2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by really?

So they shouldn’t be developing their emerging star goaltender?

Yeah, Wolf’s skills have the ability to cause his future self some regret, but putting detriments in the team’s path is a good way to sap motivation. If leaning into a bad season means you actively work against your player’s efforts it would be hard to imagine guys fully developing in such an environment. I trust at some point guys who are intending to move on will be moved (Anderson, maybe others). Further, there will come a point where some more difficult decisions will have to be made, but these won’t be made to simply undermine the efforts of those who remain as a part of the team. That’s the point where I diverge from the tank mentality.

What is "developing"?

The point of the post you were replying to is that we probably shouldn't be "Playing the wheels off of Wolf". This is a very important consideration because right now we have a young goalie at a league-high number of games played. Wolf is right now tied with Saros for most games played at 13, which means he has only rested 2 games so far this season.

If he keeps that up he would play 71 games this season. That is not good for development and has a fair amount of risk to it.

For context, last year the league highs were Vasilevskiy and Hellebuyck at 63 games played. Oettinger, Swayman, and Daccord were all 58-57.

I would much rather see Wolf under 60 and closer to 50 in his second season.

[Monahammer]

Sandman and I tried talking player acquisition yesterday and just got drowned out in a torrent. Are we just going to abandon this thread to whatever the hell this is? Isn't there already a "Flames pick a lane" thread or whatever to endlessly reiterate our mutually unchanging positions on why the flames can't win a post season game worth a damn?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

10,000%

Who is the veteran leader on the Canadiens?? Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and Mike Matheson. And they will probably trade Anderson this season.

Nick Suzuki for sure. No longer a young player. He's not part of the veteran core. That's what you need - to transition to a new core.

[Matty81]

I don't think I could say it better than SuperMatt did... but just to add a little, people aren't freaking out because of a couple media comments in isolation by Dreger and Steinberg where they are saying Murray says Kadri is going nowhere, it's frustration about those comments in combination with the team's track record and an underlying fear this is going to result in a much longer path back to competing for titles. Everyone in the hockey world outside of a few Murray Edwards apologists here can see this group will never will a stanley cup and needs to change dramatically, and it's pretty clear that in the NHL the only way to build a new core that actually wins is through the draft. Of course you don't trade them for nothing just to move them, but what is the point in sitting on Kadri, Coleman etc if a good enough offer comes in when you don't have that core in place and have a team going nowhere?

There's a perception that ownership have a completely idiotic appraisal of how good this team or core are, and don't seem to have a plan beyond staying competitive for a couple years.

Dreger just doubled down on barn burner that flames ownership is telling people they love the core and won't be making trades - he said Murray is "grasping" at keeping the players who can keep the team competitive because he doesn't think a long rebuild would work here.

The only good part is with how old Kadri, Backlund, Coleman, Huberdeau, Weegar etc are getting is that it is going to be forced on them whether they like it or not but it seems like it's going to take a few more years than it needs to.

[dino7c]

Most of the posters that complain about everything now also complained about everything when the Flames had Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk...they complained about the Flames when they had Iggy and Kipper too.

It is what it is. There is almost zero chance any of Kadri, Coleman, and Ras finish their contracts here...I would say take a chill pill and don't fall for every click bait article.

Wasn't it just last week when the Flames were supposedly holding out Zayne because of the 10 game thing and social media was a buzz?

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think we are sycophants, we just try to enjoy sports instead of wallowing in the muck of negativity.

I think one of the foundational pieces of being a fan is hope. If you don't have hope what do you have.

If I got to the point that I am as negative about this team as some of you, I would find other ways to spend my time.

You do you though. I'm not telling you not to be a fan. I just don't understand fans like you.

I like to think I'm not constantly negative about the team but let's not pretend you two ever miss a chance to wield your stance on this like a cudgel against anyone who doesn't lean towards the Ted Lasso side of fandom.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Sandman and I tried talking player acquisition yesterday and just got drowned out in a torrent. Are we just going to abandon this thread to whatever the hell this is? Isn't there already a "Flames pick a lane" thread or whatever to endlessly reiterate our mutually unchanging positions on why the flames can't win a post season game worth a damn?

You used Montreal as an example...how many playoff games have they won? Odd example to use. They are having a decent start for the first time in years...mostly OT wins though. 93 points last year and an easy out.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I legit do not see value in overstacking your team with veterans for leadership roles. I don't.

2-4 guys in leadership roles? Gold. Everything else? Young, hungry, teachable players are needed.

Backlund, Weegar and Huberdeau aren't going anywhere. There's your good veterans to mentor. Then there's also the coaching the staff.

I think this idea that you can't load your team with youth because you need a balance of veterans to teach them is rubbish.

More twisting. Who said “overstacking”???? What does that even mean? Aren’t we talking about 2-4 guys?!?!?!add Kadri to your list and trade Rasmus… and we’re right there…

The idea that wouldn’t be a “rebuild” is rubbish.

[Burning Beard]

I'm happy the team is in last place and the management hasnt made a single win now move. Everything they have done has prioritized draft capital or young players.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I don't think we are sycophants, we just try to enjoy sports instead of wallowing in the muck of negativity.

I think one of the foundational pieces of being a fan is hope. If you don't have hope what do you have.

If I got to the point that I am as negative about this team as some of you, I would find other ways to spend my time.

You do you though. I'm not telling you not to be a fan. I just don't understand fans like you.

I wasn't trying to throw a stray at you, and I apologize for mentioning you personally randomly. We have been more civil lately and I have appreciated that. It just -really- irritates me to see those lines. I'm a fan because of my relationship with my Dad. My memories of the flames and love for them are all tied up in that. It is strange and irritating for it to be constantly questioned when it's pretty clear that we are fans- why the hell else would we spend so much time thinking/talking about the team? Or spending so much damn money on merch/ tickets?? Or ####ing sportsnet!!

I'm not mad here, I want to engage with you a bit on it. I am not wallowing in negativity. I think you may describe some like that, and I may even agree, but I see plenty of people here that are levying very legitimate criticisms of how management is operating right now, what ownership is saying, what management and the media who know the team best are saying... and those things are being discounted in some sort of "hope" that they are doing the actual right thing?
Sorry man, I don't share that hope. It has been crushed out. Too many instances under the same leadership (yeah, Conny is new but we all know he's not on the top of the pyramid.)
But I don't think it's negativity. I don't feel it that way. To me I treat it like a giant knot. We all want to untangle the knot. We might disagree where to push and pull, but why is it negativity or not fanhood if we want to push a rope instead of pull it?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I like to think I'm not constantly negative about the team but let's not pretend you two ever miss a chance to wield your stance on this like a cudgel against anyone who doesn't lean towards the Ted Lasso side of fandom.

Bonus points for the word "cudgel"
Even if that is true, is it not a fair counter balance against a number of posters who litter this site with constant negative posts and complaining?

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Matty81

but it seems like it's going to take a few more years than it needs to.

The real problem with "a few more years" is that we have our best potential future goalie on the team now. In a few more years he will be eating through his (likely) best contract, and may not want to stick around if we're not feeding him hope.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I wasn't trying to throw a stray at you, and I apologize for mentioning you personally randomly. We have been more civil lately and I have appreciated that. It just -really- irritates me to see those lines. I'm a fan because of my relationship with my Dad. My memories of the flames and love for them are all tied up in that. It is strange and irritating for it to be constantly questioned when it's pretty clear that we are fans- why the hell else would we spend so much time thinking/talking about the team? Or spending so much damn money on merch/ tickets?? Or ####ing sportsnet!!

I'm not mad here, I want to engage with you a bit on it. I am not wallowing in negativity. I think you may describe some like that, and I may even agree, but I see plenty of people here that are levying very legitimate criticisms of how management is operating right now, what ownership is saying, what management and the media who know the team best are saying... and those things are being discounted in some sort of "hope" that they are doing the actual right thing?
Sorry man, I don't share that hope. It has been crushed out. Too many instances under the same leadership (yeah, Conny is new but we all know he's not on the top of the pyramid.)
But I don't think it's negativity. I don't feel it that way. To me I treat it like a giant knot. We all want to untangle the knot. We might disagree where to push and pull, but why is it negativity or not fanhood if we want to push a rope instead of pull it?

I too appreciate the way we've been engaging so let's agree to not return to our past behaviors. I don't think either of us enjoyed that.

And I get it. I'm 50. I'm coming to terms with the fact that perhaps I never enjoy my teams winning a championship since I'm on the back 9 now. My two teams are the Flames and Jays. No other team comes close. That's why the Jays loss was so crushing.

But where that leads me is to try and enjoy the ride, whatever the ride is, knowing a championship may never happen.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Bonus points for the word "cudgel"
Even if that is true, is it not a fair counter balance against a number of posters who litter this site with constant negative posts and complaining?

I just try to bring light and positivity everywhere I go, and I see the darkness and negativity that plagues this side of the board, and know that’s where my light must shine brightest.

[dino7c]

Team is in last place and has done nothing but trade away older players rather than giving them the retirment contracts they wanted.

Mad about a report that doesn't match how Conroy has actually been operating seems kinda silly. The trades aren't there at this time of year...best value is almost always closer to the deadline. A week ago some of us were mad because Francis reported the Flames were holding Zayne out of his 10th game so he could go back to junior.

Wasn't that a waste of time and energy?

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Sandman and I tried talking player acquisition yesterday and just got drowned out in a torrent. Are we just going to abandon this thread to whatever the hell this is? Isn't there already a "Flames pick a lane" thread or whatever to endlessly reiterate our mutually unchanging positions on why the flames can't win a post season game worth a damn?

You basically just described my whole summer in this thread... but you were one of the people drowning me out instead of trying to build the conversation up.

Wouldn't it be nice if instead of people saying "no", "impossible", etc. they instead said "nice try and maybe this would work better".

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Burning Beard

The team is in last piece and the sky is falling because they aren't tanking hard enough.

The last thing you want is a team that has given up. That attitude consumes the team and becomes very hard to expel. Eventually, the players who are trying want nothing to do with the team and demand out. Those are the players you want to keep but won't be able to.

Look at Buffalo. You can draft all the Eichels, Reinhardts, and Dahlins you want, but you need to have some kind of winning culture to keep them, and turning that tap back on is not always easy.

The occasional stomping of a team like Columbus is good for this team. Last place only gets you a 25.5% chance of #1, which the Flames are currently in position to have.

Plus the vets - Coleman, Kadri, Andersson, Backlund, and even Farabee - all had points. It increases their trade value.

[Incogneto]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Cool.... Stay in that angry state then. Ignore all the changes. Ignore the multiple first round picks. Ignore the numerous UFAs moved (beyond the ones you named). Ignore the cap space not being used. Ignore the not adding at the last deadline. Ignore the fairly public view that Andersson is on his way out.

I mean you're a fan right? Why believe anything good could ever come from what they are doing when you can just be miserable drag every conversation into chaotic oblivion!

Bingo, I have been here a long time. Take my advice: the best thing I have done in over 22+ years on this board is put this guy on ignore.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Wouldn't it be nice if instead of people saying "no", "impossible", etc. they instead said "nice try and maybe this would work better".

Ignoring the rest, but yes! It would definitely be better!

So, I think we should trade Kadri before christmas for the highest possible package. Rasmus should have already been traded for whatever we can get (loved that Athletic package to vegas that was posted yesterday for e.g.) but as the old saying goes, the best time was yesterday the second best is today.

You trade these two first and you trade them soon, and we will have a hot ticket for McKenna or another top 5 draft pick next season. That is what we need most, in my opinion, to build a true contender so that all of our friends and colleagues here over the age of 50 have a chance to see a long playoff run again in their lives.

I truly do not see that playoff outcome happening with current tactics and strategy!

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I too appreciate the way we've been engaging so let's agree to not return to our past behaviors. I don't think either of us enjoyed that.

And I get it. I'm 50. I'm coming to terms with the fact that perhaps I never enjoy my teams winning a championship since I'm on the back 9 now. My two teams are the Flames and Jays. No other team comes close. That's why the Jays loss was so crushing.

But where that leads me is to try and enjoy the ride, whatever the ride is, knowing a championship may never happen.

My house is still mourning the jays too. My son in particular really latched on to the team this year, which is nice because we have been talking about the flames less. Though I did take him to the split squad game that we won against the oilers, fortunately. My spirits are buoyed by the fact that he remains ardently anti-oilers...