2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[musth]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I still wonder if you could get Philly to trade michkov. Hes dying under tocchet.

He's a winger

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by Muta

I wonder if out of courtesy, you ask Backlund if he would like an opportunity on a competitor. A legit defensive centre having a great year on a bad team, consistent, brings terrific leadership and poise. I know the idea is to have him retire here, but for discussion purposes... you could likely get a decent return for him. He'd be an amazing add onto literally all the contenders right now.

Imagine a contender adding Backlund and Coleman right now for their third line. Makes the Backlund extension timing a bit annoying though…

[bluejays]

It seems like Backlund's big legacy highlight has been to captain the Flames. Would guess he'd be happy staying with the Flames for his full career rather than chasing the chance to win it all with another team. Just a guess from me though.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by bluejays

It seems like Backlund's big legacy highlight has been to captain the Flames. Would guess he'd be happy staying with the Flames for his full career rather than chasing the chance to win it all with another team. Just a guess from me though.

Him going with the extension sure seems to signal that but im sure its a conversation thats been had at his table a few times.

[Solstice]

Yeah I’d be surprised if Backlund moved. He wants to be captain and here when the new arena opens, I’m pretty sure he said that during the press conference this past summer.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Players like Kadri, Weegar, etc., who have already changed teams - it is easier for them to chase cups.


Backlund has been a Flame his entire career so far, and he has a shot at ending up with the most games played for any Flame. That's an accomplishment. To be able to flip over his hockey card and see nothing but the same team is something you don't see all that often any longer. He can exchange that for a shot at winning a cup, but good luck picking the team (and assuming they have a need for you too). Still tough odds. So from Backlund's perspective, I get it, and I hope he does end up with the most games played record.

[dino7c]

Chasing cups very rarely works out in a 32 team league

[1qqaaz]

Backlund is 99 games away from leading the franchise in games played. That would be a notable and commendable legacy for him. That, along with all of his charitable endeavors and being the captain when most of the other players refused to stay any longer.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Conroy wasn't painted into a corner. He made a calculated decision to keep Andersson last season and go for the playoffs. At the time it was the right call and it was heartbreaking that the team lost the playoff spot.

As for this season, it certainly would have been better for the Flames if Andersson had been willing to participate in a Sign & Trade, but he didn't and there is nothing a GM can do about that.

While I am upset with the result of trading Andersson to Vegas, I do see a path forward where the trade could work out for the Flames.

Without knowing the offers last season or what the alternative "rental" offers were for Andersson this season, it is impossible to know if Conroy made a mistake or has a lesson to learn.

As for Weegar, you already acknowledged that he has a full NTC, so the conversation really ends there. Conroy does not need to "learn the lesson" of trying to override player's agreed upon contracts and fans definitely do not need to learn to expect that bad behaviour.

If Weegar doesn't want to be traded, he won't. As fans our expectation should be that he won't be traded as long as he has a full NTC. How can Conroy possible get full value for Weegar when he has the control to pick which team he is going to???

Trading Whitecloud has no such baggage and Conroy can hold a bidding war for him and it should go much faster because there are zero extra considerations. No trade clauses. No need to fuss a contract extension. Just put him on the block and trade him.

Keep Weegar to lead and mentor the D group (and keep the team above the salary floor).

I think you have summarized it very well here.

The hand wringing over what the Flames could have should have would have gotten is wasted energy in my books.

Conroy did well here all things considered. I’d say he did really well and what more could we ask for?

I’m not sure what people expect. They got a 1st and 2nd a prospect they’ve been monitoring and another tradable asset. Whether they trade Whitecloud or not, this trade is a win for the Flames.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Agree to disagree. We painted ourselves into a corner. Had we dealt him last year (or the previous year), teams would have had him under team control for a longer time and more playoff runs. Conny made chicken salad out of chicken poop but he put himself in that position. Not trying to relitigate the Andersen trade, point being Conny needs to put himself in a position where he isn’t painted into a corner on a declining asset.

Extra year is a plus.
Having a brutal season, negative.
Wouldn't pass the physical, negative.

I think they did well in the Andersson trade unless you allowed yourself to get your expectation stretched to an unsustainable level.

Equivalent of two first round picks as a goal, and they clearly got that.

[SuperMatt18]

I am surprised we haven't seen more trades before the Olympic break here.

You'd think a team would prefer to allow a player to adjust over the break then have to move while games are going on.

In the east you have separation now to know that the top 8 is pretty set, and I'm surprised you're not seeing more teams act now to ensure they keep Florida out of the top 8.

In the West spot 5-10 is a bit up in the air now and you'd expect those teams to be looking to get an advantage here.

Don't really see how waiting until after the break and then making the trades in the 10 days between the break and the deadline is better than trying to do it now.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Equivalent of two first round picks as a goal, and they clearly got that.

That's quite a bit of a stretch don't you think? They got a first and a conditional second, that could turn into another first if the Knights win the Stanley Cup this year. Even if the Knights manage to get through the post-season and win the cup, that materially hurts our existential pick we've been waiting two years to get out of Vegas for Hanifin, making that trade worse as the pick would then become 32, and Vegas would have a cup at the expense of the Flames. If that does happen, the Flames would have contributed two key players to the winners of each of the past three Stanley Cup champions. Another bitter pill to swallow?

Unfortunately, the Knights have to get through the Colorado Avalanche, who are looking like the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Unless a miracle happens, and the Avs fall apart, Calgary will get a first and a second out of the deal, and the Knights will have three seasons of play out of 1st round picks they have yet given up, and a stronger team, making those picks worse than when they gave them up.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

That's quite a bit of a stretch don't you think? They got a first and a conditional second, that could turn into another first if the Knights win the Stanley Cup this year. Even if the Knights manage to get through the post-season and win the cup, that materially hurts our existential pick we've been waiting two years to get out of Vegas for Hanifin, making that trade worse as the pick would then become 32, and Vegas would have a cup at the expense of the Flames. If that does happen, the Flames would have contributed two key players to the winners of each of the past three Stanley Cup champions. Another bitter pill to swallow?

Unfortunately, the Knights have to get through the Colorado Avalanche, who are looking like the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Unless a miracle happens, and the Avs fall apart, Calgary will get a first and a second out of the deal, and the Knights will have three seasons of play out of 1st round picks they have yet given up, and a stronger team, making those picks worse than when they gave them up.

Not to me ...

1st and 2nd and a prospect guaranteed.
And a player that is at worst a 2nd but probably a 2nd and 3rd if you move him.

1st + 2nd + 2nd + 3rd + prospect is two first rounders.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

That's quite a bit of a stretch don't you think? They got a first and a conditional second, that could turn into another first if the Knights win the Stanley Cup this year. Even if the Knights manage to get through the post-season and win the cup, that materially hurts our existential pick we've been waiting two years to get out of Vegas for Hanifin, making that trade worse as the pick would then become 32, and Vegas would have a cup at the expense of the Flames. If that does happen, the Flames would have contributed two key players to the winners of each of the past three Stanley Cup champions. Another bitter pill to swallow?

Unfortunately, the Knights have to get through the Colorado Avalanche, who are looking like the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Unless a miracle happens, and the Avs fall apart, Calgary will get a first and a second out of the deal, and the Knights will have three seasons of play out of 1st round picks they have yet given up, and a stronger team, making those picks worse than when they gave them up.

So what? Winning teams buy players from losing teams. That's the way she goes.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

That's quite a bit of a stretch don't you think? They got a first and a conditional second, that could turn into another first if the Knights win the Stanley Cup this year. Even if the Knights manage to get through the post-season and win the cup, that materially hurts our existential pick we've been waiting two years to get out of Vegas for Hanifin, making that trade worse as the pick would then become 32, and Vegas would have a cup at the expense of the Flames. If that does happen, the Flames would have contributed two key players to the winners of each of the past three Stanley Cup champions. Another bitter pill to swallow?

Unfortunately, the Knights have to get through the Colorado Avalanche, who are looking like the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Unless a miracle happens, and the Avs fall apart, Calgary will get a first and a second out of the deal, and the Knights will have three seasons of play out of 1st round picks they have yet given up, and a stronger team, making those picks worse than when they gave them up.

In 2026 the Avalanche are 6-6-1.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

If that does happen, the Flames would have contributed two key players to the winners of each of the past three Stanley Cup champions. Another bitter pill to swallow?

No, because neither player was ever going to stay here under terms agreeable to the Flames.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Chasing cups very rarely works out in a 32 team league

Ask Jarome.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Bingo

1st + 2nd + 2nd + 3rd + prospect is two first rounders.

No, a 1st + 2nd + 2nd + 3rd + prospect is a 1st + 2nd + 2nd + 3rd + prospect. Unless you find another team willing to take those 2nd + 2nd + 3rd + prospect and trade you a 1st for those assets they still remain a 2nd + 2nd + 3rd + prospect. You're also counting chickens in suggesting you know what they're getting for that other player. We all hope for the best and get something lesser. It's the Flames way.

Originally Posted by memphusk

So what? Winning teams buy players from losing teams. That's the way she goes.

Yup, and the Flames should show better control over those players, which they have not been doing. Especially when you're trading players for picks then loading up that team for the long-term. You're guaranteeing yourself a diminishing return. For example, we traded Hanifin to the Knights, then watched then use the 1st we should have received to grab Hertl. Then we trade them Andersson heading into the draft where that pick is going to finally be used. They got three players out of the deal before we have the opportunity to use the pick to make us better. That's not the way she goes, unless you're the Calgary Flames. Can you find another team that has done something along these lines?

Originally Posted by Groot

In 2026 the Avalanche are 6-6-1.

Yes, they are. Likely a team looking forward to the Olympic break. Even with that record, they are still the very last team I would want to face in the post-season. That team is a wrecking crew.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not to me ...

1st and 2nd and a prospect guaranteed.
And a player that is at worst a 2nd but probably a 2nd and 3rd if you move him.

1st + 2nd + 2nd + 3rd + prospect is two first rounders.

This.

When the deal was first announced i was not overly impressed with the return...pretty "middlin" so to speak.

Howver when you step back and some time passes, it was an outsranding return when you factor everything in, the biggest part of it being RA isstill no more than a rental....(regardless of him probably extending in Vegas)...Conroy set a price and it was met. Depending how Whitecloud works out (early returns suggest a home run acuisition) I think its a erade CC will long be remembered for, in a good way.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Chasing cups very rarely works out in a 32 team league

True but versus 0 chance staying put