2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

If people are perceiving rudeness, I can understand a certain exasperation over discussing the labels used to classify where the Flames are at present. It seems like its a debate that goes nowhere.


I do think that there are certain media that know they get clicks and attention from this fan base in saying that there isn't a rebuild. Those news reports keep that sentiment going and makes this an interminable discussion, particularly devoid of more recent facts. I appreciate Bingo's returning to what the team actually does.


I also think Maloney's misstatement was ill-timed. I think the reaction to Maloney's statement is understandable and --- particularly with many in this fan base --- predictable. I don't think he was deliberately misleading. However, I suspect that discussion behind the scenes versus public facing is very different. It seems to me that rebuild is clearly in his lexicon in describing this team, but they are not confident in being upfront with the fan base about that.


I can understand why some get upset at the apparent hypocrisy. However, I take comfort in knowing that senior management probably use the term rebuild, albeit behind closed doors.

Yup. The fact he said "rebuild", then corrected himself means that they talk rebuild behind the scenes. And supports the notion that they are afraid of fan perception of a rebuild. Edwards has maybe seen SJ's attendance figures since their fall off since 2019-20. They are climbing again finally, but still below 15000 (lower than any non Corral Flames year).

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

I think that's fair but they're also not moving like a team that's actively attempting to prioritize future development. They're doing what they've always done, mushy middle.

Not trading Anderson at the deadline last year, not weaponizing cap space, exposing young players to waivers to protect scrubs, extending a coaching staff who's style is not skill player conducive, not actively soliciting offers for veterans (allegedly).

I think that's the thing that's most frustrating to me, if you're going to rebuild then rebuild, don't leave us in the dark with "oh lets keep some guys and then maybe we sneak in and then who knows?".

The tinfoil theory I currently have is that Conroy's mandate from ownership is playoffs or bust and he's not allowed to actively go all in on a rebuild. However, he also sees that this team isn't going to be able to compete, so he's neglected to make moves to try and mitigate and is essentially just letting the ship sink.

It's also why I think he might not have an extension, correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't one of Treliving's concerns back in the day when he was looking at an extension that he wanted full autonomy and ownership didn't want to give him that?

They have moved players, just not yet this year. And they are in last place. That's not mushy middle.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Lmao why is it always the one side of this argument that is always so rude and combative.

Why would people be thanking this post within 10 hours of me being accused of being bought and paid for? That seemed rude to me! Combative? Yep!

Seriously?

I think it's human to not see "rude" in posts you agree with, so you probably look past it.

CP is pretty much rude 24/7 these days from all sides.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

The mere fact that Maloney accidentally used the word ‘rebuild’, and then corrected himself, shows that he knows it's a rebuild. He wasn't supposed to say the quiet part out loud – but he did.

Why is he not supposed to say that?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Why is he not supposed to say that?

Because of ticket sales.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

I think that's fair but they're also not moving like a team that's actively attempting to prioritize future development. They're doing what they've always done, mushy middle.

When the Flames were in the ‘mushy middle’ they were sending out draft picks to acquire veteran players and spending to the cap. They are not doing what they've always done.

Not trading Anderson at the deadline last year,

That's been gone over many times before. The team was in a playoff spot at that point and not a seller. A trade actually was arranged for Andersson during the off season, but it fell through because he would not agree to re-sign in L.A.

not weaponizing cap space,

Cap space is no longer a weapon. It was only an important weapon when the cap was artificially kept flat after Covid.

exposing young players to waivers to protect scrubs,

Every team does that every October. So who did the Flames lose because of it? Solovyov… a scrub.

extending a coaching staff who's style is not skill player conducive,

What skilled players do they have that this is a concern about? The coaching staff has put in a system that suits the little talent they have. Don't assume without evidence that they are incapable of using any other system.

not actively soliciting offers for veterans (allegedly).

What's Conroy supposed to do? Call every GM every day and say, ‘I know you're not buying now and no trades are going on, but I really want to get rid of these players and I can't wait for the market to open up’?

I think that's the thing that's most frustrating to me, if you're going to rebuild then rebuild, don't leave us in the dark with "oh lets keep some guys and then maybe we sneak in and then who knows?".

They are rebuilding. All their actions point in that direction. Some people have this idea they're not rebuilding for no other reason than that they didn't actively say so.

Actions speak louder than words. All the team's actions have pointed towards a rebuild.

Yes, that includes the Frost/Farabee trade: don't forget, they traded away Kuzmenko and Pelletier in that deal, and the Flyers let Pelletier walk and dumped Kuzmenko after a few weeks. The roster got younger, and the team acquired a desperately needed centre and got rid of an excess winger.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Here's a question: If management is set on trying for the playoffs, why have they made no moves to acquire better players? Veteran guys? Calgary has draft capital to spend on them, they have cap room to spare. Panarin is a pending UFA. Tuch is available.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that management is doing everything in its power to make the playoffs, by spending big draft capital to go after big UFA's to be.

But the question is, will they trade veteran players for additional draft capital, or keep those players to remain somewhat competitive.

I don't think we know the answer to that, as we don't know what offers have been made, if any, for Andersson, Kadri and Coleman.

I think it's clear that Conroy will not keep expiring UFA's past the trade deadline, so Andersson is presumably gone. But what if he gets re-signed? What we don't know is if Calgary will truly tank by trading all of Andersson, Kadri and Coleman this year, and increasing the chances of finishing bottom 3.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

I think that's fair but they're also not moving like a team that's actively attempting to prioritize future development. They're doing what they've always done, mushy middle.

Not trading Anderson at the deadline last year, not weaponizing cap space, exposing young players to waivers to protect scrubs, extending a coaching staff who's style is not skill player conducive, not actively soliciting offers for veterans (allegedly).

I think that's the thing that's most frustrating to me, if you're going to rebuild then rebuild, don't leave us in the dark with "oh lets keep some guys and then maybe we sneak in and then who knows?".

The tinfoil theory I currently have is that Conroy's mandate from ownership is playoffs or bust and he's not allowed to actively go all in on a rebuild. However, he also sees that this team isn't going to be able to compete, so he's neglected to make moves to try and mitigate and is essentially just letting the ship sink.

It's also why I think he might not have an extension, correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't one of Treliving's concerns back in the day when he was looking at an extension that he wanted full autonomy and ownership didn't want to give him that?

Well there is not really cap space to weaponize, so that criticism is without merit. We missed out on a 5th round pick for Price I guess. A bidding war maybe drops that to a 6th, but a 5th or a 6th.

To be in the mushy middle I think it implies they have done something to improve the team. Since they have not done that I am not sure how they are not clearly exclusively doing things to make the team worse.

[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yup. The fact he said "rebuild", then corrected himself means that they talk rebuild behind the scenes. And supports the notion that they are afraid of fan perception of a rebuild. Edwards has maybe seen SJ's attendance figures since their fall off since 2019-20. They are climbing again finally, but still below 15000 (lower than any non Corral Flames year).

I wonder if avoiding the word "rebuild" has less to do with the fans and more to do with keeping the vets motivated and focused on maintaining a strong culture while they rebuild.

It's tough to motivate highly competitive vets during a "rebuild" as most aren't really interested in being a part of that process. A retool, on the other hand, where veterans are framed as part of the solution to turn things around quickly can be motivating.

I'm not saying players are stupid about this, but they along with the coaching staff clearly can buy into this framing and overachieve as they did last year.

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

They have moved players, just not yet this year. And they are in last place. That's not mushy middle.

Can you in good faith tell me that you think they've done their very best to maximize player value?

Mushy middle not just in the standings but in the sense of attempting to balance contending versus retooling, not picking a direction, sitting on the fence, setting their goal to being a plucky hard working team that might sneak into the playoffs. Mushy middle in the sense that they refuse to be content with being bad but also have little appetite to do what is necessary to be legitimately a contender.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Because of ticket sales.

I don’t believe that interview helps the club sell tickets.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don’t believe that interview helps the club sell tickets.

I don't believe anything that could possibly have been said in an interview like that would help sell season tickets. The struggle right now is not to say anything that might make season ticket holders cancel them.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Why would people be thanking this post within 10 hours of me being accused of being bought and paid for? That seemed rude to me! Combative? Yep!

Seriously?

I think it's human to not see "rude" in posts you agree with, so you probably look past it.

CP is pretty much rude 24/7 these days from all sides.

Was this a discussion going on in a different thread?

Sorry a couple people thanked a post you didn't agree with.

[Bongsong]

Originally Posted by Bongsong

A goalie for lambert now hells went down

Oppsies no trade talk here

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

I think that's fair but they're also not moving like a team that's actively attempting to prioritize future development. They're doing what they've always done, mushy middle.

Not trading Anderson at the deadline last year, not weaponizing cap space, exposing young players to waivers to protect scrubs, extending a coaching staff who's style is not skill player conducive, not actively soliciting offers for veterans (allegedly).

I think that's the thing that's most frustrating to me, if you're going to rebuild then rebuild, don't leave us in the dark with "oh lets keep some guys and then maybe we sneak in and then who knows?".

The tinfoil theory I currently have is that Conroy's mandate from ownership is playoffs or bust and he's not allowed to actively go all in on a rebuild. However, he also sees that this team isn't going to be able to compete, so he's neglected to make moves to try and mitigate and is essentially just letting the ship sink.

It's also why I think he might not have an extension, correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't one of Treliving's concerns back in the day when he was looking at an extension that he wanted full autonomy and ownership didn't want to give him that?

I think if they wanted to be in the mushy middle they'd be using cap space and draft capital to improve to that point ... and last year they would have done the same to ensure they made it into the playoffs.

This is a dead last team.

Mushy middle is way above them and they're not reaching for it.

And glad you added "allegedly" because I don't think that's true. Plus weaponizing cap space is a complaint if they chose not to weaponize. Conroy has been quoted many times saying they were trying to do just that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I don’t believe that interview helps the club sell tickets.

I never said it did. I say that the ownership THINKS that saying rebuild hurts ticket sales. They may be wrong about this long term (maybe not short term though - SJ went way down).

[The EBUG's EBUG]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Well there is not really cap space to weaponize, so that criticism is without merit. We missed out on a 5th round pick for Price I guess. A bidding war maybe drops that to a 6th, but a 5th or a 6th.

To be in the mushy middle I think it implies they have done something to improve the team. Since they have not done that I am not sure how they are not clearly exclusively doing things to make the team worse.

Sorry is there not another thread on this forum right now where everybody is raving about our most recent 5th round pick looking like a possible guy? Where'd we get our starting goalie?

Again, I'm not saying they're trying to contend or anything, but if they're going to rebuild then rebuild, how about they don't let age drag this team to the bottom and get aggressive in their efforts to actively improve the team's future chances.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I don't think anyone is suggesting that management is doing everything in its power to make the playoffs, by spending big draft capital to go after big UFA's to be.

But the question is, will they trade veteran players for additional draft capital, or keep those players to remain somewhat competitive.

I don't think we know the answer to that, as we don't know what offers have been made, if any, for Andersson, Kadri and Coleman.

I think it's clear that Conroy will not keep expiring UFA's past the trade deadline, so Andersson is presumably gone. But what if he gets re-signed? What we don't know is if Calgary will truly tank by trading all of Andersson, Kadri and Coleman this year, and increasing the chances of finishing bottom 3.

It was just suggested that the mandate was POs at any cost.

If they re-sign Andersson then they either think his contributin to a rebuld is better than the stink bids they receive, or they've abandoned a rebuild (which would be evidenced more by other moves).

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

Sorry is there not another thread on this forum right now where everybody is raving about our most recent 5th round pick looking like a possible guy? Where'd we get our starting goalie?

Is that supposed to be an argument that you should spend millions in cash for late-round picks because you regularly get great players that way? It sounds like it… and that would be a silly argument to make.

[YyjFlames]

This situation is still burbling...

Scratched in three straight, Mintyukov unhappy with his roll