2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

They've already done that with 7-8 players. You need more?

People wanting an entire team of ~23 year olds without a strong veteran contingent will probably not like the result. Js.

The top 7 point producers on the Panthers in the playoffs all under 30.

Most of our vet 6 is all 30 plus.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

I hope so. These things dragging out into the season never goes well, as we witnessed with other players who either phoned it in (Lindholm) or stirred up drama and hid behind their agent (Zadorov) and everything in between.

Except for Tanev, he handled the whole process like a champ.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

The top 7 point producers on the Panthers in the playoffs all under 30.

Most of our vet 6 is all 30 plus.

The vets still play a crucial role in setting an example of fhe right way to play. Their role in contributing to a winner isnt strictly point production.

The Panthers also have exceptionally good players.

We dont have a glut of those.. yet.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

The top 7 point producers on the Panthers in the playoffs all under 30.

Most of our vet 6 is all 30 plus.

well Marchand is 100 but other than him probably true


(I'm pretty envious of the Panthers all around and their core- but their heavy lifters are now mostly 28-30)

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

The vets still play a crucial role in setting an example of fhe right way to play. Their role in contributing to a winner isnt strictly point production.

The Panthers also have exceptionally good players.

We dont have a glut of those.. yet.

What is the right way to play?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

The vets still play a crucial role in setting an example of fhe right way to play. Their role in contributing to a winner isnt strictly point production.

The Panthers also have exceptionally good players.

We dont have a glut of those.. yet.

How many do we need. We still have Weegar/Huberdeau/Hanley/Lomberg/Backlund/Coleman

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

How many do we need. We still have Weegar/Huberdeau/Hanley/Lomberg/Backlund/Coleman

1/3 of the roster seems about right. If they're solid leaders at their respective positions.

We have a hell of a group of vets here. Their in-room leadership (which has been attested to by Huska) is the reason the Flames finished tied for a playoff berth.

They had to outscore a couple of good teams in playoff positions down the stretch to keep their chances alive and they all showed up and got the job done.

If you remember what each of those guys contributed you'd see that we shouldn't take any of them for granted lr just see them as expendable.

[Robbob]

I kind of think there is starting to be a lot of smoke and Kadri can see the writing on the wall. I think he also knows it is in his best interest to leverage the NMC and direct where he will go. Once the NMC changes to the list of teams next season, he loses some of that leverage. Now the question is if forces himself to a team impacting the return, or if he works with Conroy to help the return.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I kind of think there is starting to be a lot of smoke and Kadri can see the writing on the wall. I think he also knows it is in his best interest to leverage the NMC and direct where he will go. Once the NMC changes to the list of teams next season, he loses some of that leverage. Now the question is if forces himself to a team impacting the return, or if he works with Conroy to help the return.

Yeah it's quite possible Kadri could be more open to a move to a handful of destinations this year...opposed to waiting until next year when he only has 13 team no trade protection

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yeah it's quite possible Kadri could be more open to a move to a handful of destinations this year...opposed to waiting until next year when he only has 13 team no trade protection

Especially since he has had first hand experience when he was traded out of Toronto the first time. He didn't want to leave so he used his NTC and Toronto just pivoted to another team not on his list.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Especially since he has had first hand experience when he was traded out of Toronto the first time. He didn't want to leave so he used his NTC and Toronto just pivoted to another team no on his list.

I suggested this a few months ago. I think Dis said he wants to stay in Canada and next year he can be traded to 18 teams. Why not ask to be traded to whatever Canadian teams he wants to play for now and make the move when he has more control?

Montreal would make more sense than Toronto, Flames can help with bad contracts too. Montreal has way more to trade.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

How many do we need. We still have Weegar/Huberdeau/Hanley/Lomberg/Backlund/Coleman

Who are these teams that trade all their veterans? Has it ever happened in NHL history where a team traded an every veteran that they had?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

1/3 of the roster seems about right. If they're solid leaders at their respective positions.

We have a hell of a group of vets here. Their in-room leadership (which has been attested to by Huska) is the reason the Flames finished tied for a playoff berth.

They had to outscore a couple of good teams in playoff positions down the stretch to keep their chances alive and they all showed up and got the job done.

If you remember what each of those guys contributed you'd see that we shouldn't take any of them for granted lr just see them as expendable.

The bolded part is the problem for some, too much success, too much growth with the younger players.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

1/3 of the roster seems about right. If they're solid leaders at their respective positions.

We have a hell of a group of vets here. Their in-room leadership (which has been attested to by Huska) is the reason the Flames finished tied for a playoff berth.

They had to outscore a couple of good teams in playoff positions down the stretch to keep their chances alive and they all showed up and got the job done.

If you remember what each of those guys contributed you'd see that we shouldn't take any of them for granted lr just see them as expendable.

We would still have the majority of them. 5/7 of our top point getters 30 plus last year. At some point the team will have to be turned over, and the young guys will need to be the vets to bring along the next group.

Not sure what you meant by the right way to play.

[SuperMatt18]

I think the problem with Toronto is a couple of things.

They don't have many assets. They actually don't really need a center (Matthews, Tavares, Laughton, Roy). And if what Dis says is true then they aren't going to commit cap to another center when they know they'll need room for McDavid next year if that ends up being a thing.

Sometimes I actually wonder if it's Kadri or his agent making the noise about Toronto because that's where he wants to be because I'm not sure the organization

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Sandman

The Sharks have a deep supply of youngsters they could potentially part with in a trade, if Andersson could be persuaded that team might be a contender in a few years with the right veterans to help them along.

RHC Cole McKinney: Freshly drafted, he's a physical two-way C who looks a touch like like Sam Bennett at times, stylistically.

LD Haoxi Wang: Another new edition to the Sharks' pipeline, he's a 6'6" defenseman with a smooth skating stride, but is quite raw with big potential.

LHC Filip Bystedt: Big C (6'3",210lbs) who does a little bit of everything, and plays a power-forward style.

RD Jack Thompson: 23 year-old (6'1",190lbs) who has put up excellent numbers in junior, and in the AHL. Doubt they would entertain parting with this kid.

LD Leo Sallin-Wellenius: Drafted in the second round last year, he's a smooth-skating, two-way defender, measuring 6'0",183lbs.

RW Carson Wetsch: Rugged, swift-skating power-winger, put up 52 points in 68 games with the Hitmen this season, but had 33 goals.

RD Colton Roberts: I was a big fan of his in his draft year last summer- he's now 6'4",201lbs, and skates very well. He can defend, play a mean physical game (84 PIM), move the puck, and contribute in the offensive zone. Love this kid.

RW/C Colin Graf: Signed last year out of college, he's done well as a pro- 35 points in 40 AHL games, and 11 points in 33 games with the big club. He's a 6'1",194lb playmaker, and only 22 years old.

W Kasper Halttunen: 20 years old, and 6'4",205lbs, he's a goal-scoring righty that was drafted in the second round in 2023. Heavy shot, and plays a physical power game, put up 15 goals and 21 points in 17 playoff games for the London Knights.

RW/C Ethan Cardwell: 22 years old, he's a 5'11",181lb winger who works hard, and displays endless motor. 48 points in 63 AHL games this year.

Agreed with the interesting prospect list.

Also worth mentioning that the Sharks hold the Oilers 2026 1st. If we wanted to push for a package trade similar to the suggestion from the Stars, i would happily entertain Andersson for Bystedt and the Oilers 1st and the Sharks 2026 2nd with a condition that the 2nd becomes a 1st if Andersson plays in the playoffs (with any team).

A deal like that would quickly beat most of the suggestions that people have put forth on behalf of the Stars.

The 2nd round pick condition gives some insurance that if the Sharks have huge success that we get a late 1st instead of a late 2nd, or, if the Sharks trade Andersson to a contender that the Flames get paid appropriately for providing the trade bait.

Also I think this is my solution for the rumours about Andersson having a short list of teams that he'll extend with. Basically make it a poison pill situation for Andersson and his new team to have one path forward to an 8 year extension (sign with the team he is traded to).

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think the problem with Toronto is a couple of things.

They don't have many assets. They actually don't really need a center (Matthews, Tavares, Laughton, Roy). And if what Dis says is true then they aren't going to commit cap to another center when they know they'll need room for McDavid next year if that ends up being a thing.

Sometimes I actually wonder if it's Kadri or his agent making the noise about Toronto because that's where he wants to be because I'm not sure the organization

I think Kadri's comments are just him stirring the pot to explode the heads of rumour mills and fans during the dog days of summer.

[Rhett44]

Keeping so many vets just means we stay closer to the middle of the pack. Rather than getting a top 5 pick.

Kadri and Coleman have negative value to us. They are actively hurting our future by being on the team.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Keeping so many vets just means we stay closer to the middle of the pack. Rather than getting a top 5 pick.

Kadri and Coleman have negative value to us. They are actively hurting our future by being on the team.

Post, Rinse, Repeat.

You gotta be getting tired of posting the same thing in every thread every couple of hours?

[shutout]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Keeping so many vets just means we stay closer to the middle of the pack. Rather than getting a top 5 pick.

Kadri and Coleman have negative value to us. They are actively hurting our future by being on the team.

Or they are actively helping our future by showing players like Coronato, Zary, Pospisil, Klapka, Bahl, etc how to be NHL players long term and not just for a cup of coffee.

There is a lot to prospect development that good veteran players contribute to. How to look after yourself, how to practice, interacting with coaching staff (this changes at every level of hockey), dealing with travel, etc.

From on ice habits, in game habits, off ice habits, and where to go when you are travelling to ensure that you don't end up on social media. You need to have a reliable group of veterans that are going to provide this knowledge to young players willingly. Not every veteran is going to be able to check all of those boxes so you need to have a group that is going to be an extension of the organizational culture and of the coaching staff and its expectations.

If you don't have this group and are just letting young guys figure it out they tend to wash out, or become veterans that are non productive in terms of continuing a positive competitive culture.