2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Burning Beard]

Some guys just gotta poop on the party haha.

[cheevers]

I am curious if the issues/delays around visas for guys going to the US means teams will want to get deals done before the Olympic break. If you are traded at the deadline and the visa holds you up a week or two, that really cuts into the time to integrate guys into your team.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Why doesn't he have 1st line potential?

His lack of skating speed and size make him more likely to be a 2nd line centre if he hits his potential.

That's not to say he cannot reach a #1 centre, but its less likely.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Dude has played over 1000 games in 15 years..... all in Edmonton..... and they STILL dont know if he is a better C or W??

Par for the course for that clown show I suppose.

They wasted the first 999 games debating whether to call him Nothing-Happens or The Tenderness. As of Friday, the debate was still out.

[CliffFletcher]

There are only a handful of undersized #1C in the NHL: Suzuki, Aho, Point, Hughes. They pretty need to have elite skating and/or hockey IQ to compensate. There's even some question if Bedard will stick as a C.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by cheevers

I am curious if the issues/delays around visas for guys going to the US means teams will want to get deals done before the Olympic break. If you are traded at the deadline and the visa holds you up a week or two, that really cuts into the time to integrate guys into your team.

That’d be pretty trade-specific I think.

From the Flames side, it wouldn’t have an impact on Coleman or Whitecloud, but likely would for Kadri. At the same time, a slow visa might only impact 2-3 games out of 20~ for a US team acquiring at the deadline, so it may not make much of a difference either way.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

There are only a handful of undersized #1C in the NHL: Suzuki, Aho, Point, Hughes. They pretty need to have elite skating and/or hockey IQ to compensate. There's even some question if Bedard will stick as a C.

MacKinnon, Celebrini, Stutzle, Thomas, Schmaltz, Kadri, etc.

“Jam” or being tough to play against seems just as valuable.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

There are only a handful of undersized #1C in the NHL: Suzuki, Aho, Point, Hughes. They pretty need to have elite skating and/or hockey IQ to compensate. There's even some question if Bedard will stick as a C.

You should see what they said about Point's skating when he started.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Yes, he definitely has second line potential. But it's just potential, not a sure thing. But his D+1 year has been very encouraging.

Well, of course. That's why he's a prospect. But downplaying a kid who is excelling above expectations in college and internationally seems pretty pessimistic.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Toonage

32 Thoughts this morning, Friedman talks about a proposal discussed in NY media, Wright for Lafrenierre. Hems and haws over it but says it isn't the worst idea.

Royle, you bring up Kakko. NYR and Seattle have obviously dealt with each other before, there may be something to this.

But as the co host notes, Laf isn't really that dynamic scorer they're after.

I have been suggesting this for some time - give both guys afresh start

[Morozee]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's important to be a little realistic as fans especially during a rebuild. We all gush about these prospects but the reality is that most of them aren't going to make it and those that do very likely in a lesser role than we hoped. Reschny is an exciting prospect but I don't think we should be anointing him as a can't miss prospect. I do think Flames fans may have expectations that he may not be able to meet as to me he looks like a high end 3rd line center in the NHL which is not a bad thing at all and kind of what we should be hoping Honzek could become as well if he can ever stay on the ice.

Some people's idea of being a little realistic only reads as extreme pessimism to me.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's important to be a little realistic as fans especially during a rebuild. We all gush about these prospects but the reality is that most of them aren't going to make it and those that do very likely in a lesser role than we hoped. Reschny is an exciting prospect but I don't think we should be anointing him as a can't miss prospect. I do think Flames fans may have expectations that he may not be able to meet as to me he looks like a high end 3rd line center in the NHL which is not a bad thing at all and kind of what we should be hoping Honzek could become as well if he can ever stay on the ice.

It is a fact that they all won't hit, and some will achieve lesser roles tha we hoped.

However, that DOES NOT mean that we should lower our projections, or reduce our perceived value of these players, and consider trading them.

The whole game, with respect to prospects, is that you need as many as possible BECAUSE some/most won't hit.

The correct way to look at them is to continue to see them as what they MIGHT be, but understanding that only maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of them will ACTUALLY become that. But doing this, is very different than lowering our projections on each of them.

[cam_calderon]

Reschny will have to overcome his lack of height and frame to become a solid NHL middle six centre, but either way, no scouting report I've read has his skill as elite. Above average, sure, but I think it's a fantasy to expect top line output from him at this stage of his development.

Could he be what Monahan was to Johnny, with an elite winger? I'd say that's a lot more plausible. Driving the top line like Suzuki or Hughes? Very unlikely.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

His lack of skating speed and size make him more likely to be a 2nd line centre if he hits his potential.

That's not to say he cannot reach a #1 centre, but its less likely.

Honestly, that's probably true of most players outside the top 10.

Reschny also lacks high end skill. What he does have is elite vision and positioning. He also looks like a leader on the ice. If Reschny can become a 50+ point centre and bring his attitude with him, it's a massive win. Those are the kind of players you win with.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Reschny will have to overcome his lack of height and frame to become a solid NHL middle six centre, but either way, no scouting report I've read has his skill as elite. Above average, sure, but I think it's a fantasy to expect top line output from him at this stage of his development.

Could he be what Monahan was to Johnny, with an elite winger? I'd say that's a lot more plausible. Driving the top line like Suzuki or Hughes? Very unlikely.

At the end of the day there are only 10-15 centers who can drive the play and take over games on their own. The Flames would have to get very lucky, or build a complete team close to what the Blackhawks were able to do.

[Burning Beard]

You can still be "realistic" and hope that he pops and becomes something special.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

At the end of the day there are only 10-15 centers who can drive the play and take over games on their own. The Flames would have to get very lucky, or build a complete team close to what the Blackhawks were able to do.

For sure. But we're gonna need to draft someone better than Cole Reschny through the middle to have a championship team, or pull off a one in a million Eichel trade, maybe one in a billion cause we are not a desirable market.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

His lack of skating speed and size make him more likely to be a 2nd line centre if he hits his potential.

That's not to say he cannot reach a #1 centre, but its less likely.

But if it is less likely, then his max potential is a #1 center. Difference in opinion might have to do with the definition of a #1 center. I personally like to break them up into tiers.

Tier 1 - McDavid and Mackinnon
Tier 2 - Barkov, Eichel, Matthews, Celebrini, Draisaitl, Crosby
Tier 3 - Depending on who you like, this group is probably much larger than the other 2. Suzuki, Scheifle, Johnston, Thompson, Aho, Bedard, Stutzle, Carlson. Could be a few guys that some might have in here, but for me this is pretty close.

Top 3 tiers I listed have 16. After that, probably even larger list of players like a Kadri in this list outside the top 16. IMO Reschny hits his max potential why can't he be a 2 way player in the discussion with players in tier 3. Very unlikely but good chance he is tier 4, around a top 20 center in the league.

He might be a 3rd liner too, but it's a bit early to say not a #1 center just because he isn't projected to be a 100-point player. Really only tier 1 and 2 are 100-point type centers other than Barkov who is a 90-point Selke player.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by Toonage

32 Thoughts this morning, Friedman talks about a proposal discussed in NY media, Wright for Lafrenierre. Hems and haws over it but says it isn't the worst idea.

Royle, you bring up Kakko. NYR and Seattle have obviously dealt with each other before, there may be something to this.

But as the co host notes, Laf isn't really that dynamic scorer they're after.

Thanked solely for your proper use of "hem and haw"...

[howard_the_duck]

Any concerns with Reschny’s size are premature. His genetics will come in to play in time. His family are all brick s***house muscle hamsters. I don’t have concerns he will put on weight.