2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

It depends if you see McTavish as a top line C in the making. If you do then you do that deal all day because Zary won't be. I'm not convinced Zary isn't more suited on the wing anyhow.

I personally don't see Zary as a top line C either, but I also think it's too early to write him off when he's had some terrible injury luck. He's also one of the few players on our team that has some kind of great play-driving ability, something we've lacked since Gaudreau.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

You can't just trade players to make a bare minimum lineup. You need options, even if some of those options start the year on the farm. No player on this team is untouchable except for maybe Wolf. But no player can be gifted a spot just because they are two years younger either.

Why do we need options? We have plenty of options on the farm without having 8 veteran lw on our nhl roster. Our farm team also plays in Calgary, so calling people up is rather trivial.

[Svartsengi]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

They’re probably just going to ride the Tkachuk LTIR-train until he’s conveniently good to go when he’s OK to re-enter the lineup without penalty.

Your are right they could do that. Flames could use Rodrigues on right wing instead of Farabee. No idea where Conroy would trade Farabee as Florida can’t take back any money.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I don't care what play driving possession numbers say about Backlund's play last year, he clearly took a few steps back defensively last year. I have been watching some game replays from last season and there were quite a few times the opposition scored because Backlund lost his man. At this point I would start giving his role more to Frost and move him to the 4th line C spot. His game is only going to degrade further as time goes on.

I've been putting some data together. It's not done but so far I have the following:

Backlund vs MacKinnon, McDavid, Draisaitl, Kucherov, Kaprizov, Pastrnak, Marner, Connor, Eichel, Crosby, Barkov and Aho

Some of the best players if not the best and a couple that play on elite teams as well with elite teammates.

Backlund
Mins - 154:59
CF - 172
CA - 163
SF - 85
SA - 89
GF - 7
GA - 8

Absolutely owned MacKinnon and Mcdavid. Struggled most against Draisaitl and Eichel. Seems like the bigger players give him more issues than the speed players. But he is still even against the best of the best.

[Toonage]

Didn't the Flames make a play for Rodrigues before he signed with Florida or am I wrong about that?

[Svartsengi]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Didn't the Flames make a play for Rodrigues before he signed with Florida or am I wrong about that?

I seem to remember something about Flames trying to acquire him once before as well. Kunin signed for NHL minimum, $775 000 per Puckpedia.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

It also happens all the time a team sends down players that should make the team because of 2 reassons.

If Honzek and Stromgren play well enough to make it, they will not be on the team just to play Lomberg or Kirkland's role with the team

Both are waiver exempt.

If they push to make the team, they need at least 12 mins a game. Lomberg averaged 8:39

You mean waiver eligible?

Klapka, Kirkland, Hunt, Miromanov, Bean, and Hanley all have to go through waivers to be sent down. Maybe there’s some waiver risk with Klapka, which means there’s one spot open instead of two up front if they don’t want to risk it, but none of the other guys are going to get claimed and, if they do, wouldn’t be a big loss anyway.

Sharangovich, Farabee, and Pospisil are all 4th line candidates if a rookie earns a spot. Hell, Backlund might be a 4th line shut down center as early as this year based on last year. I don’t think anything is a lock. We’re rebuilding. The type of players and skill levels we see as 1st-4th line is going to change pretty rapidly if things go well. The standards will increase.

And if the most a rookie “earned” is 4th line ice time on a rebuilding team and they can’t play a 4th line role, then they didn’t really earn a role.

[Toast_Man]

This Backlund talk has got me thinking.... Say the Flames are out of Playoff spot in March, what would be his trade value? His NMC changes to a M-NMC 15 team no trade list January 1st 2026.

[Toonage]

Call me biased, but he gets you a late 1st IMO

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

It sounds like you agree that they need to start trading forwards off the current roster. Who would you suggest starting with?

Older the better but I’m not expecting much movement until the trade deadline or next offseason. It will really come down to trade protections and where they are. First guy they have to move is Andersson

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

You mean waiver eligible?

Klapka, Kirkland, Hunt, Miromanov, Bean, and Hanley all have to go through waivers to be sent down. Maybe there’s some waiver risk with Klapka, which means there’s one spot open instead of two up front if they don’t want to risk it, but none of the other guys are going to get claimed and, if they do, wouldn’t be a big loss anyway.

Sharangovich, Farabee, and Pospisil are all 4th line candidates if a rookie earns a spot. Hell, Backlund might be a 4th line shut down center as early as this year based on last year. I don’t think anything is a lock. We’re rebuilding. The type of players and skill levels we see as 1st-4th line is going to change pretty rapidly if things go well. The standards will increase.

And if the most a rookie “earned” is 4th line ice time on a rebuilding team and they can’t play a 4th line role, then they didn’t really earn a role.

Backlund xGF% against the 12 elite players I listed was 59.26%

He will not be our 4th line center.

Kadri against the best of the best has a xGF% 42.18%

Someday Backlund can center the 4th line if he wants to stay a flame for his career and he will do a great job in that role.

Kadri is either a top 6 player or is someone you just don't want in that role. He has never played well against the best players.

You might be right that some guys can get demoted to the 4th line or some would clear waivers. But that will not happen. Honzek or any other young player that has a great camp and deserves a look will get sent down until Conroy makes a move to make room as they will not get a long-term 4th line look and they do not need to clear waivers.

Klapka is not being put on waivers.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Toast_Man

This Backlund talk has got me thinking.... Say the Flames are out of Playoff spot in March, what would be his trade value? His NMC changes to a M-NMC 15 team no trade list January 1st 2026.

Significant. More than Coleman. The guy is elite against elite players.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Call me biased, but he gets you a late 1st IMO

Don’t think that’s biased. The only thing that would damper the return would be if they let him pick his team regardless of the NTC which wouldn’t shock me. I still think he ends up staying though.

[tony-soprano]

Package Backlund & Coleman in a deal, give them a solid third line duo for a playoff run.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I would consider moving any forward not named Zary or Coronato.

If there are good deals where the Flames can upgrade on, or get good assets for Farabee, Frost, Sharangovich, Pospisil, or Klapka, then the Flames should be all over it.

Sure, I get the desire but I do not think it is realistic. Some facts to consider:
1) Conroy has already flipped most of his roster since taking over the GM role
2) He has NMC and NTC to navigate as well as recently extended contracts
3) He strikes me as the kind of manager who will work with his players and their plans (within reason)
4) No players with significant value get to walk to UFA

I expect he has a targeted list of players to move (Andersson) and then a bunch of scenarios where he prepares trades if a player signals that they want out.

Pospisil, who just signed extension that hasn't even kicked in yet, is not likely to be going anywhere. I also do not believe Klapka would be shipped out as the team wants to see what they have with him.

Farabee and Sharangovich could get moved but you want them to start scoring first to up their value... but if they start scoring on a 20 goal pace then maybe you want to keep them. They have a good contract for 20 goal scorers.

Frost is interesting because we need to keep him before our C depth collapses but he only has 2 seasons before he walks to UFA. He is going to really want to make the most out of the opportunity to prove that he is more than a third line C, so he should be motivated to have a monster year.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Toast_Man

This Backlund talk has got me thinking.... Say the Flames are out of Playoff spot in March, what would be his trade value? His NMC changes to a M-NMC 15 team no trade list January 1st 2026.

I think he lands you a 2nd. Maybe a b prospect too. I don't see Backlund fetching a 1st but I could be wrong about that, GM's get crazy at trade deadline.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think he lands you a 2nd. Maybe a b prospect too. I don't see Backlund fetching a 1st but I could be wrong about that, GM's get crazy at trade deadline.

100% a 1st and a another pick.

Still plays 18 mins a night

Still is one of the best centers in the league against top players.

Top end on the PK.

He would improve at least 10 of the best teams in the league.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

100% a 1st and a another pick.

Still plays 18 mins a night

Still is one of the best centers in the league against top players.

Top end on the PK.

He would improve at least 10 of the best teams in the league.

Ya, let's see what he looks like this year. As I said the numbers may say one thing but the game footage says something else. At his age it starts dropping off fast. I just don't see a 1st but who knows.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Svartsengi

Florida just signed Luke Kunin to a one year deal, no dollar amount released yet. Evan Rodrigues trade incoming?. Panthers need to dump some salary to get under salary cap.

800k

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Ya, let's see what he looks like this year. As I said the numbers may say one thing but the game footage says something else. At his age it starts dropping off fast. I just don't see a 1st but who knows.

HA I mean, you can't really stand by this position while also thinking Rasmus will get an "absolute haul" or however you last put it. C'mon.