2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by CFO

The flames are bottoming out. Over the next 2 drafts they have what 4 1st round picks? The 1st round picks that are flames related should be at least top 5 maybe even top 3.

So over next 2 years they should be adding 4 great prospects where 2 should have ceilings of top line players.

Over a span of 4 years they will have drafted I believe 8 1st round picks. Let alone what comes out of trading away other core players.

If the flames don't have a future skilled team with those 8 1st round picks plus guys like coronato, wolf, etc - then wtf is management doing.

Thing is, if those extra firsts are very late (like the one we got from Florida last year), then chances of getting difference makers drops substantially.

Lot of luck required. Strength of the draft, draft lottery, etc. Hope it all pans out. At least there is a semblance of a plan, which we haven’t had for some time.

[DJones]

Feels like everyone just doesn't agree when the rebuild started. I think it started when Conroy came in, they just over performed. But we're already in year three.

Unless all our prospects miss we should be better next year and continue to improve. If we don't that means all of our prospects just weren't that good

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by DJones

Feels like everyone just doesn't agree when the rebuild started. I think it started when Conroy came in, they just over performed. But we're already in year three.

Unless all our prospects miss we should be better next year and continue to improve. If we don't that means all of our prospects just weren't that good

Or it means neither.

Prospects take time and they are all on their own development curve. I think there is a very strong likelihood that the team is worse next year but the prospect pool is deeper and better. I think that’s kinda the goal here. Even if the Flames won’t acknowledge that publicly.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames are going to aquire or sign a big name or two going into the new arena IMO. Anyone expecting a 4 or 5 year tank will be dissapointed. They will lean in for a year or two. Sucking on purpose will never be the goal.

Even Maloney is waffling on that. They’ll need to get somewhat good before they can sign a big name or trade for a player with a NTC. I’m sure they’ll chase if another Eichel situation pops up. They’ll need to supplement like Florida did at some point

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Or it means neither.

Prospects take time and they are all on their own development curve. I think there is a very strong likelihood that the team is worse next year but the prospect pool is deeper and better. I think that’s kinda the goal here. Even if the Flames won’t acknowledge that publicly.

Exactly, if the Flames trade Kadri, Coleman, Weegar etc., there is little chance of having a better team next year.

Their prospects for the most part are not ready to replace those player's production.

But that doesn't mean at all that the prospect pool hasn't gotten a lot better, which really is the goal.

Lete first round picks, even if they hit, likely take a fair bit of time to produce meaningfully.

And a lot may depend if Wolf can bounce back.

[Muta]

I feel like the brand new arena and a great city, combined with a young team going in the right direction, a respected GM and a great overall organizational reputation will be factors in attracting those name free agents in a couple years. 2027-2028 is going to be an important year for us.

Just my own opinion, but really could see Makar signing here next summer... this will be the Flames' big acquisition and a strategically important one for the franchise.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Or it means neither.

Prospects take time and they are all on their own development curve. I think there is a very strong likelihood that the team is worse next year but the prospect pool is deeper and better. I think that’s kinda the goal here. Even if the Flames won’t acknowledge that publicly.

Half the kids are already on the team. Coronato, honzek, zary, hunter, klapka. Next year is very much improve or be depth players. Gridin and Parekh should be able to contribute or again, they are unlikely to be difference makers.

The chances that all these guys just continue developing without any success is low.

[Sec214]

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by DJones

Feels like everyone just doesn't agree when the rebuild started. I think it started when Conroy came in, they just over performed. But we're already in year three.

Unless all our prospects miss we should be better next year and continue to improve. If we don't that means all of our prospects just weren't that good

Conroy was hired on May 23, 2023. In my mind, he didn't really kick off the re-build in earnest until the Lindholm trade on January 31, 2024. So you and I are close, we're only quibbling over whether it began in the 2023 offseason or during the 23-24 season.

Either way, we're approaching our third trade deadline of the rebuild, and either our second or third draft and FA season of the rebuild.

24-25 was definitely an overperforming season, and I suspect next season will be much like this one. That should at least set the organization up to have some bright future prospects and some hope when the new arena opens for 27-28.

[Vinny01]

The Flames never had the horses to pull off the Dallas model which included winning a lottery. Benn and Seguin were still in their 20’s when Robertson, Heiskenan, and Ottenger were drafted. The pandemic was the reason Johnston was available where he was as well.

For that model to even of had a chance for Calgary there would have needed to be sustained high level play from Huberdeau and Zary+Coronato would of had to firmly establish themselves as at least near top line players.

The Flames veteran core is too old and their young players are lacking a lot up front. Wolf is a huge building block though and could help this team get out of the basement sooner than later.

I think the Flames could be putting a bid in to host a draft in the early days of Scotia Place and having a high pick would bring a lot of juice to that event. Realistically this team is picking top 10 for the second time in this rebuild and likely need to do it another 1-3 times to get the core they hope they can win a cup with. I do think there will be a little bit of pressure either the summer of 2027 or 2028 to have a team that might be able to compete so I can see Conroy getting aggressive in trades and free agency at that time.

[CFO]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Thing is, if those extra firsts are very late (like the one we got from Florida last year), then chances of getting difference makers drops substantially.

Lot of luck required. Strength of the draft, draft lottery, etc. Hope it all pans out. At least there is a semblance of a plan, which we haven’t had for some time.

You should be able to get a solid player in the laste 1st. A top 4D. Or a 2nd/3rd line quality forward.

The impact should be coming from the top 5 picks.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by DJones

Half the kids are already on the team. Coronato, honzek, zary, hunter, klapka. Next year is very much improve or be depth players. Gridin and Parekh should be able to contribute or again, they are unlikely to be difference makers.

The chances that all these guys just continue developing without any success is low.

Disagree completely.

Plenty of examples throughout the league and its history that players take several years to develop. Stating next year is ‘improve or be depth players’ means nothing. Improve? To what extent? And how are you defining success?

Not a very well thought out opinion your putting forward here.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Disagree completely.

Plenty of examples throughout the league and its history that players take several years to develop. Stating next year is ‘improve or be depth players’ means nothing. Improve? To what extent? And how are you defining success?

Not a very well thought out opinion your putting forward here.

I agree their take is a bad one. Even if there is a huge surprise and one of the forward prospects is a top line guy the team will still be bad.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by CFO

You should be able to get a solid player in the late 1st. A top 4D. Or a 2nd/3rd line quality forward.

Yet many late first round picks routinely don't pan out.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by CFO

You should be able to get a solid player in the laste 1st. A top 4D. Or a 2nd/3rd line quality forward.

The impact should be coming from the top 5 picks.

Late first have about a 25% chance of becoming a solid NHler (500 games )

So statistically our 8 late picks should garner 2 solid NHLers going back to last years pick and assuming we get a few late 1st for Kadri and Coleman

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Disagree completely.

Plenty of examples throughout the league and its history that players take several years to develop. Stating next year is ‘improve or be depth players’ means nothing. Improve? To what extent? And how are you defining success?

Not a very well thought out opinion your putting forward here.

Dont agree with you here.

In two years when the building opens klapka will be a third year player. Bru 2 to 3rd. Zary will have four years in the league. They wont be rookies. Expecting none of them to progress isnt rational nor will they be getting used to the league at that point.

Whos says by the time the building opens gridin isnt a top six? Who says Coronato isnt going to get better hes already scored near thirty? Honzek has made the team this year it looks like why cant he progress ? What if we add a Mckenna or a Stenberg to what we have already this year?

I know we all had Wytenbach leading college scorers is he a write off ?
Put even one young top six center on this team it will completely change the dynamics and direction if the team moving forward.

The team is solid on most fronts, best on the wing, good on defence, good in goal, poor to horrybla in the center.
I still think Conroys main goal is to get a young center thats already in the league ( Shane ?)

[TheScorpion]

I think we're seeing a bit of a paradigm shift now that veterans with term like Kadri, Coleman, and even Weegar are being discussed in trades. Flames could theoretically try to sell people on a team being competitive with Kadri at 1C and Weegar 1D. Now that they might be gone ... they really have no choice but to tank.

[Rhett44]

It is important to note as well that all these picks we have could take years to develop. Parekh was drafted almost 2 years ago, and look at how early it is for his development.

Just because we have all these picks in the next 2 years, doesn't mean they are all going to be ready to step up and compete for a cup in year 3.

[Poe969]

They can overpay some UFA'S to fill out the team if they need to. They wont be good enough next year anyway. Stop trying to compete and go with it, get assets and build for the future

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Fan69

Dont agree with you here.

In two years when the building opens klapka will be a third year player. Bru 2 to 3rd. Zary will have four years in the league. They wont be rookies. Expecting none of them to progress isnt rational nor will they be getting used to the league at that point.

Whos says by the time the building opens gridin isnt a top six? Who says Coronato isnt going to get better hes already scored near thirty? Honzek has made the team this year it looks like why cant he progress ? What if we add a Mckenna or a Stenberg to what we have already this year?

I know we all had Wytenbach leading college scorers is he a write off ?
Put even one young top six center on this team it will completely change the dynamics and direction if the team moving forward.

The team is solid on most fronts, best on the wing, good on defence, good in goal, poor to horrybla in the center.
I still think Conroys main goal is to get a young center thats already in the league ( Shane ?)

The Flames?

No they arent....teams that are "solid on most fronts" simply dont find themselves with the second worst record in the entire league well over half way through the season.

This is a very poorly constructed hockey team with many holes to fix and the results are proof of this.

This is why I am flabergasted that some still wont admit this club is in a full out rebuild and have been for some time....regardless of the team not releasing a "letter" to the fans stating as much.