2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by DJones

I don't get why retention is such a sticking point.

Like we could take a bad contract back. Same thing really. An overpaid LD or Center would be okay

Again, look at the teams interested and identify players that:
- Have 3 years remaining after this one (to match Kadri)
- Similar cap hits
- And the team is willing to drop this year for their playoff push.

You can say Montreal has Josh Anderson, but he doesn't have 3 years remaining. Doesn't solve it. Same w/ Gallagher. And they may not want to risk altering the team chemistry by moving those leaders out.

"take on a bad contract" sounds easy. It isn't. There isn't a lot that fits.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I mean they put Kuznetsov on waivers at the start of the year. They could have lose him for nothing - so don't think that counts as a point in their favour of knowing who is or isn't ready.

It was a pretty safe bet - the kid had zero track record for other GMs to assess. One game two seasons before. And his AHL record was nothing outstanding. It was also at the beginning of the season when other teams are assessing their own defencemen.

[Roof-Daddy]

To me it was always going to be hard for CC to move both Coleman and Kadri this deadline, IMO both need retention to get a return that makes it worth it and/or for the acquiring team to fit them in their cap structure this year and going forward.

I'm hoping they can get Kadri moved to a team by taking a contract back instead of retention, and then retain on Coleman. Sure would be nice to have them both moved for good returns in the next three days.

[Roko]

If Kadri wants out, he is a must move. Eat the retention.
Makes little difference if we do it now or later. We are gonna retain either way.
Get him out of here.

Coleman you can wait on but his contract isn’t that scary. Easier to make the math work there.

All of this reeks as one extra piece (see Whitecloud) for the flames to eat the money. It’s just posturing. It has to be.

Coleman not moving will lead to him being mad since his family isn’t here. And then Kadri will stew if he stays and ruin the room.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Again, look at the teams interested and identify players that:
- Have 3 years remaining after this one (to match Kadri)
- Similar cap hits
- And the team is willing to drop this year for their playoff push.

You can say Montreal has Josh Anderson, but he doesn't have 3 years remaining. Doesn't solve it. Same w/ Gallagher. And they may not want to risk altering the team chemistry by moving those leaders out.

"take on a bad contract" sounds easy. It isn't. There isn't a lot that fits.

Doesn't have to match, just get the deal done for this year. Let them figure out their own #### in the summer

[SuperMatt18]

Myers to Dallas pushes Lybushkin to the press box and no way they want to have $3M tied up this year and next for him to be a scratch.

My guess is that move could open up a Coleman move without retention to Dallas, with has cap dump coming back the other way.

Coleman + Hanley/Pachal

For

Lybushkin + Hemming + ???

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Again, look at the teams interested and identify players that:
- Have 3 years remaining after this one (to match Kadri)
- Similar cap hits
- And the team is willing to drop this year for their playoff push.

You can say Montreal has Josh Anderson, but he doesn't have 3 years remaining. Doesn't solve it. Same w/ Gallagher. And they may not want to risk altering the team chemistry by moving those leaders out.

"take on a bad contract" sounds easy. It isn't. There isn't a lot that fits.

I agree with you in general - it's hard.

But it's not quite necessary to have the term match. They can make other adjustments in the offseason. The cap hit coming back just has to match the space requirements. If they have $5M in space pro rated, they just need to send back $2M

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by DJones

Doesn't have to match, just get the deal done for this year. Let them figure out their own #### in the summer

What if they aren't willing to do that

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Not something I would have done.

But promoting him and entrenching him in a top four role after the fact certainly still counts as to exactly what I was saying.

I just don't think there should be an automatic deferral to the team to the decision. Post Friday - these games are basically exhibitions - take advantage of it to get more information.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

What if they aren't willing to do that

Only the Flames have agency in trades. The other teams are forced to accept the terms.

[Sec214]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The sky is falling!

Royal, Diss, Rasta, Oiler and the rest of the insiders. Should we just take the next couple of days off and let everyone cannibalize eachother… only the strong will remain.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I agree with you in general - it's hard.

But it's not quite necessary to have the term match. They can make other adjustments in the offseason. The cap hit coming back just has to match the space requirements. If they have $5M in space pro rated, they just need to send back $2M

From what we have heard, teams are more worried about the out years on Kadri's contract, and want some ways to mitigate that.

[TheIronMaiden]

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Sec214

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The sky is falling!

Royal, Diss, Rasta, Oiler and the rest of the insiders. Should we just take the next couple of days off and let everyone cannibalize eachother… only the strong will remain.

i mean, didn't FBI basically create a panic room for you guys? Just hang out there and change that password

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by Toonage

i mean, didn't FBI basically create a panic room for you guys? Just hang out there and change that password

When I saw the password. I immediately had to refrain from entering it. Those 4 letters ruined careers.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It was a pretty safe bet - the kid had zero track record for other GMs to assess. One game two seasons before. And his AHL record was nothing outstanding. It was also at the beginning of the season when other teams are assessing their own defencemen.

Sure - but why risk a long term asset so you can keep guys like Miromanov or whoever on the roster even if you think he's got a 50% of making it.

[Finger Cookin]

Kadri's contract situation always seemed like it would be too complicated to work out at the deadline. Better suited to finesse the details in the offseason.

[Zamboniman]

Okay, catching up with all recent comments, it seems the general feeling here is that unless the Flames get the top forward, top defenceman, and a 1st rounder from whatever team they trade with for *both* Kadri and Coleman, with no retention at all, the entire year is a failure in every way. Or am I reading this wrong?

[Spurly]

Maybe they are willing to retain, but not until Friday when the absolutely have too. Why cave in on 10 million until you have to.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Spurly

Maybe they are willing to retain, but not until Friday when the absolutely have too. Why cave in on 10 million until you have to.

You do risk the offers being pulled though