel as a poster on here, and never attack any posters personally, but man the two sides of this debate need to just ignore each other because you're contstantly just dragging everybody else into the bickering all the time too.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Like seriously anytime the organization is criticized right now I feel like the Bat Signal goes off and it's like "Dino7c, GioForPM, Jay Random, to the BatMobile!"

In my case, that's because most of the criticism is either about things that haven't even happened and may never happen, or words that someone in management said or didn't say. Criticize their actions all you please. It bugs me when people make up things to criticize, apparently just for the sake of being negative.

‘It will be the most Flames thing ever when X happens! I will blame them today for allowing this disaster in the future, whether it ever occurs or not!’ This is not an example of helpful discourse.

(You know who else also comes to the organization's defence when people attack it on that level? Bingo and Jiri. I notice you don't go after them for it.)

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Some of the same posters...

If the Flames get poor returns for Ras and others you guys will have a point...but until that happens its just constant whinging for no reason.

I think the problem is that the return for Andersson will likely be one where the verdict on whether it is good or not may take a while. Like if the main piece we get is a 1st round pick and then the player we pick does not become an NHLer, people will be mad but if they become a useful player in the NHL, people will be happy and this could take 5 years LOL

[RedHawk12]

I share some of the same concerns as you SuperMatt, and this franchise is not the most intellectually honest about wheb they should rebuild, but at this point if the rumored return of Danielson and 27 1st comes to fruition, I think the whole argument of whether Andersson should have been traded 2 years ago is more or less moot.

If Andersson refuses to sign and extension anywhere and we end up with a Hanifin return, then we can all revisit this again. I think we just need to wait until the trade happens, which I know takes a bit of patience.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

In my case, that's because most of the criticism is either about things that haven't even happened and may never happen, or words that someone in management said or didn't say. Criticize their actions all you please. It bugs me when people make up things to criticize, apparently just for the sake of being negative.

‘It will be the most Flames thing ever when X happens! I will blame them today for allowing this disaster in the future, whether it ever occurs or not!’ This is not an example of helpful discourse.

(You know who else also comes to the organization's defence when people attack it on that level? Bingo and Jiri. I notice you don't go after them for it.)

Bingo and I have gotten into it actually, think it was a week or two ago where I said he was constantly defending any criticism of the Flames..it just wasn't in this specific scenario so I didn't include him but I can add him if you'd like. Same with Jiri.

I'll edit my post and add them just for you. (Although I will add those guys generally take a less abrasive approach than you do, no offense to you, they are just less confrontational about it)

And I don't disagree with you that some are negative for the sake of being negative, and will also never give the organization any credit, but I don't think I fall into that category. I also don't think we can only discuss things that are facts or have already happened.

Part of the fun of being a fan is the unknown, and the yet to happen. And none of us are in a position to know exactly what happened behind the scenes, what exactly the offers were, or what the offers might be in the future.

But that's why it's fun and it's debate. If we are only discuss the things we all know to be facts then there wouldn't be much to talk about.

Although I will agree that some will try to take facts and twist them for sure.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

And I don't disagree with you but also don't think we can only discuss things that are facts or have already happened.

I don't mind discussing things that haven't happened. I do mind blaming people for things that haven't happened. It gets very tiresome, especially when it takes over a thread like this one for pages and pages.