2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[This post is terrible]

Originally Posted by transplant99

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.

Also having Whitecloud seems to have sparked the idea that Weeger could be traded, it won’t appear in a trade tree, but we might decide to trade a more valuable asset as a result.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by This post is terrible

Also having Whitecloud seems to have sparked the idea that Weeger could be traded, it won’t appear in a trade tree, but we might decide to trade a more valuable asset as a result.

I think this could relate to sec last post.

I wonder if Whitecloud said to the team im not really interested in staying here, the team knows the defence wont be better and the season is lost. Hence the change in attitude across the board with the vets and some that planned on staying are now changing their minds.

[kehatch]

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.

The first is in 2027 and the second is in 2028. That hurts the value a fair bit. We will hopefully see what Whitecloud is worth, but I agree you probably get a second, assuming the Flames even trade him. I dont know enough about Wiebe, but in terms of value I don't think he is worth much, but hopefully I am wrong. The Flames used a retention spot to make the cap work, so it wasn't just Andersson going out.

It was decent value for a rental. The issue is he should have been traded a long time ago. The Flames keep holding on to players too long to try and stay competitive. It hurts the value of the trade, and it keeps us just good enough to get a middling pick.

[442scotty]

I’m pretty sure it was reported that Whitecloud very much wants to be part of the team

[Groot]

Originally Posted by kehatch

The first is in 2027 and the second is in 2028. That hurts the value a fair bit. We will hopefully see what Whitecloud is worth, but I agree you probably get a second, assuming the Flames even trade him. I dont know enough about Wiebe, but in terms of value I don't think he is worth much, but hopefully I am wrong. The Flames used a retention spot to make the cap work, so it wasn't just Andersson going out.

It was decent value for a rental. The issue is he should have been traded a long time ago. The Flames keep holding on to players too long to try and stay competitive. It hurts the value of the trade, and it keeps us just good enough to get a middling pick.

The team didnt hold off on trading Andersson to stay competitive, they held off on a trade until a team met their price. And they haven't been anything but bottom 5 this season, currently tied for 3rd last, 1 point ahead of 2nd last. So your contention that the value of the trade was hurt and the Flames have fought to stay competitive and will get a middling pick is categorically false.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by kehatch

The first is in 2027 and the second is in 2028. That hurts the value a fair bit. We will hopefully see what Whitecloud is worth, but I agree you probably get a second, assuming the Flames even trade him. I dont know enough about Wiebe, but in terms of value I don't think he is worth much, but hopefully I am wrong. The Flames used a retention spot to make the cap work, so it wasn't just Andersson going out.

It was decent value for a rental. The issue is he should have been traded a long time ago. The Flames keep holding on to players too long to try and stay competitive. It hurts the value of the trade, and it keeps us just good enough to get a middling pick.

How is that?

[Bonded]

Whitecloud plus the 2nd would get a late first at least but I think it’s a bad trade for the Flames.

[Fan69]

Whitecould on the open market is probably worth two seconds. If whitecould frees up Weegar to be traded that part if the trade.

So lets say just for arguement Whitecloud is traded for two seconds.
A first.
A second that can be a first.
2 x 2 rounders.
Adan Wiebe.

Not sure how that isnt a great return.

[PepsiFree]

If you ignore anything but maybe one comparable trade, ignore the equivalent value of what was received, devalue picks based on totally arbitrary things like what year they’re in, and convince yourself that bottom 5 is middling, then yeah the trade doesn’t look great.

Exceedingly easy to not work that hard to maintain a silly narrative though.

[Fan69]

My personal opinion is one of Weegs or Whitecloud is traded. All picks or prospects.
Kadri has lost hope here probably needs to be traded. I expect a returning young player probably a defencemen. Offsetting contracts. Add to the in ice product.
Coleman good chance if being traded. Could see Utah and obviously Dallas as destinations may be the contract that gets retained on. Picks prospects.

If coleman stays i would expect that Farabee would be traded.

Just my two cents.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Fan69

My personal opinion is one of Weegs or Whitecloud is traded. All picks or prospects.
Kadri has lost hope here probably needs to be traded. I expect a returning young player probably a defencemen. Offsetting contracts. Add to the in ice product.
Coleman good chance if being traded. Could see Utah and obviously Dallas as destinations may be the contract that gets retained on. Picks prospects.

If coleman stays i would expect that Farabee would be traded.

Just my two cents.

Why?

I mean if Coleman doesnt get dealt this year, its almost 100% he goes next year.

Not sure why Farabee would be sent out regardless. He is very good in his role, not expensive and under contract 2 more years after this one.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kehatch

The first is in 2027 and the second is in 2028. That hurts the value a fair bit. We will hopefully see what Whitecloud is worth, but I agree you probably get a second, assuming the Flames even trade him. I dont know enough about Wiebe, but in terms of value I don't think he is worth much, but hopefully I am wrong. The Flames used a retention spot to make the cap work, so it wasn't just Andersson going out.

It was decent value for a rental. The issue is he should have been traded a long time ago. The Flames keep holding on to players too long to try and stay competitive. It hurts the value of the trade, and it keeps us just good enough to get a middling pick.

This idea that a pick in the future is worth less than a pick today is hogwash. People often try to equate it to the time value of money, but they are not at all alike. There is a real time value of money, because inflation erodes purchasing power. So a dollar tomorrow is worth less than a dollar today.

As for picks, every team drafts every year. There are only so many players available to be drafted each year, and some years have stronger draft pools than other years. Because of that, there is value in spreading picks over multiple years.

And specifically to 2027, it appears that it might be a deeper draft than 2026, and it is definitely stronger at C. So not only are the picks not less valuable, they might turn out to be more valuable.

Regarding waiting too long, it appears that the return was better than what they were seeing the prior year, so that would suggest that they did not wait too long, and actually improved the return by being patient.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

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.

Nope.

Draft picks have a historical value. We can now add up packages and come to a total.

If you look at the value of pick 32 and compared to say pick 57 twice, and pick 89, and a valuation of the prospect you get to the same value of asset.

They may keep Whitecloud.

They may trade him for a first which would make this argument moot.

Or they may trade him for a 2nd and a 3rd which would generally give the additional value to push the package past two firsts equivalent.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

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.

In the literal sense, sure. But it's pretty disingenuous to ignore equivalents, when discussing value.

If the return were two solid prospects instead of picks, would it be accurate to argue that the return was worse, because there were no 1st round picks included?

If you want to argue that Whitecloud isn't worth much, that is a fair argument to try and make. But most pundits believe he is worth at least a 2nd, and many feel he is worth more than that.

Recognizing the value of each asset is not counting chickens before they've hatched.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

I’m pretty sure it was reported that Whitecloud very much wants to be part of the team

Duh. What guy is going to show up to his new team and say "this sucks"? No professional is going to show that in front of the media. He probably wouldn't even allow that to leak out behind closed doors with his new teammates.

His only option is to show up with a positive attitude and get to work.

Originally Posted by Fan69

I think this could relate to sec last post.

I wonder if Whitecloud said to the team im not really interested in staying here, the team knows the defence wont be better and the season is lost. Hence the change in attitude across the board with the vets and some that planned on staying are now changing their minds.

I would assume that his plan is to play himself into another trade. He went from a contender to a basement team (ouch) but, like everyone else in the league, he knows that the reason Andersson was traded was because the future of the Flames RD is in Parekh + Brzustewicz. They do not need a 5 person depth chart for RD (Weegar - Whitecloud - Pachal - Brzustewicz - Parekh).

Weegar is a more valuable player but Whitecloud is a far easier asset to move. If he shows up and plays hard he could be back on the contender by the trade deadline. There are many teams that need a top 4 RD and, even if half of them are actually looking for a top pair RD, that still leaves teams like the Bruins or Red Wings who have a solid #1RD and need to upgrade the #2RD.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

I’m pretty sure it was reported that Whitecloud very much wants to be part of the team

I chatted with him at poker and he seemed genuinely pleased to be here.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

This idea that a pick in the future is worth less than a pick today is hogwash. People often try to equate it to the time value of money, but they are not at all alike. There is a real time value of money, because inflation erodes purchasing power. So a dollar tomorrow is worth less than a dollar today.

As for picks, every team drafts every year. There are only so many players available to be drafted each year, and some years have stronger draft pools than other years. Because of that, there is value in spreading picks over multiple years.

And specifically to 2027, it appears that it might be a deeper draft than 2026, and it is definitely stronger at C. So not only are the picks not less valuable, they might turn out to be more valuable.

Regarding waiting too long, it appears that the return was better than what they were seeing the prior year, so that would suggest that they did not wait too long, and actually improved the return by being patient.

There might be another reason behind spreading out the picks. Before the 2024 draft Conroy was asked about what sort of things he discusses with Iginla as his advisor. One of the things that came up was the amount of draft picks per draft. He then was asked about the possibility of having too many draft picks. To which he replied that you can, at least in terms of finding development spots, and injecting all the prospects into the NHL at the same time. So the Flames might actually have a certain amount of picks they prefer to make per draft class.

[Fan69]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Why?

I mean if Coleman doesnt get dealt this year, its almost 100% he goes next year.

Not sure why Farabee would be sent out regardless. He is very good in his role, not expensive and under contract 2 more years after this one.

Huby is here to stay. Gridin should stay. Honzek is returning at some point. Pospisil and lomberg are here. Coleman has two more years. Something has to give.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by IamNotKenKing

I chatted with him at poker and he seemed genuinely pleased to be here.

The fact he’s already won a cup probably helps that too. I’m sure he’d love to win another but he’s probably enjoying being back in western Canada too

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

There might be another reason behind spreading out the picks. Before the 2024 draft Conroy was asked about what sort of things he discusses with Iginla as his advisor. One of the things that came up was the amount of draft picks per draft. He then was asked about the possibility of having too many draft picks. To which he replied that you can, at least in terms of finding development spots, and injecting all the prospects into the NHL at the same time. So the Flames might actually have a certain amount of picks they prefer to make per draft class.

And you don't want everyone coming off their ELC at the same time. Lots of reasons to want to spread out picks.