2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Lol at the sentimentality of holding on to Cooley.

It would be incredible if we got a 2nd rounder for our backup goalie, and we should do it immediately if it is offered. This is how you maximize assets.

What is the upside to holding Cooley? We lose 3-5 less games next year? That is actually a downside.

It’s not something to laugh at.

Very reasonable not to give up Cooley for a 2/3rd in my book.

If a team is coming to you thinking a capable backup is a commodity they can have for just a 2nd, then I’d ask them why they don’t have one already.

I think you keep and if a team is distressed then you can get better value. Absent that, the return isn’t worth the time and money spent imo.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

It's not sentimentality. It's the value he brings to the team including as a back-up to Wolf, so that Wolf gets proper rest and recovery, and has tandem partner that is good for his development.

Would I trade him for a 2nd? Maybe.
Would I trade him for a 3rd or later? No.

I don't know if there's a big market for Cooley as while his stats are impressive, it would be pretty ballsy for a team to offer a 2nd or 3rd round pick for a soon to be 29 year old goaltender with less than 30 NHL starts over his career. If he can come back next season and repeat his numbers, then I could see some interest but at the same time he's probably worth more to the Flames at this stage given his solid play and affordability of contract.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

2nd is as low as I'd want them to go right now for Cooley and I'd be surprised if that market was there.

I think when this Rebiggle hopefully takes meaningful steps forward you're going to want that stability back there and so far Cooley seems able to provide that all while seemingly being liked by both Wolf and the rest of the team.

Edit: Not that this is a super close comparison given Miikka had more pedigree but it's interesting that Kipper was acquired at 27 years old for a 2nd. At that point he'd had 47 NHL games over 3 seasons and had just posted an .879 save % the season before. I'm curious what my reaction would have been had I been older at the time, trading a high pick for a 27 year old who hadn't really made it full time yet.

[Calgary Highlander]

I could see Anaheim, San Jose, and Edmonton being interested in Cooley.

For Edmonton, I'd want their 2027 1st with nothing better than top-5 protection.

[Roko]

More Kadri news please. I can’t wait for the GIFs

[1991 Canadian]

Generally agree with the sentiment that the team is better off keeping Cooley. But if the Flames can squeeze a tight goalie market for a great return, might have to go for it.

The Flames are at the "how deep is too deep to cut" stage of the rebuild. It is a good problem to have veteran players with tradeable value (if for no other reason that it gives us something to argue over). If the Flames trade all of Kadri, Coleman, Weegar, Whitecloud, Cooley, etc... this team will get shelled even more than they currently do.

Specifically for goaltending, having a good 1B in Cooley takes a lot of pressure off Wolf and a young error prone team.

A good offer could be tough to say no to. The Flames acquired Cooley for free. Would be a tidy piece of asset management if some desperate team overpays for him.

Tough call.

[GioforPM]

I doubt anyone will want Cooley this season, just because he has very little record and could be a flash in the pan. If he keeps it up, this time next year he will be a hot commodity.

[OILFAN #81]

Originally Posted by Calgary Highlander

I could see Anaheim, San Jose, and Edmonton being interested in Cooley.

For Edmonton, I'd want their 2027 1st with nothing better than top-5 protection.

Cooley has been awesome for you guys this year but it's a limited sample size. A 1st might be a stretch but if he plays like he has so far this year he is worth it for the future.

Funny thing about Cooley (and Wolf) is that they were both born in and are from the Bay Area. Cooley was born in Los Gatos which is 10-15 minutes outside of San Jose and Wolf was born in Gilroy and lived in Morgan Hill (30 minutes away from San Jose). Some of their extended families I believe are still in the area and they have a fan base here. When the Flames play here there are a decent amount of Wolf jerseys.

[PeteMoss]

We literally just found Cooley on the scrap heap two years ago and he was willing to spend the year in the AHL. The idea its hard to find another Cooley doesn't make sense. You could throw a bag of pucks to someone to pick up a Michael DiPeitro, Cal Peterson or Cayden Primeau from the AHL if you don't trust the Wranglers goalies to backup for a couple of months.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

We literally just found Cooley on the scrap heap two years ago and he was willing to spend the year in the AHL. The idea its hard to find another Cooley doesn't make sense. You could throw a bag of pucks to someone to pick up a Michael DiPeitro, Cal Peterson or Cayden Primeau from the AHL if you don't trust the Wranglers goalies to backup for a couple of months.

But if that's true, that finding a capable back-up is not hard at all, then would that also not mean that Cooley's trade value is quite low.

If Cooley is actually valuable as a back-up, that means he's not easy to replace
If Cooley is easy to replace, that means he's not that valuable.

[Bingo]

Such a good thought exercise.

I'm certainly not in the "get all the picks you can" culture, locker room be damned crowd.

I see value in the relationship between the two goaltenders, and the value in having a voice like Cooley in the dressing room. On the ice I think it's interesting to have a legit backup pushing Wolf and giving the team some confidence regardless of who's in net.

So those that scoffed keeping him are out to lunch to some degree.

But there has to be a line in asset value creation for found money.

Those that suggest a 2nd are probably in the right area. Not sure I'd do it for a 3rd (player with a 10% chance of playing).

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Cooley has been awesome for you guys this year but it's a limited sample size. A 1st might be a stretch but if he plays like he has so far this year he is worth it for the future.

Funny thing about Cooley (and Wolf) is that they were both born in and are from the Bay Area. Cooley was born in Los Gatos which is 10-15 minutes outside of San Jose and Wolf was born in Gilroy and lived in Morgan Hill (30 minutes away from San Jose). Some of their extended families I believe are still in the area and they have a fan base here. When the Flames play here there are a decent amount of Wolf jerseys.

That makes a lot of sense, they seem to get along really well.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

But if that's true, that finding a capable back-up is not hard at all, then would that also not mean that Cooley's trade value is quite low.

If Cooley is actually valuable as a back-up, that means he's not easy to replace
If Cooley is easy to replace, that means he's not that valuable.

I agree he shouldn't be valuable - but if someone is willing to give you free money then you take it.

I'm old enough to remember Colorado giving us a 2nd round pick for Reto Berra.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I agree he shouldn't be valuable - but if someone is willing to give you free money then you take it.

I'm old enough to remember Colorado giving us a 2nd round pick for Reto Berra.

Well, TBF Berra is an Olympian this year.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I agree he shouldn't be valuable - but if someone is willing to give you free money then you take it.

I'm old enough to remember Colorado giving us a 2nd round pick for Reto Berra.

Funny, I'm almost too old to remember.

[Matty81]

I wouldn't trade him for a 2nd. That's not to say he's worth a 1st now fair value wise, I just don't think a 2nd moves the needle enough to move a player with that kind of upside.

He he's improved every season, has a steal of a contract and isn't old. I think he could still be here as a backup when the team is decent again. And while it's far from a sure thing if he can repeat his performance this year next season over 20-30 games, he will be worth a late first plus, a desperate team will take a shot at him as a starter.

He is on a somewhat similar trajectory to Kuemper who got traded for a 1st, 3rd and a decent prospect at 30

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Well, TBF Berra is an Olympian this year.

He was an Olympian in 2014 as well!

[D as in David]

Given how well Cooley started in the AHL last season, in an alternative universe where he doesn't get concussed, he possibly continues that early-season success, providing more evidence of his ability as an NHLer. Does CC trade Vladar at last year's TDL, showing he's not willing to let assets go for free?

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

We literally just found Cooley on the scrap heap two years ago and he was willing to spend the year in the AHL. The idea its hard to find another Cooley doesn't make sense. You could throw a bag of pucks to someone to pick up a Michael DiPeitro, Cal Peterson or Cayden Primeau from the AHL if you don't trust the Wranglers goalies to backup for a couple of months.

Tell the Oilers how easy it is, few other teams too

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Roko

More Kadri news please. I can’t wait for the GIFs

Cool your jets, Kadri news will pick up once we get past the Olympics and closer to the TDL.