2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Calgary Highlander]

Andrew Mangiapane at #3 is all anyone needs to see to understand the credibility of Frank’s tradeboard.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

Yzerman is patient. He won’t push in until his team is consistently a playoff team and a cup contender. This isn’t the year for him to make the big play unless he can get a guy with term that fits his window.

Criticizing Nill for not making a big play is comical. They pushed most of their assets in last year for Rantanen and Granlund. What’s he left to trade!?

Guerin is probably the worst GM of the bunch. Guy was sheltered from signing dumb UFA contracts or making big trades becuase he was handcuffed by the two big buy-outs for his first few years. He’s now in a position to spend because of it, and is certainly spending. Could pay off, but it’s a little soon to use him as the example.

Being patient isn't the brilliant move you are suggesting it is here, IMO. Taking the next step is difficult in the NHL and a GM has to recognize when it is time to help his team take that step. You have to keep pushing the group forward or they can stagnate. Detroit has been trying to climb in the standings for a few years but have made little progress. Yzerman is at risk of his team losing any momentum they had - he needs to make something happen, and help that group get to the next level.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Being patient isn't the brilliant move you are suggesting it is here, IMO. Taking the next step is difficult in the NHL and a GM has to recognize when it is time to help his team take that step. You have to keep pushing the group forward or they can stagnate. Detroit has been trying to climb in the standings for a few years but have made little progress. Yzerman is at risk of his team losing any momentum they had - he needs to make something happen, and help that group get to the next level.

I agree that he needs to start looking, but trading an A prospect and a first rounder for four months of a guy like Andersson isn’t that. They were in on Quinn Hughes, as that player has term and will move the needle significantly in his young group.

Maybe someone like Weegar would be worth it to Yzerman but that team shouldn’t just throw important assets away at a single year run.

I think about it from the flames perspective and in two to three years, when the flames are back pushing for the playoffs, I hope to heck conroy doesn’t start throwing out hard earned assets for a few months of a veteran player.

He needs to be patient, wait until they’re in the window and then go for it.

[Enoch Root]

I never said he should start throwing assets away, that's just a strawman. But he needs to improve his team, he needs to do something and send a positive message to the room.

[Enoch Root]

A good example is WPG. They had a decent core, and were a competitive team for several years, but Cheveldayoff sat on his hands year after year. Now the core is older and cracks are emerging (to say the least)

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

A good example is WPG. They had a decent core, and were a competitive team for several years, but Cheveldayoff sat on his hands year after year. Now the core is older and cracks are emerging (to say the least)

Winnipeg is in a lot tougher situation than a lot of teams. I’m not sure being a good team even gets them off NTCs

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Calgary Highlander

Andrew Mangiapane at #3 is all anyone needs to see to understand the credibility of Frank’s tradeboard.

It’s most likely to be moved and not valued. All that really tells me is that he expects the Oilers to pay to dump him which is hilarious.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Tell Dylan Larkin that Yzerman is patient. He sat on his hands last deadline and pissed off his #1 C by not doing anything. Getting John Gibson and Tyler Myers is marginal help at best.

Yeah, thought about Dallas and Rantanen and Nill did put it out there last year. But he’s low balled us on Tanev and didn’t play ball on Andersson despite needing an obvious need on rhd. I hope that comes back to bite him. He’s playing it cautious again and worried about spending futures, when he really doesn’t have to worry about futures as he has a built in advantage with his team in a low tax state and able to attract prime talent in free agency as a result.

Guerin took big risks getting Parise and Suter off the books. And was able to get the second best defenseman in the league (while Yzerman watched him do it). We as fans should applaud this approach as it makes the game fun. GMs who are Riverboat gamblers and gunslingers making deals creates excitement. Having dull GMs like Yzerman and Cheveldayoff is bad for the game.

Definitely! I don’t disagree with you on the last piece. I love watching GMs get aggressive and crazy with their teams, unless it’s the Flames’ gm and in desperation mode (like the end of treleving’s term).

There have been a few comments on here about wishing nhl GMs were more like nba GMs. But I think the two major differences there are that hockey is a much bigger team game. While you can get a game breaking talent (McDavid), you still need to have a number of other stars to win. In basketball, teams can win with one or two superstars and a decent supporting cast—so GMs can throw the farm at one guy. (This is also why tanking is so much more common and concerning in the nba)

NBA also has shorter contracts and a lot more movement, which allows for (and probably requires) teams making more moves.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Winnipeg is in a lot tougher situation than a lot of teams. I’m not sure being a good team even gets them off NTCs

Agreed. But the point remains that if you aren't pushing forward and getting better, you're dying.

[dammage79]

Plus if there is any validity to Kadri wanting out, then Conroy has said before he'll try to do right by the player. I mean he's going to try and help the team as much as possible but end of the day, he's also going to clear out players who no longer want to be here.

So with that being said, I fully anticipate Kadri being in the move prior to the deadline. And I suspect he will have salary retained

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I never said he should start throwing assets away, that's just a strawman. But he needs to improve his team, he needs to do something and send a positive message to the room.

That’s probably why he’s in on myers. Not a big upgrade, but he’ll improve the team and won’t cost a lot. I bet this offseason and next year he’ll be swinging (and he could even make a big play this deadline for a younger guy with term if one comes available.)

[Enoch Root]

I don't think Myers moves the needle at all. Detroit needs to elevate to the next level. They need to add a real player that can make them a better team.

[Bonded]

I really hope they move out Kadri and Coleman. I’m getting a little more doubtful though that they get both moved.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I don't think Myers moves the needle at all. Detroit needs to elevate to the next level. They need to add a real player that can make them a better team.

Outside of Hughes, who’s the guy that’s available that would move the needle this year and the next few? Andersson would have been a decent fit with an extension, and they were in on him. Weegar might be. They don’t need an old centre like kadri, as their window is only starting to open and will be wide open when his contract is expiring.

I just don’t see the parts available are worth getting agressive over, so stay the course and be patient—and make your move in the offseason (a guy like Dobson would make sense).

[Enoch Root]

Names come up. Kent Johnson this week, for example. And there have been several pop up this year. MAKE something happen.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Plus if there is any validity to Kadri wanting out, then Conroy has said before he'll try to do right by the player. I mean he's going to try and help the team as much as possible but end of the day, he's also going to clear out players who no longer want to be here.

So with that being said, I fully anticipate Kadri being in the move prior to the deadline. And I suspect he will have salary retained

This is largely why I’m shutting out all the chatter. Dreger is the best in the business when it comes to the Flames. If he’s saying it’s pivoted to Kadri wanting to be moved, which also only makes logical sense, then it’s true - and again, it makes sense.

I believe Kadri and Coleman are getting traded.

I don’t buy Steinberg’s “it can happen in the Summer” talk. This guy is going to be 36 to start next season, you think Kadri is going to be happy missing out on his youngest remaining playoff push? He wants to go play meaningful hockey, he’s not getting younger, I hope Conroy gets the job done. I think he needs to get the job done.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Names come up. Kent Johnson this week, for example. And there have been several pop up this year. MAKE something happen.

Robert Thomas is another example.

[Roof-Daddy]

Are guys like Johnson and Sillinger even legit C's in the NHL?

Pretty much wingers now, and probably not worth what CLB would want in return for them given their pedigree.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Names come up. Kent Johnson this week, for example. And there have been several pop up this year. MAKE something happen.

He will. I have no doubt, and then that team will contend for a while.

Minnesota on the other hand may not end up resigning Hughes and they could be out of the window in three years (if they even get there… they still have a few big holes).

I just prefer the patient, sustainable approach… and that’s what Yzerman seems to be doing.

[Nelson]

I also listened to Francis and Steinberg’s talk from Friday. They think the deadline might be relatively quiet for the Flames and:

-Coleman gets traded;
-One of Lomberg/Hanley/Pachal gets traded;
-Kadri is unlikely to be traded before the deadline, but he will be traded in the off-season or next season; and
-Weegar and Whitecloud are even less likely than Kadri to be traded.