2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by traptor

Was an age category. I thought I made that obvious with the age range listed beside..



If you want to talk caliber, I still think Bahl would fit in the middle tier of NHLers.
Hes definitely not a star. Hes a good solid 4/5 D. Whatever you want to call that

Then why not put in age ranges only?

Journeymen as a definition implies replacement level filler to me.

I see Bahl better than you I guess. I'd never say star but I think he's now a complimentary player and a 4 more than a 5.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Syzuki had 89 points last years, and his point total improves each year. 6th most among centres in the NHL. I think he’ll do.

Yeah if you rank by points it's hard to keep him outside that #1 center category.

I mean Kadri is 28th in points for centers so technically a #1 center in a 32 team league (not Suzuki clearly).

But does Suzuki give #1 center vibes by the way he plays? Not sure.

But point taken for sure when the guy is that productive.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Yeah if there is a concern with the Habs’ rebuild it’s that their best players (Suzuki, Caufield, Hutson) are all under sized
Individually I like them all as players but as a core it could be an issue

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

No, there are many people on this site that cannot comprehend that some people have differing opinions………..

You know
I bet if you mentioned your trade proposal 7 or 8 hundred more times and declared your victim status again, you’d convince all the believers that you aren’t Wally.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by traptor

Just looking at the makeup of the projected roster:
Vets (Age 28+):
Backlund
Kadri
Huberdeau
Coleman
Weegar
Andersson
Hanley
Lomberg
Journeymen (Age 25–28):
Frost
Farabee
Sharangovich
Bahl
Kirkland
Pachal
Young Players (Under 25, full-time NHLers):
Zary
Wolf
Coronato
Pospisil
Klapka
Prospects:
Parekh
Backup goalie


The makeup doesn’t scream “rebuild” to me. Definitely a retool has occured. I get why some fans are frustrated. It feels like we didn’t fully commit to a rebuild agaim and our trajectory hasn't really changed.


We have some really good young pieces. it feels like we have all the pieces to be a consistent 10th-15th place team in the future.

This is a great post. We have some solid young players, but nothing close to what a contender would have.

We likely need to tank this year and next to really start getting some great forwards to replace these old guys as well. We had a few solid drafts in a row, but I see pretty much every prospect besides Parekh topping out a 2nd pairing or 2nd liner. The only way you find the 1st round elite talent unless you get lucky or are Vegas, is at the top of the draft.

If Parekh becomes an elite player, I see us on the same trajectory as Montreal was for years when they had Carey Price and Shea Weber. Good enough to make the playoffs and a goalie that could steal a round. But not a cup contender.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by All In Good Time

You know
I bet if you mentioned your trade proposal 7 or 8 hundred more times and declared your victim status again, you’d convince all the believers that you aren’t Wally.

Every post of yours is just trashing my posts. Are you having fun yet? I don't know how you are somehow not banned. I at least try to add to the discussion, even if you clearly think I'm an idiot.

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Every post of yours is just trashing my posts. Are you having fun yet? I don't know how you are somehow not banned. I at least try to add to the discussion, even if you clearly think I'm an idiot.

Just trying to be helpful

[Calgary4LIfe]

A lot of bickering, but I see this team as in the thick of a rebuild that just happened to over-achieve. It is as if nobody remembers 2015.

How many vets traded will it take for people to think that this is a rebuild. We know that Conroy is looking for futures in exchange for Andersson. He hasn't made any moves propping this team up, even at last season's deadline. All signs point to a rebuild in progress..

This team did not over-achieve because of Kadri's 35 goals, or Wolf stealing games (he didn't IMO). This team over-achieved last season because they worked their butts off and were hard to get points from. They played in the margins all season long, barely getting points, but getting them. People look at number of 1 goal games, and how with a bit more scoring, that is going to improve. Yeah, sure, maybe.. or maybe it goes the other way and they lose a more games by not playing well defensively too. Vladar for all the flack he takes, was a pretty good backup, and was gold down the stretch. It is likely not an insignificant step-down to Cooley/Provetsov this season. Removing Andersson - that's going to hurt. Sure, -31 on the +/- - but he was out there constantly against top opposition. There is no player that is going to replace his defence.

I guess we will see, but in my opinion, when you trade that many vets over the course of a a couple of seasons, and you trade them all for futures - and you keep your futures and use them to select players at the draft - I am pretty sure that is the definition of a rebuild. This 'retool' jargon is just the Flames trying to do this low-key. The second they announce a rebuild, season ticket holder renewals go down.

With the Kadri talk - I don't think it is so far-fetched and eye-rolling to speculate here. I think he moves next off-season personally, but if there is a good offer for him on the table from a club in a good spot to win a cup, will Kadri say no if the Flames are well out? Maybe he thinks it is a great opportunity to win a cup. I think it is fair game. What he thought yesterday may not be the same thing he thinks today and it may not be what he thinks tomorrow. This is a speculation thread after all.

I think Coleman goes at the deadline. I love Coleman, and would love to have him around the kids showing them the right way to play. I don't think I have seen one single game in which he 'gave up' in terms of effort, or said something you disagreed with during an interview. If the Flames re-signed him, I would welcome that. However, I am sure he came here because the Flames paid him well, and it gave him a chance to win. I remember his interview the season after Gaudreau left saying he came here thinking this was a place that was going to win, only to watch players leave. I am sure he won't want to re-sign unless the Flames pay him handsomely - which Conroy hasn't been doing with vet renewals. I will really miss that guy when he is gone.

So that's probably 2 vets gone by the deadline (including Andersson of course). That may change how the remaining vets view staying here.

I am really interested to see how this season goes. I really believe that when the season started off well for them last season, that it snowballed into real belief in this team, and motivated this team to just work hard all season long. if they start off slow, will it snowball the other way? I guess we will see how this season unfolds.


Edit: Reason for this post is that I don't need to see Kadri or anyone else moved to tell me that the Flames are in a rebuild. I think they are but just happened to overachieve. Andersson moving for futures will only solidify that. Coleman at the deadline too. I really see a team that is in a genuine rebuild with the expectation of selecting high.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

This is a great post. We have some solid young players, but nothing close to what a contender would have.

We likely need to tank this year and next to really start getting some great forwards to replace these old guys as well. We had a few solid drafts in a row, but I see pretty much every prospect besides Parekh topping out a 2nd pairing or 2nd liner. The only way you find the 1st round elite talent unless you get lucky or are Vegas, is at the top of the draft.

If Parekh becomes an elite player, I see us on the same trajectory as Montreal was for years when they had Carey Price and Shea Weber. Good enough to make the playoffs and a goalie that could steal a round. But not a cup contender.

I agree to a point, but the only position I think we need is that elusive #1C. I really think there’s some top line wingers there potentially in Basha, Gridin, Battaglia, and maybe Reschny (if they decide to go that route), and I believe that a few of our young D could easily develop into top-2 defenders. I would like a top-5 pick in the next draft or two, and then it’s onward and upward from there.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The Habs, by all accounts, have a very good re-build going. They don't have a long-term #1 center. Suzuki is good, but isn't an ideal top line center including due to size.

So you can tank, but it still doesn't mean you just get a top center.

I'm of the opinion big skilled wingers who control the boards are more important than big centers, as long as a center has the puck skills and vision they can succeed in todays game and they do.

16 centers were top 30 in scoring last season, 9 of them were 6' and under.

As for Suzuki, he's actually a tad bigger than MacKinnon and he's my #1 center right now.

[Caboose]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

We likely need to tank this year and next to really start getting some great forwards to replace these old guys as well.

Tanking is for quitters like the Edmonton Oilers. Losing over and over, no more than an afterthought to other teams, no better than the scummy water at the bottom of the dumpster.

Losing in the hope of some deity shining favor upon them, begging the hockey gods for anything, a Nugent-Hopkins, a Yakupov. Oh those aren't good enough for you pathetic losers? Fine, we'll give you a McDavid if that'll shut up your pitiful whimpering from the bottom of the league.

Tanking so hard the rules change. No longer will someone be allowed to be as hopeless as you, clinging to the promise of yet another first overall pick to lead you out of the pit of despair in which you wallow. Your failings will not be forgotten, no matter the future of your team.

I refuse to stoop to such depths. Tanking is for the weak. Tanking is for the cowards. Tanking is for the Edmonton Oilers.

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk

[Sandman]

Nick Suzuki just got married, and his wife is super hot.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

No, there are many people on this site that cannot comprehend that some people have differing opinions. It is the same way any time I suggest trading any player, people freak out and call me Paulie Rhett and have to stoop to personal insults and telling me I am a returning banned user, which I am not.

I would like the Flames to do better and rebuild, and build a team that can contend long term. I do not enjoy being a murky middle team, and I will not change my opinion.

I am just disappointed that our convo ended in this thread. I was having fun with you making stuff up and me correcting you with facts but that ended with my last post correcting your alternative facts.

[dino7c]

There is no point debating anyone whos big plan is to just be bad for years

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dino7c

There is no point debating anyone whos big plan is to just be bad for years

Unfortunately that is how you build a contender these days.

Florida was awful before they got Barkov/Ekblad.

Colorado was awful before they got Makar and MacKinnon.

Tampa was awful until they got Stamkos and Hedman.

Pittsburgh was awful until they got Crosby and Malkin.

Kings were awful before Kopitar and Doughty.

Capitals were bad until they got Ovechkin and Backstrom.

Blackhawks with Kane and Toews.

The only recent cup winners that did not tank were the Blues fluke year, and the Golden Knights. And they did not win until Eichel begged to be traded to there.

People can hate tanking all they want, but the success speaks for itself. Elite players are not going to beg to come here like they all do for Vegas. So outside of hoping for a one year fluke, if you want a cup you need to tank.

[Saqe]

A lot goes to team building but you absolutely need elite talent. However you can get it.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Unfortunately that is how you build a contender these days.

Florida was awful before they got Barkov/Ekblad.

Colorado was awful before they got Makar and MacKinnon.

Tampa was awful until they got Stamkos and Hedman.

Pittsburgh was awful until they got Crosby and Malkin.

Kings were awful before Kopitar and Doughty.

Capitals were bad until they got Ovechkin and Backstrom.

Blackhawks with Kane and Toews.

The only recent cup winners that did not tank were the Blues fluke year, and the Golden Knights. And they did not win until Eichel begged to be traded to there.

People can hate tanking all they want, but the success speaks for itself. Elite players are not going to beg to come here like they all do for Vegas. So outside of hoping for a one year fluke, if you want a cup you need to tank.

And Canucks with Petterson and Hughes

Leafs with Matthews and Marner

Oilers with McDavid and Draisaitl

[All In Good Time]

Originally Posted by dino7c

There is no point debating anyone whos big plan is to just be bad for years

That’s the thing
If we completely rip it down (which I think we kind of already tried to an extent, but the team surprised last year), we risk completely wasting players like Wolf.
If we draft a player or two in the top 5 in the next two years, it will be three to five years until they are ready to really make a real difference
That said, who knows what this team will be this upcoming season. They may just end up being the team many predicted for last year and the tank is on.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

And Canucks with Petterson and Hughes

Leafs with Matthews and Marner

Oilers with McDavid and Draisaitl

The Oilers almost won the cup, twice. The Leafs have had chances, unfortunately for them it seems Matthews is not a playoff type player. Same goes for Petterson.

I am not sure it really disproves my argument at all. If anything, it strengthens it.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

The Oilers almost won the cup, twice. The Leafs have had chances, unfortunately for them it seems Matthews is not a playoff type player. Same goes for Petterson.

I am not sure it really disproves my argument at all. If anything, it strengthens it.

Just poking fun at those three that have top picks and no cups as you can see.