2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Roko]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Come to think of it, too bad Buffalo isn't still really bad, because with the new management who knows if that would have opened up trade avenues to pluck up one of their talents.

Need another underperforming team with good players looking to force their way out.

I’d call them about Whitecloud. They should want to make playoffs at all costs. They can trade us their first back (conditional on them making playoffs is fine)

They have basically no RD

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

He also said regarding Brayden Point for the olympics

- if they view him as the 3C, he will be replaced by a C
- if they view him as a top 6 winger, he expects Hyman replaces him (booooo)

If they view him as a top 6 winger, I would go with Bedard.

If they view him as a 3 C, that probably means Scheifele (but Kadri would be awesome)

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by getbak

Nothing recently, if ever. Although, they also really haven't been in a position to do so very often.

I'd say Kuzmenko is the only recent player that they could have done that with, but his value was pretty deflated coming from Vancouver and they likely got a much better return by hanging onto him for another year than they would have by flipping him.

Kuzmenko is probably a perfect example of what they are thinking for Whitecloud: it's an asset who can help the team for now, while you try to find a good place to trade him. If that takes one month, or 15 months, doesn't matter.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Thus far, I look at the future core this way:


Established star:
Wolf (I feel he is here already, or if not, almost here)


Potential star:
Parekh
Gridin
Wyttenbach


This is the first of what I expect will be two consecutive 'bottoming out' seasons in which the Flames are likely to select high, and where most stars are found. Plus, these are two good drafts to bottom-out in. Plus, there is a lot of draft capital too. Maybe there are more stars already drafted that will pop, and maybe the ones listed don't pan out, but that's how I view it today.


I keep thinking about the 2011 draft every now and then. Flames almost won a cup from that draft in an alternative universe. They entered that draft short of picks - 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 4th, 6th. Every single player played at least 30 games, with 4 out of the 5 playing 140 minimum. Baertschi, Granlund, Wotherspoon, Gaudreau and Brossoit. We all know they had Kucherov on a short list - Todd Button had Gaudreau and Kucherov on a separate list, and was trying to gauge on when to draft them.


Conroy is giving our scouts a lot of ammo. He is also not making them pick 'safe' players. Flames have been picking up skilled players. Heck, even Phillips looked like a great pick once we saw him play, right? Had Button been given more picks that year, maybe Kucherov would have been picked. Maybe if he was encouraged to go after skill first, Wotherspoon wouldn't have been picked and instead it would have been Kucherov. It didn't happen of course.


Now we are under Conroy who is taking Calgary through a much more thorough rebuild, adding a LOT more draft capital and prospects, and encouraging and valuing skill (but still looking for size as well - this won't be a smurf team either). I am really bullish on the Flames coming out of this as an exciting product that will actually challenge for a cup at some point. I think this team will be fun to watch in a couple of years, and then they will become exciting when the entertaining team starts becoming successful.

[traptor]

I would be trying to move Whitecloud to the Sabres.

They could really use a vet defensive d-man under term and they are always a team that pays a premium. Would be nice to be on the other end of that.

He would be a good fit there

[Jiri Hrdina]

^I would add Reschney to the list of potential stars.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

^I would add Reschney to the list of potential stars.

You might be right. I had him as a decent 2nd line center if things panned out well for him, but he is exceeding my expectations and may be creeping into my star list too.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

^I would add Reschney to the list of potential stars.

Even if he 'just' ends up a Daymond Langkow think that is a win.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

^I would add Reschney to the list of potential stars.

I could see Reschny's game rounding into full form before Parekh's. D is harder to learn and Reschny just plays a nice game already.

[Flamesfan05]

Reschny yes

Wytenbach would be a pleasant surprise

[Tbull8]

Reschny could probably slot in beside Backlund as soon as next year

[Monahammer]

Potter had also turned it on prior to the really unfortunate concussion. I think he still has a chance to be a star too. But, probably only half at best of the listed reach that potential. And, IMO, we still need a "superstar" level forward.

Superstar potential:
Wolf
Parekh

Star:
Reschny
Potter
Gridin
Wyttenbach

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Superstar potential: Devin Cooley

[Calgary4LIfe]

Stocksellus is a really interesting case for me as well. With everything that kid has been through, and given his size, he might be something special.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Superstar BROADCASTER potential: Devin Cooley

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think they know they aren't going to compete by then, and have softened their stance on this.
Again, in the much maligned Maloney interview, this is what he said:

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

So a couple things there.
"Ideal world". The may know that even if this is what they want, it may not be possible.
"Little pop in momentum". Hard to know what this means but that sounds very different from competing.

My view is that when you get to the new building you want the following:
- You have started to establish more of a new core, around Zayne, Dustin, Coronato, Gridin, and the guy you pick this year. That's the team you are building and they are now the ones starting ot carry the load
- You are starting to move from tear down mode to build up mode. Doesn't mean you are competing, but you are starting to see the point where you can.

In terms of a comparable, I'd say you want to be kinda where Utah is today. Not ready to compete, but starting to move back up the standings, and with a core of players that you can start to imagine being part of a contending team.

I think that's realistic.

Agree with all of this, and I was going to give Utah as an example as well. Another example being last-year's Anaheim: the bad years are behind us, and we can be excited about our young players and start to build a team around them.

To me, I think that's what they are hoping for for the 27-28 season. NO ONE can realistically think they will be 'competitive' that year.

Side note: as a STH, this is exactly what I am hoping for.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Stocksellus is a really interesting case for me as well. With everything that kid has been through, and given his size, he might be something special.

I think Reschny is our 1B/2, Stockselius has potential to be the Backlund 3C replacement. Definitely need that 1/1A in the next couple drafts

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Could be both!

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Roster asset management aside, the other thing I really hope they don't do to try and be "competitive" for the new rink is rush the kids. They should be in no hurry to promote these guys unless they absolutely blow the doors off.

Reschny I could see being a guy that makes the jump to the AHL next year depending on how his 2nd half goes.

Potter, Wyttenbach could all probably stand to gain from another year in the NCAA, maybe at bigger programs? Mews will need a year for sure coming back from injury, Misa is starting to pop in 2026 so another year would be good. Stockselius needs time but maybe that's AHL? Might be worth leaving him another year in the SHL given he's been hurt this year.

Whoever they pick at the top of the draft this year might be interesting, if it's a Lawrence then i'd be a big fan of giving him a full NCAA season, same goes for like a Malholtra or Bjork etc.

Regardless, I feel like in an ideal world the "competitive" team in the new barn isn't pushing for a playoff spot but is full of rookies and promising kids coming in and contributing and learning from the jump. In the meantime, let them cook as long as you can.

[the-rasta-masta]

I wouldn't be in a rush to flip Whitecloud. Might be worth seeing what he can provide in an expanded role in Calgary up to the trade deadline at minimum. Perhaps he can actually up his value with some more opportunity a la Bahl.