2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The EBUG's EBUG

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.

I can tell you in good faith that I think this is what they are trying to do. Or else you'd have seen panic trades by now. You don't know what the offers have been, and there's no evidence that waiting for the TDL (or even offseason for Kadri and Coleman) won't result in better offers from more desperate buyers.

Your whole premise is that they try to get in the POs but now "mushy middle" can include being in last place? This doesn't make sense.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Why is he not supposed to say that?

I think that question is the core of the anxiousness amongst the fan base. There are reasons internally that result in the management for the Flames not wanting to acknowledge where the franchise is status wise. That seems very clear.


Yet, we do not really know the thinking behind this. Perhaps it is ticket sales - that seems like a good motivator if internally they do not think financially they could manage a long rebuild. Perhaps it is representations made to players and agents - another good motivator as decent people (and I have no reason to think the Flames management is comprised of anything other than decent people) like to be consistent in their representations. Perhaps it is the ownership group's views - another decent motivator. Perhaps it is none of those things. We can spin ourselves around trying to speculate.


Perhaps I am taking in some of the emotion from the board and media, but it does feel like the franchise does not seem healthy at the moment. I am grateful that the new building is happening, as I would have more existential concerns if they did not have that happening.

[Bingo]

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.

How many players have to be traded in 36 months before this is no longer a question?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Was this a discussion going on in a different thread?

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

You're not sorry.

You're pissy.

I was pointing out that rude is going both ways. Sorry you didn't catch that.

[SuperMatt18]

Back on topic.

I'd love Mintyukov.

He plays with skill and plays with a physical edge. TBH a bit like a younger version of Andersson.

He has to work on his defensive game, but he turns 22 this week, that tends to come with time.

His underlying play driving stats, zone exits, etc are super strong.

Flames should be all over that if he's available.

Honestly something like Mintyukov + one of the extra 2027 2nds (Anaheim has 3 in 2027 including St.Louis) for Andersson could make sense for both sides even without an Andersson extension with Ducks saying they want a top 4 RH dman. I would like a 1st but that feels like too much from Anaheim's side on top of Mintyukov who was a top 10 pick.

But a top 4 LH dman is actually something lacking in our prospect pool and adding a 22 year old that also is familiar with Parekh would be great.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Was this a discussion going on in a different thread?

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

There was another thread where a poster did a drive by mocking a type I had rather than engage the point, you might know it as you were the poster who mocked it. Somehow I found the intestinal fortitude not to cry too much about whether it was rude or not though.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Was this a discussion going on in a different thread?

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

Rude.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Truth is, I am anxious for them to make a trade too soon.
I'd hate to see them get any positive momentum before it is well too late.

It's a long steep climb back up to the mushy middle. I think we are safe. Don't worry.

There could be some epic spankings coming up soon.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Bingo

How many players have to be traded in 36 months before this is no longer a question?

Perhaps there's some nuance between players getting traded because it's an easier call (asked out, expiring contract) and players that should be (higher value, will not be part of any eventual contending window)

Ya think maybe? Maybe. I dunno just asking questions here

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

There was another thread where a poster did a drive by mocking a type I had rather than engage the point, you might know it as you were the poster who mocked it. Somehow I found the intestinal fortitude not to cry too much about whether it was rude or not though.

Did you mean typo?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Perhaps there's some nuance between players getting traded because it's an easier call (asked out, expiring contract) and players that should be (higher value, will not be part of any eventual contending window)

You mean players like Markstrom and Mangiapane? Nope, the Flames never traded any of those guys.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Bingo

You're not sorry.

You're pissy.

I was pointing out that rude is going both ways. Sorry you didn't catch that.

Man you are the pissiest poster on this forum despite owning it.

I am indeed not omniscient and didn't see an argument you had in a different thread 10 hours ago at 1 am.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Perhaps there's some nuance between players getting traded because it's an easier call (asked out, expiring contract) and players that they should be (higher value, will not be part of any eventual contending window)

Ya think maybe? Maybe. I dunno just asking questions here

Markstrom
Toffoli
Mangiapane

And to a lesser extent

Zadorov
Tanev

Top three traded with term left.

Bottom two wanted too much money or term so the team moved them.

Ya think maybe could be considered rude.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Man you are the pissiest poster on this forum despite owning it.

I am indeed not omniscient and didn't see an argument you had in a different thread 10 hours ago.

Yeah I don't think so.

Not even close.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Markstrom
Toffoli
Mangiapane

And to a lesser extent

Zadorov
Tanev

Top three traded with term left.

Bottom two wanted too much money or term so the team moved them.

Ya think maybe could be considered rude.

Markstrom is the only one traded with term left.

Toffoli had 1 year, Mangiapane had 1 year...personally once you hit July 1 of your final contract I don't think you really have term left.

I do think the Flames were / are rebuilding but I do think they have a very specific vision of not going more scorched earth and their strategy is to more let players get closer to UFA then make decisions.

It's what they did with Lindholm, Tanev, Hanifin, Andersson, Zadorov, Toffoli, and Mangiapane, all of those moves were made with 1 year or less on the players contract once the decision to be able to re-sign would have been have.

Markstrom is the only outlier at this point as he was traded with 2 years left - but Wolf really forced their hand with how he was playing in the AHL and Markstrom wouldn't have wanted to be in a tandem with him.

Really the outliers now would be if they decide to move Coleman or Kadri early this season. Personally if they don't that's why I feel like it's more of the same and a missed opportunity.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Man you are the pissiest poster on this forum despite owning it.

If you think it's ‘pissy’ to point out where people are arguing with emotion and against facts, sure.

I am indeed not omniscient and didn't see an argument you had in a different thread 10 hours ago at 1 am.

Here's the recap for you: A poster accused Bingo of being controlled by Murray Edwards so that he was forced to repeat management's official line. Offered to bet his mortgage on it, as I recall.

[traptor]

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/canad...straight-year/

Just a subjective talking piece.

Flames rank #20 with their core-4 U24. This is down from #16 last season, I assume with the graduation of Wolf.

Top 5:
Habs
Hawks
Sharks
Ducks
Mammoth


Bottom 5:
Oilers
Avalanche
Lightning
Panthers
Knights

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Markstrom is the only one traded with term left.

Toffoli had 1 year, Mangiapane had 1 year...personally once you hit July 1 of your final contract I don't think you really have term left.

We've argued this 100 times.

I don't see a player traded in the summer, where the team still has hopes of the mushy middle, as a player traded at the deadline when his contract is expiring in 8 weeks.

You can though.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Markstrom
Toffoli
Mangiapane

And to a lesser extent

Zadorov
Tanev

Top three traded with term left.

Bottom two wanted too much money or term so the team moved them.

Ya think maybe could be considered rude.

"Sorry if you missed that"

Be the change you want to see in the world

[Aarongavey]

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?

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.

We did not get our starting goalie in the 5th round but I concede we may have blown the rebuild by not getting a 5th or a 6th to take on Price. Trading 8 vets for futures maybe is not aggressive enough, maybe it has to be trading 11 vets, I don’t know the correct number.