2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Monahammer]

I'd pounce on wright. Not sure we have what they're looking for in Seattle but it would be a good opportunity to try another Centre. Maybe Zary +(something small) is interesting as a change of scenery move?

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by D as in David

If I'm correctly remembering the post about his injury, they were saying Huberdeau would tough it out until the Flames gave up on the season. If true, I think we're getting pretty close to that point where they shut him down.

Why wouldn't our team policy be to shut down any player and immediately deal with any injury, so that they may heal and come back sooner at 100%?

What possible purpose could icing a hurt huberdeau serve us?

[Tbull8]

I’ve always said Lafreniere is a good buy low reclamation. Wright is going to cost a lot more but I’m interested in either one

[bluejays]

I may have missed a few pages but the last page had a ton of discussion on Huberdeau. Is there anything new with him?


As for Wright or Laf, I'd avoid both. They'll still be had for some premium (ie: 1st rounder, even if late 1st). We need some home run potential. They're both unlikely ever to become home runs. I'd inquire, but if it meant giving up a 1st, it's a no right away. Someone will pay that though.

[Robbob]

Regarding Huberdeau, I still think the best player that will lead the Flames isn't even under contract yet. So in 4 to 5 years is when you need the money and have to consider what to do with Huberdeau. In '29 He will have a couple years left and his NMC goes to a 13 team NTC.

A buy out in '29 you get no saving (83k), but in '30 you get 4.6M of cap space followed up 2 years of 1M dead cap space. Not terrible if the big pay day contract for that future star kicks in 2030.

Buyout in 30 you get 3.6M cap followed by 1 year of 2M dead cap. If you can get to 2030 you just need to see if someone will trade for his contract 50% for a pick or if he can play it out.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Why wouldn't our team policy be to shut down any player and immediately deal with any injury, so that they may heal and come back sooner at 100%?

What possible purpose could icing a hurt huberdeau serve us?

Agreed. I think this should be policy even if the team were competitive. How often do you hear about a team doing well with their top players playing through injury? It’s just not worth it and all you do is block another player that could thrive with the opportunity and depreciate the value of the injured player - Monahan is a perfect example. If the team simply shut him down when injured, he could have been active when healthy and looked like the player he was for Montreal (who returned a 1st round pick when traded to Winnipeg). Instead, his value was depreciated down to a salary dump when traded to Montreal along with a 1st round pick.

This year especially it makes no sense to have players play through injury. The team has lots of players that should be getting good looks on the team either for young player development or as a showcase for possible trades.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think both extremes of the Huberdeau discussion can be quite silly.

I think he would certainly be better on a team with more offensive talent.
But I don't think he's ever going to be the 110 point player he was.
His value is never going to increase, he's aging.

But he's just not a concern. He's a good guy. He works hard. Makes some good plays.

There are plenty of things to worry about higher on my list than Huberdeau.

If you are on team tank then yeah he is irrelevant

[Geeoff]

I wonder if a hockey trade like Frost and Coleman for Wright and a pick would work

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Actually two things will happen, he shows up and collects his paycheque and Calgary will never be able to sign a UFA again.

Plus, Calgary would never play such a game, they are well above that type of behaviour.

I see this argument all the time, can you show me some examples of players not signing with a club because they didn’t like how another player was treated?

Unless a UFA plans on playing as poorly as Huby is they would have nothing to worry about.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I wonder if a hockey trade like Frost and Coleman for Wright and a pick would work

Frost and Coleman are both better than Wright.

MAYBE he becomes more, at some point, but right now he is regressing, not progressing

[dammage79]

I'd love it if the Flames added Shane Wright.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

I see this argument all the time, can you show me some examples of players not signing with a club because they didn’t like how another player was treated?

Unless a UFA plans on playing as poorly as Huby is they would have nothing to worry about.

The NHLPA would definitely get involved and he’d have no incentive to walk away. Best hope is he LTIRetires

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Bonded

The NHLPA would definitely get involved and he’d have no incentive to walk away. Best hope is he LTIRetires

His incentive would be to play professional hockey again (if he actually cares about winning). How much sway does the NHLPA have over who a club dresses? I’d like to see where in the CBA it guarantees roster spots to certain players

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

His incentive would be to play professional hockey again (if he actually cares about winning). How much sway does the NHLPA have over who a club dresses? I’d like to see where in the CBA it guarantees roster spots to certain players

They get mad when players are scratched and held out for trades let alone a full season. Now I’m not sure what they can do besides raise a stink but I don’t think other players would just ignore it. I’m sure he somewhat cares about winning, but I doubt he cares enough to give up 30-35 million dollars

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The only concern I can agree with is that at some point he is taking top 6 minutes away from a young player. But the forward pipeline, apart from Gridin, is still developing. Honzek seems more suited to a 3rd line role, unless we suddenly see more offense from him.

Plus it's the problem you want to have. You want the younger players eventually pushing against a guy like Huberdeau for more ice, more premium opportunities, more PP time, etc. Does that mean you eventually have a $11M 3rd liner/PP specialist. Maybe. And that's not great.

But I don't think that even is a possibility for a couple more years minimum.

So I agree, it's not a problem that needs to be solved now. And maybe at some point, years down the road, there's another way he can go away (retirement, trade for another problem contract). Right now there is simply no out available.

That Frost line is already really the 3rd line, not sure Huberdeau is even really still playing top 6 minutes. The guy is a complete black hole though, which is good for the tank. Farabee was on pace for a 40-45 point season and now he plays with Huberdeau more and he is ice cold. Farabee has 14 even strength points, he has played 17.3% of the year with Huberdeau on the ice and he has never got an even strength point with Huberdeau on the ice with him. Just an absolute offensive killer for poor Farabee.

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by Bonded

They get mad when players are scratched and held out for trades let alone a full season. Now I’m not sure what they can do besides raise a stink but I don’t think other players would just ignore it. I’m sure he somewhat cares about winning, but I doubt he cares enough to give up 30-35 million dollars

Then doesn’t it sort of work out? Huby gets his millions, flames get to the cap floor without having him set a bad example for the rest of the team. I’m not really sure what the PA can do either, I’m sure a grievance would be filed but I doubt they could force the teams hand to play him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think both extremes of the Huberdeau discussion can be quite silly.

I think he would certainly be better on a team with more offensive talent.
But I don't think he's ever going to be the 110 point player he was.
His value is never going to increase, he's aging.

But he's just not a concern. He's a good guy. He works hard. Makes some good plays.

There are plenty of things to worry about higher on my list than Huberdeau.

Are there really two extremes though? I hear some posters saying what you are saying (I know that’s my view) and others saying he’s given up and the Flames should basically constructively dismiss him.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Are there really two extremes though? I hear some posters saying what you are saying (I know that’s my view) and others saying he’s given up and the Flames should basically constructively dismiss him.

I put very little stock into any sports fan who says this or that player has simply given up. We're not mind-readers; we don't even know these players personally.

I remember the run-up to the '09 playoffs. All sorts of guys were playing with serious injuries, because the rules at that time did not allow a player to be put on LTIR if there were fewer than 10 games remaining. Several players were playing with broken bones because nobody could be called up to replace them. I remember in particular, it was reported after the season ended that Langkow was playing with broken bones in both hands and could barely hold his stick. At least one CPer said that was no excuse for his poor performance, and he was bad in the playoffs because he had given up on the team.

There can be all kinds of reasons why a player performs poorly, including, of course, declining skills due to age. ‘Giving up’ is hardly even on the list. One thing virtually all professional athletes have in common is that they are extremely competitive and persistent. If they were the kind of people who gave up easily, they would never have made it to the NHL in the first place.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Then doesn’t it sort of work out? Huby gets his millions, flames get to the cap floor without having him set a bad example for the rest of the team. I’m not really sure what the PA can do either, I’m sure a grievance would be filed but I doubt they could force the teams hand to play him.

Easier for him to develop an equipment allergy’ probably than resort to that. Flames can have their own Robidias island