2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[really?]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Even Murray isn't that stupid at this point, thankfully. Because of this team was in the playoff hunt it could be a possibility

True. The media narrative two weeks ago was Murray Edwards believes in this group. Now the narrative is he believes in this group for next year. Next week it will be he believes the league will adopt the principle of inversity next season where teams 17-32 will be competing for the cup. The information that we are responding to is just noise at this point, and shouldn’t be looked at as more than that.

If Coleman and Kadri kicked in Edward’s door last week and screamed “TRADE US NOW, SPUDDER!” do we really believe that we would have heard that these guys have requested a trade? That’s not how negotiations work. There is nothing to be gained from making private pressures public. The performance of the team speaks to the true intentions of those in the room and management is simply trying to mask what everyone else can see through their posturing.

If Conroy and those above him are truly holding to the belief that holding onto what they have is a recipe for success, then they also the types that question why somebody continues to place a roll of paper on the wall in the executive restroom. I have a bit more faith in this leadership group then that.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I hope they get great offers and move all three players. I do.

But if they don't move two vets with value by the deadline that's not a panic point either because they both have remaining term.

Andersson not moved at the deadline would either be insane or hint that he's being re-signed.

Kadri and Coleman will almost certainly have less value at the next deadline than this one - just as they almost certainly have less value this year than last. That’s the way it goes with players in their mid-30s. You don’t understand why fans might be unhappy with that asset management?

I’m willing to be bet if Kadri and Coleman aren’t moved, a lot of the people telling other posters to cool their jets and be patient will move the goal posts and say the offers must have been bad, they can always be moved next season. And next season, if those players decline in value and aren’t moved, the excuse will be they’re better to have on the roster as veteran leadership than to be dealt for a paltry 2nd round pick. And on it goes.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Kadri and Coleman will almost certainly have less value at the next deadline than this one - just as they almost certainly have less value this year than last. That’s the way it goes with players in their mid-30s. You don’t understand why fans might be unhappy with that asset management?

I’m willing to be bet if Kadri and Coleman aren’t moved, a lot of the people telling other posters to cool their jets and be patient will move the goal posts and say the offers must have been bad, they can always be moved next season. And next season, if those players decline in value and aren’t moved, the excuse will be they’re better to have on the roster as veteran leadership than to be dealt for a paltry 2nd round pick. And on it goes.

I think Coleman at 50% could fetch a 1st+. Especially if we bring back a contract that expired this season. Plus, the cap is going up so maybe we don't have to retain. But the option is there. Ideally, use the last 2 retention spots for Andersson and Coleman. At the conclusion of this season, only Coleman's 2.45m would be on the books as a retention spot with Markstrom and Andersson gone.

I think people should really temper the expectations of Kadri being dealt. I understand his NTC kicked in, so he could get dealt to one of those teams. However, we do not have a legitimate replacement for Kadri, and Kadri is our best forward on the team. I doubt he is moved unless someone offers a deal that blows our socks off.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Kadri and Coleman will almost certainly have less value at the next deadline than this one - just as they almost certainly have less value this year than last. That’s the way it goes with players in their mid-30s. You don’t understand why fans might be unhappy with that asset management?

I’m willing to be bet if Kadri and Coleman aren’t moved, a lot of the people telling other posters to cool their jets and be patient will move the goal posts and say the offers must have been bad, they can always be moved next season. And next season, if those players decline in value and aren’t moved, the excuse will be they’re better to have on the roster as veteran leadership than to be dealt for a paltry 2nd round pick. And on it goes.

I'm a commodity trader and I never make statements like the above. Far too many variables in play to ever make assumptions like that. Ever.

But I do agree that they are, internally trying to figure out just that ... when will the value be higher? what should the value be? do we have a point where we take less because we think the value will only get worse?

They can be wrong, I'm wrong all the time in the futures, but they're not just winging it.

Oh and those posters won't be moving the goal posts ... they'll be sticking to them.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm a commodity trader and I never make statements like the above. Far too many variables in play to ever make assumptions like that. Ever.

But I do agree that they are, internally trying to figure out just that ... when will the value be higher? what should the value be? do we have a point where we take less because we think the value will only get worse?

They can be wrong, I'm wrong all the time in the futures, but they're not just winging it.

Oh and those posters won't be moving the goal posts ... they'll be sticking to them.

If we are going to use the commodity analogy holding these players is like when homer held his pumpkin futures past October

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

If we are going to use the commodity analogy holding these players is like when homer held his pumpkin futures past October

As an aside, that is my favourite Simpsons clip. I am on the less glamorous side of commodities and trade ag.


This comic sums up the physical side really well. If you wait for the perfect info then someone else will take it out.

Spoiler!

[TheIronMaiden]

Everyone wants the Flames to suck fast, they can't handle the anticipation craig is building by sucking slowly and gently. Don't worry, good things are coming up the pipe if we are nice and patient early. If we get all rammy and desperate it would be a mistake.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Looking at their behavior over the last 2 years, where on the spectrum do you see them? To me, what they're doing is clearly on the rebuild side of the spectrum. Literally nothing they've done suggests anything close to 'deliberately trying to make the playoffs', and pretty much everything they've done sits somewhere on the rebuild side of the ledger.

Going back to Treliving’s tenure, the 2024 offseason was set up as a reset year. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the contracts of Lindholm, Hanifin, Zadorov, and Tanev all expired at the same time. If he had been extended as GM, Treliving would have overseen a roster remake, same as Conroy did.

I believe Treliving and Conroy both took their marching orders about the strategic direction of the team from Edwards and Maloney. When it became evident in 2023-24 that the quick reload from Gaudreau-Tkachuk to Kadri-Huberdeau had failed, Edwards reluctantly gave the green light to Conroy and the management team to get future assets for the pending UFAs.

At that point, the braintrust wasn’t under any delusions that the Flames were a contender. They were looking to get younger and acquire draft assets. However, they still hoped to sneak into the playoffs. They just weren’t willing to move futures to make it happen.

The drama around Markstrom in the spring exposed the tension over direction in Calgary. Markstrom wasn’t being shopped, but the Devils came in hot with an offer that made Conroy sit up and take notice. He thought he had a deal that worked for both teams, but Edwards and Maloney stepped in to put the kibosh on it because they still had hopes of making the playoffs. In the end, Markstrom was pissed enough that he wanted out.

2024-25, the team expects to be out of the playoffs, but not terrible. The big boss is willing to ride out a couple seasons outside the playoffs to give time for Conroy to bring in younger roster players (like Frost and Farabee) and for the prospects to develop. The plan was probably to shop Andersson at the deadline, but that changed when the team pushed for a playoff spot.

2025-26, same plan as last season - endure a season outside the playoffs, but keep the core intact and let younger players develop. Still no interest on the part of Edwards to move veterans who want to be here in order to tank and gain assets.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So where is the need for panic or angst?

It’s sports and it’s the internet, so you’ll get people overreacting. But for fans who want to see a tank - who want to see more assets gained from trading veterans and are happy to see bottom-5 finishes for a couple years - there’s legitimate reason to be concerned about the strategic aims of this franchise. I give the comments about the stance of Flames ownership by long-time traditional media far more weight than I do anonymous posters on this or any other forum.

[Flames_F.T.W]

I think everyone would feel better if the insider reports were that Conroy's prices are sky high and not willing to be met at this point vs "won't trade them unless they ask for a trade"

[Erick Estrada]

Long term ineptness of any professional sports organization always comes from the very top. Murray Edwards has been the lone constant over the past two decades of mediocrity. There's no doubt he casts a large shadow over the organization because he simply has failed to commit to a proper rebuild when the team has hit down cycles. Even now I'm worried that if they somehow land McKenna (I don't care what anyone says, he's the top pick by a longshot) that the moment there's a smidgen of uptake in the trajectory of the team that he will be micromanaging his GM to start making moves to win ASAP because he's so hyper-focused on the bottom line and returning to high profitability and filling the new building. However I'm confident that he's intelligent enough and has learned enough lessons over the years that this is the time to take some pain with new building on the horizon. Hopefully he's not standing in the way of any possible trades because if he is, we are probably just wasting our hopes for better days ahead as this owner will never, ever get it.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm a commodity trader and I never make statements like the above. Far too many variables in play to ever make assumptions like that. Ever.

But I do agree that they are, internally trying to figure out just that ... when will the value be higher? what should the value be? do we have a point where we take less because we think the value will only get worse?

They can be wrong, I'm wrong all the time in the futures, but they're not just winging it.

Oh and those posters won't be moving the goal posts ... they'll be sticking to them.

I still think of the Lindholm situation whenever this conversation comes about.

Reported that he was moving around the trade deadline and then, if not, during the summer. Doesn’t move. Ends up moving the next calendar year for a haul. When was the value higher? We’ll never know, but everything points to good value coming out of that trade.

There’s reports that he refuses to sign. Those carry on throughout negotiations, despite Lindholm himself stating he was willing to stay in September before the trade and again reiterating that he was always willing to stay and never said he wouldn’t sign after the trade.

So what was the truth? When was the highest value? Do we trust the insiders or the source over what the situation was behind closed doors?

To me, it’s a sign that it’s foolish to predict when the value is going to be at its best and what players and GMs are actually thinking unless it comes from them directly.

People want to assume Conroy is telling other GMs he isn’t willing to move a guy? Fine. But that could just as easily be Conroy saying he isn’t willing to move a player for the price that was offered, that GM turning around and telling someone he couldn’t get the deal because Conroy was interested, and than person turning around and telling an “insider” that Conroy isn’t willing to move the player.

Gamesmanship, phone tag, or just plain making stuff up based on limited info all impacts what comes out. So you either just have to trust the GM is competent (and he’s shown no reason to believe otherwise) and be patient, or assume he’s a complete disaster with no pulse on the team, no interest in trading anyone unless they demand it, and will basically screw this team for his entire tenure.

Tough choice.

[Wolfman]

The generation of instant gratification is exhausting. Patience is a virtue. The moment you make knee jerk decisions is when mistakes are made.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

I think everyone would feel better if the insider reports were that Conroy's prices are sky high and not willing to be met at this point vs "won't trade them unless they ask for a trade"

While I agree with that we are only 6 weeks into a season where the Flames did not have visions of being this terrible. For the organization to commit to a pivot to bottoming out that is likely taking time to map out their game plan.

Teams reportedly have said “if you move Kadri/Coleman we want to be part of that discussion”

I think the Flames will look to strike with Andersson first. He is playing decent, and has to go this year. Once they move on from him I think they will look at moving others.

[Flames_F.T.W]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

The generation of instant gratification is exhausting.

30 years of mediocrity... I'd say we've been patient for long enough. Let's build a team right and add a few more picks by trading aging veterans... That might be the plan, but it might not. The lack of transparency is what worries me

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Long term ineptness of any professional sports organization always comes from the very top. Murray Edwards has been the lone constant over the past two decades of mediocrity. There's no doubt he casts a large shadow over the organization because he simply has failed to commit to a proper rebuild when the team has hit down cycles. Even now I'm worried that if they somehow land McKenna (I don't care what anyone says, he's the top pick by a longshot) that the moment there's a smidgen of uptake in the trajectory of the team that he will be micromanaging his GM to start making moves to win ASAP because he's so hyper-focused on the bottom line and returning to high profitability and filling the new building. However I'm confident that he's intelligent enough and has learned enough lessons over the years that this is the time to take some pain with new building on the horizon. Hopefully he's not standing in the way of any possible trades because if he is, we are probably just wasting our hopes for better days ahead as this owner will never, ever get it.

If he gets in the way, as people fear, I will be cancelling my seasons tickets, and I know several other people who feel similarly. I know that is just anecdotal, and a few people are irrelevant, but I can tell you this: ME and the management group are very aware of that sentiment, and it is far from just me and a few others.

Their past track record is undeniable. And frustrating as hell. And I worry a bit, because of it. But I am pretty confident that they are fully aware of which way the wind is blowing.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

30 years of mediocrity... I'd say we've been patient for long enough. Let's build a team right and add a few more picks by trading aging veterans... That might be the plan, but it might not. The lack of transparency is what worries me

I understand the last 30 years have been bad. Flames are in 32nd place right now. What does trading Kadri and Coleman do to improve those odds? I would wait til they ask to be moved or the best offer comes at the deadline. I trust Conroy's plan.

[Vinny01]

The one thing that gives some credit to the Friedman report where they see things as bad this year and not so bad next year is the up and down nature of this team since they unexpectedly made the playoffs in 2015.

Do they think adding a McKenna level prospect in addition to Parekh, Gridin, go out and trade for someone, and Wolf being elite and the team is right back in the mix for a playoff spot? Who thought they would be in the mix last year?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'm a commodity trader and I never make statements like the above. Far too many variables in play to ever make assumptions like that. Ever.

But I do agree that they are, internally trying to figure out just that ... when will the value be higher? what should the value be? do we have a point where we take less because we think the value will only get worse?

They can be wrong, I'm wrong all the time in the futures, but they're not just winging it.

Oh and those posters won't be moving the goal posts ... they'll be sticking to them.

I think you are parsing his words a little unfairly. "Almost certainly is too strong for your liking? OK how about, "Past history strongly indicates". Cliff gives a rather reasonable explanation as to why their value will decrease over time.

I am reading about a dozen posters mocking all the "panic" being displayed. Everything written by SuperMatt and Cliff for example seems rational. You can disagree with him, but throwing out terms like panic is just exaggerating to make a point.

The way I see it, Flames management are a currently a little closer to being reluctant to trade Kadri and Coleman, vs. proactively seeking the best return in a trade.

I am basing that on multiple media reports and not the fact that they have oodles of cap space or didn't make any additions last year.

Personally I'm hoping that management changes their thinking (which is entirely possible and I'm not expecting a press release to that effect) or that the media reports are wrong.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

30 years of mediocrity... I'd say we've been patient for long enough. Let's build a team right and add a few more picks by trading aging veterans... That might be the plan, but it might not. The lack of transparency is what worries me

Conroy has stated he won’t tell the media their plan

We are 6 weeks into a season. The examples of Duchene or Eichel being traded in November referenced players that had trade drama from the summer follow them into the season. When Boston moved Thornton early in the season nearly 20 years ago it was a disastrous move on their part.

The flames need to let markets develop and they are trying to quiet the noise around the team by stating guys are not likely to move.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

30 years of mediocrity... I'd say we've been patient for long enough. Let's build a team right and add a few more picks by trading aging veterans... That might be the plan, but it might not. The lack of transparency is what worries me

Why should we as fans have any transparency on that?