2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[FlamesAddiction]

Ocean Spray is based in Plymouth, which is within the Boston area. He's drinking up what they are giving him.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Of course there is a timetable on Wolf. If we extend him for 8 years after the last year of his current contract then we have a 9 year timetable until the end of that contract and we find out if he extends or leaves.

If your plan is to wait until he is 33 or 35 to finally have a competitive team then chances are he'll be on another team by that age. Him and Parekh and Coronato are not going to want to sit around and tread water for 7, 8, or 9 years and then ask for more.

This is why we cannot wait for a 2028 draft pick to turn 23 and finally answer the question of "who will be the Flames #1C?". We need a more immediate solution (and hopefully also draft that guy in 2028).

If we draft high enough the next few season those elite players are usually ready quickly and we have built deep enough a prospect pool that we can graduate guys while in the lean years and once we make those makes we can pivot to adding some players. But won’t work out as easily. Trades etc will happen. Just can’t jump the gun now and do dumb things.


I am sure wolf and his team will ask what the plan is if he is going to sign a 7 year deal. Wolf has to prove himself this upcoming season. You don’t the plan for a goalie they can trickiest piece.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Of course there is a timetable on Wolf. If we extend him for 8 years after the last year of his current contract then we have a 9 year timetable until the end of that contract and we find out if he extends or leaves.

If your plan is to wait until he is 33 or 35 to finally have a competitive team then chances are he'll be on another team by that age. Him and Parekh and Coronato are not going to want to sit around and tread water for 7, 8, or 9 years and then ask for more.

This is why we cannot wait for a 2028 draft pick to turn 23 and finally answer the question of "who will be the Flames #1C?". We need a more immediate solution (and hopefully also draft that guy in 2028).

I agree. I'm team tank but unfortunately I think we're missing the boat on that opportunity. The time to tank was the last 3 years. I think we can try to scrape bottom for another year or two, but sooner then later they will have to start building it back up again.

I too want a superstar 1st oa #1c to carry us for the next 15 years, but it looks more and more likely we won't have that opportunity, unless we get incredibly lucky and soon.

This team needs a #1C but they also just need to start finding young elite forward talent and that doesn't become available often. Robertson for Rasmus starts addressing this, and for relatively cheaply.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Dallas only has 1 first round pick in the next 3 drafts and is missing 2nd and 3rd round picks as well. They are spending futures to get what they need.

Also, Dallas has been crazy lucky in the second round. Robertson, Hintz Stankoven were all 2nd round picks. Johnston was a late 1st that 2/3 of the league missed on.

I don't think it is their scouting.... I think their development program is doing a better job of making space for young players to get to their ceiling instead of being stifled out.

Anyway, I am all for letting the scouting team do their thing, but I am not for sitting around and doing nothing with other avenues of asset management under the guise of "being patient". If a trade can be had to acquire a young C that fits the organizational need (and the Wolf timetable) then I think any of our picks outside of the next few 1st rounders should be on the table as trade chips to support the bigger trade chips (Andersson, Coleman, etc).

Well yes because they built their strong core. We haven't. We have maybe 2 pieces in place. I'd love to be in their position in 3-5 years to trade futures for star wingers.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Futures from Dallas would have very little shot becoming as good as Robertson is now at such a young age based on where they’ll be drafting.

I’m really shocked how many people dislike a 40g 100pt winger so much.
Yea he’s not the center we need but he’s instantly become our top forward regardless.
I also think he’d do very well with Kadri.

With that said I don’t think CGY gets him, but to say you’d rather have magic beans is strange.

Yeah, that's insane what I'm reading the last page or so. The issue with Robertson or Johnston is that there's almost zero chance Dallas would give them up as they are contending, not that Calgary wouldn't want them.

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, that's insane what I'm reading the last page or so. The issue with Robertson or Johnston is that there's almost zero chance Dallas would give them up as they are contending, not that Calgary wouldn't want them.

They desperately need an RD and Robertson was useless in the playoffs for them.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

If Dallas offers Robertson for Andersson straight up I will personally fly to Calgary and drive Andersson to the airport before Dallas changes their mind.

I'll rock paper scissors you for that honor.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by traptor

I agree. I'm team tank but unfortunately I think we're missing the boat on that opportunity. The time to tank was the last 3 years. I think we can try to scrape bottom for another year or two, but sooner then later they will have to start building it back up again.

I too want a superstar 1st oa #1c to carry us for the next 15 years, but it looks more and more likely we won't have that opportunity, unless we get incredibly lucky and soon.

This team needs a #1C but they also just need to start finding young elite forward talent and that doesn't become available often. Robertson for Rasmus starts addressing this, and for relatively cheaply.

I don't think some of you grasp how low the chances of getting 1OA are

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by mdubz

They desperately need an RD and Robertson was useless in the playoffs for them.

Perfect. I hope they do it.

Robertson was coming off an injury and clearly not back up to speed. I hope they see him as expendable for a RD.

[Chief27]

Originally Posted by Sec214

The viral video that I think the gif references, he lip sings Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams. Does that mean Conroy got his dream deal for Ras?

[Svartsengi]

Originally Posted by Sec214

In the lyrics of the song playing by Fleetwood Mac it talks about thunder and rain. Does not specifically say Lightning but Tampa might be the destination.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by FusionX

I'm not sure why Connie's trying to reduce UTIs... but call me hyped!

UTI is the abbreviation for the Utica Comets, which is New Jersey's AHL affiliate. It's a deal with the Devils for some AHL prospects.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I don't think some of you grasp how low the chances of getting 1OA are

I think you may have misunderstood my point a bit. I’m fully aware that the odds of landing 1OA are extremely low, that’s exactly why I said it would take incredible luck and that we can't really count on it happening.

My point was that the window to even try and position ourselves for that kind of opportunity is closing fast, especially after already missing the playoffs for three straight years. We can’t afford to keep banking on lottery luck much longer at some point, we need to start building forward with the assets we have.

Some of you seem to struggle with the idea that both approaches have merits but need to be timed appropriately in the cycle.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, that's insane what I'm reading the last page or so. The issue with Robertson or Johnston is that there's almost zero chance Dallas would give them up as they are contending, not that Calgary wouldn't want them.

Do you think he's free? What's insane is you guys seem to think this is how the Flames should move

[TheScorpion]

Nothing.
Ever.
Happens.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Perfect. I hope they do it.

Robertson was coming off an injury and clearly not back up to speed. I hope they see him as expendable for a RD.

No

[traptor]

Originally Posted by saillias

Do you think he's free? What's insane is you guys seem to think this is how the Flames should move

I think a lot of people are just floating the idea of a Rasmus-for-Robertson-type swap, not suggesting we throw huge additional assets for Robertson. Will it happen? Probably not.

The image is a bit misleading. We’re not a “trailer park” team if we made a Rasmus for Robertsson trade. We’ve got legit assets: Wolf, Coronato, Parehk Plus, we've got two first-rounders next year and a solid deep prospect pool now.

It’s not like we’re downgrading our house for a supercar. It’s more about exploring good value moves that align with where each team is headed.

[Royle9]

Trust in Craig.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by jayswin

No

Yes.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, that's insane what I'm reading the last page or so. The issue with Robertson or Johnston is that there's almost zero chance Dallas would give them up as they are contending, not that Calgary wouldn't want them.

I take it you haven't looked at the Stars salary cap situation... They can't keep everyone and add more on top, even with the cap going up.

They only have $1.955M in cap space right now for next season with a 21 player roster.

They do have $27.98M in cap space for 2026-27 but need to extend 4 RFAs, two of which will be very expensive (Robertson and Harley) and if they have Andersson and his extension, they are way over the cap.
- Robertson = $11-12M? He likely gets Marner money... unless they go to arbitration and get a cheaper 1 year deal to walk him to UFA? and they lose Robertson to UFA.
- Bourque = $2M? He signed a terrible contract this summer but I can't see him keep doing that.
- Harley = $9.5M to match Dobson? Or maybe he gets capped internally by Heiskanen's $8.45M?
- Lundkvist = $2M? Small raise for a third pair guy
- Andersson = $9M? Maybe he takes less if they can squeek in an 8 year deal.

And then they still need to add 4 more players to get to a 23 player roster.

Maybe I am guessing these numbers wrong but their cap space will disappear quickly and unloading Lyubushkin's $3.25M is likely not enough to fix it.