2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[dino7c]

Honzek for me looks substaintially improved over a fairly short period of time, that is why I said he looks to be a late bloomer not that he is there yet.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

IIRC the names people talked about in 2025 around the Honzek pick were Moore and Barlow and neither of those guys has done much. Moore got a few assists in garbage time last season as a late NCAA addition but didn't even make Chicago this year (he's doing fine in Rockford so far though). Barlow hasn't done anything. One assist in 4 AHL games this season.

Moore did well in college and is currently a PPG player in the AHL.

That's considered much.


But Honzek should likely be in the AHL as well. Poster forget how young he is.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Yes, I am happy to agree to this, but I maintain that rating Honzek as 'better' or saying he's performing better because he's played more NHL games is silly.

I'm not saying you're not a fan.

But why as a fan would you be using small sample sizes to make the case that the Flames made a bad draft pick? What's the upside? You want bad things? You like to argue?

I think a decent case has been made that the draft class range as a whole isn't off to the races and Honzek is comparatively doing well. No?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Yes, I am happy to agree to this, but I maintain that rating Honzek as 'better' or saying he's performing better because he's played more NHL games is silly.

Yes I would agree any conclusions at this stage are premature.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Moore did well in college and is currently a PPG player in the AHL.

That's considered much.


But Honzek should likely be in the AHL as well. Poster forget how young he is.

Moore's speed is a massive advantage in the AHL.
The concern with him has always been the rest of the tools. A lot of his goals he scored in college were him leveraging that speed advantage. Not sure he has the hockey sense around it though.

[BigThief]

I mean he's still twenty. Usually we're ecstatic if a twenty year old is a regular player but this guy is pretty hated by the fan base. You can get a kick out of Miromanov and think he's really good but Honzek is Tobias Reider.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by BigThief

I mean he's still twenty. Usually we're ecstatic if a twenty year old is a regular player but this guy is pretty hated by the fan base. You can get a kick out of Miromanov and think he's really good but Honzek is Tobias Reider.

Players with speed often have an earlier impact than players with size.

Honzek was 6 foot 4 and 185lbs when he was drafted. He gained 15 lbs this summer, but he could lose some of that during the season.

15 lbs in 3-4 months is impressive, it will be interesting if he can do that again. Let's wait and see if he can build enough muscle to get to the 220 to 230 range. Even 215, he could be a handful.

I'm just as excited for Honzek as anyone drafted around him. He could bring elite level size with skill to this team, something we haven't had for years.

[The Yen Man]

If Honzek turns out to be a gritty third like centre like an Adam Lowry, I'd be ok with that. I don't think his ceiling will be much higher than that honestly.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Players with speed often have an earlier impact than players with size.

Honzek was 6 foot 4 and 185lbs when he was drafted. He gained 15 lbs this summer, but he could lose some of that during the season.

15 lbs in 3-4 months is impressive, it will be interesting if he can do that again. Let's wait and see if he can build enough muscle to get to the 220 to 230 range. Even 215, he could be a handful.

I'm just as excited for Honzek as anyone drafted around him. He could bring elite level size with skill to this team, something we haven't had for years.

Actually, players with size often do very well in juniors because they can physically overmatch opponents. They often lose that advantage when they reach the NHL.

Honzek is still very young, he's got a ways to go before he can be considered a bust.

[Toonage]

Not only is Honzek playing meaningful minutes but his addition of weight/muscle this year has lead to, IMO, him staying healthy for what feels like his longest stretch in some time. He can take hits, he's improved his IQ / awareness so he's not in poor position otherwise and his shot is pretty good too.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm not saying you're not a fan.

But why as a fan would you be using small sample sizes to make the case that the Flames made a bad draft pick? What's the upside? You want bad things? You like to argue?

I think a decent case has been made that the draft class range as a whole isn't off to the races and Honzek is comparatively doing well. No?

I'm not doing that. I was directly countering the notion that playing games in the NHL at 20 is some sort of leg up that Honzek has on the fellow prospects in his draft class by pointing out where similar small cases (e.g. point production) can easily show he's not keeping up with his peers.

I basically don't argue in my every day life, so perhaps I seek argument here? I don't really perceive it as creating bad things, or really argument though that can be pretty loosely defined. I am not putting my emotions on the line in these little debates, I think that would be kind of strange as I have stated before.

I don't think he's comparatively doing well, nor do I think he's doing particularly poorly, I guess. He's not really doing much of anything. But I don't think we know enough to say he's doing comparatively well.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Moore's speed is a massive advantage in the AHL.
The concern with him has always been the rest of the tools. A lot of his goals he scored in college were him leveraging that speed advantage. Not sure he has the hockey sense around it though.

He could be like Rico Fata

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

But I don't think we know enough to say he's doing comparatively well.

He's made an NHL roster out of training camp in two consecutive years. For a 20-year-old, that's doing comparatively well.

[Knut]

Also, there is something to be said for his Size. Flames have drafted a lot of smaller skilled Forwards. Getting someone with some size that can play a top 9 role can really help smaller skilled guys to get more open ice.

He put in a lot offseason work to get better and in interviews he says the right things.

It is almost as if some fans cheer for the guy to bust so that they can tell everyone that they are right.

[dino7c]

Honzek created a goal last week with a forcheck but didn't get a point

low bar but they have 11 goals

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Actually, players with size often do very well in juniors because they can physically overmatch opponents. They often lose that advantage when they reach the NHL.

Honzek is still very young, he's got a way to go before he can be considered a bust.

That is true in junior, but players 6 foot 4 and 16 to 17 years old have coordination issues too. This could impact his skating.

Once they play against men, they lose that advantage. They often struggle post being drafted is what I meant. Honzek has added 20+ lbs and could add more. Give him some more time, he is 20 still. 22 before I get worried that he is a bust

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Knut

Also, there is something to be said for his Size. Flames have drafted a lot of smaller skilled Forwards. Getting someone with some size that can play a top 9 role can really help smaller skilled guys to get more open ice.

He put in a lot offseason work to get better and in interviews he says the right things.

It is almost as if some fans cheer for the guy to bust so that they can tell everyone that they are right.

This. I don't think it can be overlooked that he is a big body that can skate well. He has been unlucky not to have hit the score sheet in the few games he has played. Was still a 20 year old starting the season with 1 pro year under his belt.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I'm not doing that. I was directly countering the notion that playing games in the NHL at 20 is some sort of leg up that Honzek has on the fellow prospects in his draft class by pointing out where similar small cases (e.g. point production) can easily show he's not keeping up with his peers.

I basically don't argue in my every day life, so perhaps I seek argument here? I don't really perceive it as creating bad things, or really argument though that can be pretty loosely defined. I am not putting my emotions on the line in these little debates, I think that would be kind of strange as I have stated before.

I don't think he's comparatively doing well, nor do I think he's doing particularly poorly, I guess. He's not really doing much of anything. But I don't think we know enough to say he's doing comparatively well.

I think a 20 year old that has made an NHL team in back to back camps and now found a 200 foot and PK niche is doing well comparatively.

Or at very least I think the admission of a good sign with a smaller sample size.

But you want to argue against said optimism which is odd to me. But all good.

Civil conversation anyway, which I appreciate.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

He's made an NHL roster out of training camp in two consecutive years. For a 20-year-old, that's doing comparatively well.

This is exactly what i was criticizing. Making (one of or) the weakest roster in the NHL doesn't really confer any positive attributes to Honzek on it's own, and there's not much statistically to claim that he's making a positive impact in that time.

It's not like he forced his way onto a juggernaut with overwhelming offensive play. Or like he came into a team desperately needing offense and has produced even .5 a game or something to help lift the load.

So, great, he made the flames this season (I wouldnt count last year.) But so what?

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think a 20 year old that has made an NHL team in back to back camps and now found a 200 foot and PK niche is doing well comparatively.

Or at very least I think the admission of a good sign with a smaller sample size.

But you want to argue against said optimism which is odd to me. But all good.

Civil conversation anyway, which I appreciate.

Pffffft why you so positive bro! Live down in the filth. Hate everything. That's what all the cool kids are doing. Know your place!