2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

I don't know. Some guys just need to be moved. Bennett was also a 5th overall pick and had worse numbers than Hayton when he was traded. Sure, his game is different but if Calgary is going to find a 1st or 2nd line young centre at a bargain, it's the Haytons of the league they need to be targeting and Utah can afford to move him if they're getting a centre back.

It's a low likelihood he'll ever reach his peak, but a 45 point centre has value and if they also get that first, the deal is pretty good for a guy like Kadri.

"For a guy like Kadri" implies that Kadri is not very valuable. I think most of the league would consider Kadri to be a big add for any of the teams heading to the playoffs.

The only people really down on Kadri are Flames fans.

The rumours are that Kadri should bring back a significantly better package than Andersson. "Hayton + 1st" is arguably a worse package.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Buffalo is the one for me more just because I think they have enough assets, and need to show to the guys there they are serious.

I wouldn't sell the farm but they can afford to move the 2026 1st or maybe one of their mid tier prospects (Ostlund, Kulich, Rosen)

All fair. The complexity they then face is targeting players that either don't have trade protection or will waive to go there.

Which is why a guy like Whitecloud could fit, but not Kadri or Coleman.

[InternationalVillager]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Can confirm Kadri’s reps have conveyed to the organization that the preference is to move sooner than later.

Update on this. Looks like Kadri is more likely than not to be moved at this point. I don't expect it to get right to the trade deadline.

[dammage79]

The Flames must have offers they're happy with.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Dallas is a good addition to the list.
I would be careful if I were Buffalo and Detroit. They have had long playoff droughts and need to build a sustained period of contention. If they are too aggressive too fast, they could end up right back out.

I actually think they need to be more aggressive because of that. Feels like the teams that make it over the hump are the ones who push the chips in when the upswing happens. Wait too long and there’s a whole whack of things that could get in the way.

Buffalo, Montreal, and Detroit are top 10 in the league and top 5 in their conference. It’s not a stretch at all to suggest that for one of those teams this could be their best or even only shot at a cup.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Update on this. Looks like Kadri is more likely than not to be moved at this point. I don't expect it to get right to the trade deadline.

I’ve also been told Kadri’s camps preference is now to be moved, no longer wants to be part of a rebuild here.

[Yanda]

Would you trade Zary in a change of scenery trade for another young player of comparable value?

Would you be willing to part with him if he were packaged with one of Coleman or Kadri to get an 1st+A- prospect or young established player instead of a 1st+B(+/- Retention/Taking Cap Dump)

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Hayton, Beaudoin, and 1st for Kadri is fair imo.

Big win for Utah to get Kadri against the central teams, and without gutting Iggy or Desnoyers.

I would think you take two of the three and walk away tickled pink. I don’t see any way you get all three.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Wolven

"For a guy like Kadri" implies that Kadri is not very valuable. I think most of the league would consider Kadri to be a big add for any of the teams heading to the playoffs.

The only people really down on Kadri are Flames fans.

The rumours are that Kadri should bring back a significantly better package than Andersson. "Hayton + 1st" is arguably a worse package.

Yeah, I agree that for this year he is quite valuable.

It's his term without retention that is challenging as there are absolutely question marks about what he'll look like in the final two or three years of that deal. Even with a rising cap, he'll be 37 and 38 in the last two years.

I'd even assume he'd be more valuable if he only had this year and next left on his contract.

I'm not down on Kadri; I'm just reasonably putting myself in the head of other GMs.

A 1st + Hayton is very similar to a 1st + Ritchie or the Andersson deal. But I also like Hayton and see value there. It seems you might not and that's fair, but I suspect he's exactly the type of player Friedman was referring to when he said the Flames are open to trading for "a young player that the Flames would have control over."

[sureLoss]

Insider trading:

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/2026/02...m-team-canada/

Teams are waiting on asking price for Parayko, Faulk, Schenn, Kyrou, Thomas, Binnington to fall.

Rangers want to move Panarin before trade freeze on Wednesday but control is in player's hands
Chris Johnston has heard one team has put $40 million on the table.

LeBrun checked with 15 NHL teams, majority thought they would be quiet before the freeze.
Vast majority wanted to wait until after the Olympic break to see where they are in the standings and for cap reasons

One team to keep an eye is Carolina, they would like to make a move before the freeze.
They are up for it and have the cap flexibility to do it but they have to find the right fit.

Leafs have been busy the last few days but nothing expected before the freeze.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

Yeah, I agree that for this year he is quite valuable.

It's his term without retention that is challenging as there are absolutely question marks about what he'll look like in the final two or three years of that deal. Even with a rising cap, he'll be 37 and 38 in the last two years.

I'd even assume he'd be more valuable if he only had this year and next left on his contract.

I'm not down on Kadri; I'm just reasonably putting myself in the head of other GMs.

A 1st + Hayton is very similar to a 1st + Ritchie or the Andersson deal. But I also like Hayton and see value there. It seems you might not and that's fair, but I suspect he's exactly the type of player Friedman was referring to when he said the Flames are open to trading for "a young player that the Flames would have control over."

The rising salary cap takes care of that. $7M may be second line money right now but in 2 years of big cap increases it is essentially third line money with top line players getting double that.

Retention would take Kadri from a "very good" asset to an "amazing acquisition" as it would give teams a strong middle 6 center for a few years and cap flexibility to add elsewhere.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Wolven

The rising salary cap takes care of that. $7M may be second line money right now but in 2 years of big cap increases it is essentially third line money with top line players getting double that.

Retention would take Kadri from a "very good" asset to an "amazing acquisition" as it would give teams a strong middle 6 center for a few years and cap flexibility to add elsewhere.

Yup. And Conroy could hammer hard that GMs don't need to worry about Kadri aging, and he could point to how great the 37-year old Marchand is playing on Florida this year as he and Kadri have a similar makeup.

But it's still a risk and it'll probably be reflected in his return unless GMs get really crazy.

But again, I think a 1st + Hayton from Utah is a pretty good return for a 35 year old centre like Kadri.

[InternationalVillager]

Ask on Kadri is a Grade A prospect. The pick is not the priority.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Would you trade Zary in a change of scenery trade for another young player of comparable value?

Would you be willing to part with him if he were packaged with one of Coleman or Kadri to get an 1st+A- prospect or young established player instead of a 1st+B(+/- Retention/Taking Cap Dump)

No!

[Tbull8]

we’re getting Tij!??

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Would you trade Zary in a change of scenery trade for another young player of comparable value?

Would you be willing to part with him if he were packaged with one of Coleman or Kadri to get an 1st+A- prospect or young established player instead of a 1st+B(+/- Retention/Taking Cap Dump)

I would. Easily.
I think he's upside is middle six. On a good team: 3rd line.

No need to dump him. But if he can get you a guy with top line potential if paired with a vet: I do that all day long.

Also the same with Pospisil.

[gvitaly]

Will TBL be in the market for centers right now? Gourde is currently their #1C, and Cirelli will be out for a while.

[Yanda]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I would. Easily.
I think he's upside is middle six. On a good team: 3rd line.

No need to dump him. But if he can get you a guy with top line potential if paired with a vet: I do that all day long.

Also the same with Pospisil.

I think I would too, he seems replaceable with how well we have drafted the last 2 years.

While he could be apart of the Flames new core if his ceiling is middle 6 then maybe we have seen enough? Im just wondering how attached to him the average Flames fan is, because I think we could just as easily slot in Kerins in the immedate and make use of Zary's value while he still has it.. I mean Baertschi got us Andersson

[Muta]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Will TBL be in the market for centers right now? Gourde is currently their #1C, and Cirelli will be out for a while.

Nazem Kadri for Sam O'Reilly could be an interesting fit for both teams.

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by InternationalVillager

Ask on Kadri is a Grade A prospect. The pick is not the priority.

Love this. Flames desperately need a young centerman with top 6 potential. Depending on the prospect, I'd be willing to add more with Kadri to get one. It may be viewed as a massive over pay by some, but imo the team could really speed up the rebuild with this sort of acquisition.