2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Bonded]

Lambert for cheap is fine but don’t see why they’d take a swing on him over paying a little more for Zegras

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Lewis_D

I wonder if Winnipeg would be interested in Pospisil for Lambert (assuming he'll be healthy soonish).

Almost certainly, that would be a fleecing by the Jets.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Lambert for cheap is fine but don’t see why they’d take a swing on him over paying a little more for Zegras

I think the lesson of Zegras is the exact reason to take a swing on him. Though, Zegras was much more proven at the NHL level and was obviously super unmotivated at the club. Question remains if Lambert can cut it at this level.

We really should have tried harder for Zegras when the chance was there.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I think the lesson of Zegras is the exact reason to take a swing on him. Though, Zegras was much more proven at the NHL level and was obviously super unmotivated at the club. Question remains if Lambert can cut it at this level.

We really should have tried harder for Zegras when the chance was there.

As a thought exercise would you have traded the Potter pick for him?
Anaheim gave Poehling, a 2nd (higher than the Flames 2nd) and a 4th.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I think the lesson of Zegras is the exact reason to take a swing on him. Though, Zegras was much more proven at the NHL level and was obviously super unmotivated at the club. Question remains if Lambert can cut it at this level.

We really should have tried harder for Zegras when the chance was there.

Lambert would be moved later into his career and has done less in his career than Hunter Shinkaruk had when the Flames moved an absolute tweener in Markus Granlund for him. Can’t imagine he is worth anything more than what a guy like Granlund was at the time.

[JT45]

Did a quick look at his stats history and other than the 1 whl year seems pretty poor actually. Would love a decent young centre / right hand shot prospect....but not sure this is him.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Lambert would be moved later into his career and has done less in his career than Hunter Shinkaruk had when the Flames moved an absolute tweener in Markus Granlund for him. Can’t imagine he is worth anything more than what a guy like Granlund was at the time.

Don't disagree with this take, and didn't say he was worth even close to as much as Zegras in my post.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

As a thought exercise would you have traded the Potter pick for him?
Anaheim gave Poehling, a 2nd (higher than the Flames 2nd) and a 4th.

I seem to recall Zary being bandied about as the likely equivalent to Poehling.
Zary, 2nd, 4th would have been a yes for me. I dont think it would have taken the potter pick.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by MrButtons

Glad you commented because I was completely lost with this. What if he wants Toronto but they have nothing to give? Very confusing unless one of y'all knows if this happens alot?

It happens quite a bit where the agent is given permission to see if anyone is interested

[Ashasx]

What has Lambert done since being drafted to warrant a high return in a trade?

[Monahammer]

Has anyone really suggested a high return trade for him?
The highest i've seen proposed was a likely late 1st, and even then those replying all said it was too much.

I think this is a problem for problem swap. Zary maybe. Or you could try to get them to add for Rasmus. Rasmus has been hot lately.

[Vinny01]

The Canucks post Sedin rebuild appears to be completely crashing. They had their run in the bubble and also had a hell of a year in 23/24 but it has been a bunch of mediocrity the rest of the way.

The Hughes rumor is interesting but how many teams will give up a ton for 2 runs with Quinn if he is set on joining his brothers in a year and a half?

Would the Devils put Nemec in the deal when he appears to be finally breaking out? If so are they adding Mercer or Bratt?

[Calgary4LIfe]

In hindsight, maybe they should have moved Miller out sooner, re-signed Horvat, and maybe Petterssen wouldn't have fallen down so much? It seems on the outside looking in that they are a bit of a broken team. Horvat was supposed to be the future captain.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Has anyone really suggested a high return trade for him?
The highest i've seen proposed was a likely late 1st, and even then those replying all said it was too much.

I think this is a problem for problem swap. Zary maybe. Or you could try to get them to add for Rasmus. Rasmus has been hot lately.

Zary would be a massive overpayment. Stromgren was drafted the year before Lambert and is putting up better numbers over the past two years. He could be an option straight up.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I think the lesson of Zegras is the exact reason to take a swing on him. Though, Zegras was much more proven at the NHL level and was obviously super unmotivated at the club. Question remains if Lambert can cut it at this level.

We really should have tried harder for Zegras when the chance was there.

It’s his contract status that is the issue. He has the ability to accept a 1 year QO then leave as a UFA. And that is not a cheap QO either. Philly was probably pretty confident they could sign him long term.

[Ba'alzamon]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

In hindsight, maybe they should have moved Miller out sooner, re-signed Horvat, and maybe Petterssen wouldn't have fallen down so much? It seems on the outside looking in that they are a bit of a broken team. Horvat was supposed to be the future captain.

He was their captain for four years lol.

It definitely seems like moving him out was a big mistake, I agree.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

Agree. The "tank/rebuild" crowd isn't a monolith. Some of us wondered why Gaudreau wasn't traded at the deadline when an extension wasn't reached. With hindsight, and watching Treiliving do it again with Marner...well...there was a different issue a muck.

After Gaudreau left and Tkachuk followed, the rebuild should have started...after missing the playoffs that season the rebuild should have started...after being just outside the playoffs again the next season the rebuild should have started. Prioritising the result last year over a rebuild was ridiculous.

Because of the delay, we're now in the long rebuild scenario...denial is part of that. So yeah get ready to hear about the Flames being out of the playoffs 7-8yrs when we finally start to move upwards.

For the longer in the tooth rebuild folks this is worst case right now, that we're looking at a 4th straight year out of the playoffs and still haven't take the first step.

I know others have mentioned it, but I tend to like the way things are developing with the provision is we have to get an elite talent this year.

They have had 10 picks in the last 2 years that were 1st to 3rd round picks, which means it gives them a couple years to develop and hopefully join that elite player this year.

Similar to the Chicago rebuild, where they added Towes and Kane to a group of prospects that were percolating for a few years to help them early. With the potential of trading some of the vets, the Flames could be adding 4 to 5 first round picks alone over the next couple years.

[saillias]

Not exactly reassuring to use the "Michael Scott shutting the door on Creed" meme to describe the relationship between Conroy and Maloney considering Maloney is Conroy's boss.