2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

If you want to use the post as an excuse to go off that’s fine but this doesn’t really have anything to do with the point I was making, which is that asset management is more than trading players for picks.

Arguing whether they’re good or bad is valid, but arguing that they don’t attempt to do it at all doesn’t jive well with reality.

To your specific post, though, I don’t think you can say they haven’t been well run in four decades. The right things haven’t all come together at the right time, but a lot of really great, smart people have done great things managing this team over the last forty years.

EDIT: and to add, I think it’d be really, really difficult to make a valid argument why Conroy’s work has anything to do with something that happened in the 90s.

Agreed - what happened in the 90s weighs little on Conroy’s shoulders.

The point, probably (wrote that post while annoyed at work), was mostly geared towards the Flames SHOULD be leaning heavily into the draft, even more than they already have, and that “asset management” probably shouldn’t be more complicated than that for them.

Conroy’s player acquisitions have been rather poor to date. Not necessarily in prices paid, but the players collected.

Sharangovich was an NJD cast-off, and while he shot unsustainably in year 1 (and was promptly and prematurely rewarded), he simply has not been good.

Frost has been shockingly ineffective.

Miromanov has been waived.

Grushnikov was a low ceiling acquisition, and nothing has changed there.

Farabee has been, effort this year aside, largely irrelevant.

The depth defenceman, who I won’t even bother looking up, took off for hockey on another continent.

The Flames front office continues to show that the most effective tool in their toolbox is their amateur scouting staff (although, yet to be fully viewed as there have been mistakes like Honzek…though I can see the appeal and risk/reward on the upside of the pick, and don’t disagree with the approach).

The Flames should, or need to continue to lean on the draft. Sacrificing picks, even in the Frost/Farabee trade, is pulling an asset away from the (potentially) effective portion of the management chain (drafting) and reallocating that asset to an ineffective portion of the management chain (pro scouts).

That is to say - for the Flames, effective asset management may in fact be as simple as acquiring more draft picks in trades (and increasing the value of their own picks through...ya know, losing).

[Sandman]

We need Gavin McKenna, and we are due.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Sandman

We need Gavin McKenna, and we are due.

I just watched some Gavin McKenna stuff on YouTube.

[Strange Brew]

I kind of admire the chance that Conroy took with the Frost/Farabee trade. He had a team competing for a playoff spot with a glaring need at Center. He got a couple of younger players and gave up a 2nd round pick and a guy that was eventually moved for a 3rd.

Yeah Frost has been disappointing to say the least and Farabee is likely an overpaid depth piece but I bet he can still get mid round picks for those guys in their final year. Who knows those picks could be part of a bigger deal in the future.

But I think ComixZone makes a good point, you hope some of the pros that the team acquires really blossom. I guess Bahl would fit that bill.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Agreed - what happened in the 90s weighs little on Conroy’s shoulders.

The point, probably (wrote that post while annoyed at work), was mostly geared towards the Flames SHOULD be leaning heavily into the draft, even more than they already have, and that “asset management” probably shouldn’t be more complicated than that for them.

Conroy’s player acquisitions have been rather poor to date. Not necessarily in prices paid, but the players collected.

Sharangovich was an NJD cast-off, and while he shot unsustainably in year 1 (and was promptly and prematurely rewarded), he simply has not been good.

Frost has been shockingly ineffective.

Miromanov has been waived.

Grushnikov was a low ceiling acquisition, and nothing has changed there.

Farabee has been, effort this year aside, largely irrelevant.

The depth defenceman, who I won’t even bother looking up, took off for hockey on another continent.

The Flames front office continues to show that the most effective tool in their toolbox is their amateur scouting staff (although, yet to be fully viewed as there have been mistakes like Honzek…though I can see the appeal and risk/reward on the upside of the pick, and don’t disagree with the approach).

The Flames should, or need to continue to lean on the draft. Sacrificing picks, even in the Frost/Farabee trade, is pulling an asset away from the (potentially) effective portion of the management chain (drafting) and reallocating that asset to an ineffective portion of the management chain (pro scouts).

That is to say - for the Flames, effective asset management may in fact be as simple as acquiring more draft picks in trades (and increasing the value of their own picks through...ya know, losing).

You forgot Bahl and to a lesser degree Kuzmenko.

Also waivers acquisitions: Greer, Pachal, Hanley.

Based on some of the rumors we might trade a 3rd for Zamula as well, similar to the Zadorov trade.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

You forgot Bahl and to a lesser degree Kuzmenko.

Also waivers acquisitions: Greer, Pachal, Hanley.

Based on some of the rumors we might trade a 3rd for Zamula as well, similar to the Zadorov trade.

Did forget his best acquisition, which is Bahl. That Markstrom trade is probably his best work in my eyes.

[Badgers Nose]

We have a pro scouting deficit.

[browntrout]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Conroy is playing 4d chess guys.

It appears he is trying to "retool' for the owners wishes, but he's actually handcuffing and tanking.

Weaponized incompetence / malicious compliance

I do wonder about that sometimes, is he playing them for fools

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Agreed - what happened in the 90s weighs little on Conroy’s shoulders.

The point, probably (wrote that post while annoyed at work), was mostly geared towards the Flames SHOULD be leaning heavily into the draft, even more than they already have, and that “asset management” probably shouldn’t be more complicated than that for them.

Conroy’s player acquisitions have been rather poor to date. Not necessarily in prices paid, but the players collected.

Sharangovich was an NJD cast-off, and while he shot unsustainably in year 1 (and was promptly and prematurely rewarded), he simply has not been good.

Frost has been shockingly ineffective.

Miromanov has been waived.

Grushnikov was a low ceiling acquisition, and nothing has changed there.

Farabee has been, effort this year aside, largely irrelevant.

The depth defenceman, who I won’t even bother looking up, took off for hockey on another continent.

The Flames front office continues to show that the most effective tool in their toolbox is their amateur scouting staff (although, yet to be fully viewed as there have been mistakes like Honzek…though I can see the appeal and risk/reward on the upside of the pick, and don’t disagree with the approach).

The Flames should, or need to continue to lean on the draft. Sacrificing picks, even in the Frost/Farabee trade, is pulling an asset away from the (potentially) effective portion of the management chain (drafting) and reallocating that asset to an ineffective portion of the management chain (pro scouts).

That is to say - for the Flames, effective asset management may in fact be as simple as acquiring more draft picks in trades (and increasing the value of their own picks through...ya know, losing).

The problem with looking at asset management from a trade perspective only is there are other factors. A GM that rewards a team playing their hearts out trying to make the playoffs could get rewarded from players who commit to this team and city. Coronato and Wolf had great seasons, played big minutes and both signed deals to stay in Calgary for what seems to be great team friendly contracts. Running guys out of town, selling in a playoff race or not buying could change those players perspective of this team and how badly they want to be part of this franchise for the next 7-8 years.

Do we need Frost/Farabee long term vs the 2nd? Probably not, but maybe we recover some picks for them later when prospects are ready to take their spots but at the same time when you have no chance at a top 5 pick come trade deadline and could make the playoffs, that 2nd isn't worth that much and could have made a positive impact on RFA signings.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Did forget his best acquisition, which is Bahl. That Markstrom trade is probably his best work in my eyes.

TBF, outside of the Frost trade, the players coming back were the lesser parts of each deal. Picks were the focus. Which should please the rebuild folks.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I don’t think they particularly know how to manage assets.

You speak like the organization has been well run and is actually good at what they do. For some reason you seem to think they know/have known what they’re doing. You don’t stack up the amount of failure that this organization has without a decent amount of incompetence.

Looks like a 3rd season in a row with no playoffs. 2 playoff round victories in 20 years. 5 playoff rounds won in 36 years.

I love the Flames, but c’mon. They haven’t been a well run organization in nearly four decades.

There are plenty of teams that are significantly better run than this team, so I think there’s plenty of space for criticism. Trading for more picks, when drafting may actually be one of their strengths, is not some silly concept.

I think fans can look at 50 year time blocks if they want. I don't see a lot of value in it.

I'm more a "who's doing the job now?" guy and then how is that going.

I see 13 top 90 draft picks in the last three years and ample cap space left for 24 months as good indicators that they are doing things the right way.

That doesn't mean they couldn't have done it better or haven't made mistakes ... but positive indicators are in place for me with the current group in charge

[Vinny01]

I have zero issue with the Frost/Farabee trade I think it was a low cost and low risk deal that so far hasn’t worked out. Conroy was able to get 2 former 1st rounders who have had seasons with 46 and 50 pts before they were 25. Both guys are mid 20’s and were worth adding for the next few years while the team is in transition. It also rewarded a group that was having a hell of a season to that point.

I am happy this season has established where this team will end up early. I just can’t see them digging out of this hole and if they do they will only put themselves at best chasing a few teams and 1-2 spots.

Andersson is on his way out but a brutal year could necessitate more bodies on the way out. I believe the Flams goal is to compete again as soon as next year so I would expect an aggressive summer from management after a couple of years of sitting on the sidelines during the summer.

[Flames_F.T.W]

Thoughts on Andrei Svechnikov as a trade target? He's struggled mightily this year and seems in need of a change of scenery. Fairly young and locked up long term

[Roko]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

Thoughts on Andrei Svechnikov as a trade target? He's struggled mightily this year and seems in need of a change of scenery. Fairly young and locked up long term

I would be interested in this but it definitely would depend heavily on the acquisition cost. No getting rid of futures. What would the canes want back for him?

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

That is to say - for the Flames, effective asset management may in fact be as simple as acquiring more draft picks in trades (and increasing the value of their own picks through...ya know, losing).

Other people have addressed other points already and I think the Flames have done what you’re referring to in the majority of trades they’ve made since Conroy started, but one thing he seems to constantly get criticism for is offering contracts or holding on to guys, which is also an important part of asset management.

I just don’t agree with the very simplistic view of “asset management” where every player is a depreciating asset and the only way to manage it is to trade it for a draft pick (or another player). Or that losing a player like Solovyov is “bad” asset management but acquiring a better, younger player in Pachal doesn’t seem to be viewed as equal or better “good” asset management.

There’s no team in the league that manages things using this extremely narrow definition.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

Thoughts on Andrei Svechnikov as a trade target? He's struggled mightily this year and seems in need of a change of scenery. Fairly young and locked up long term

LHS winger who makes a lot of money? nah.

He's obviously underperforming but it looks like he's suffering because the Canes put their new toy Ehlers on the first line (where he has 1 assist). If Ehlers doesn't mesh there, I bet they move Svechnikov up.

I don't see what Calgary would have that the Canes want anyway.

[Ba'alzamon]

Sam Honzek: drafted 16th overall, currently 8th in his class in games played.

That's a hell of a "mistake" lol.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

Thoughts on Andrei Svechnikov as a trade target? He's struggled mightily this year and seems in need of a change of scenery. Fairly young and locked up long term

We have Gridin at home!

Seriously though, nice player, but the last thing we need to do as a team is expend assets to acquire lhs wingers.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Ba'alzamon

Sam Honzek: drafted 16th overall, currently 8th in his class in games played.

That's a hell of a "mistake" lol.

And no one drafted later has played more games.

[Wastedyouth]

Honzek is one of the best players on the team, at the moment, at generating what little offence there is.

And he is doing it against the heavies.

That's a huge positive for the team.