2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by browntrout

That is exactly what they need, but those teams ready to burst out will wait till Feb/March before deciding to sacrifice some prospects/picks for vets

Patience is the key

Agree patience is the key but Utah may be a team that pulls the trigger earlier. Owner wants to make the playoffs, is willing to spend to the cap and they are loaded with prospects.

They have 3 firsts, 5 2nds and 5 3rds over the next 3 years.

They have a number of prospects

And they have traded prospects for players since they moved to Utah, moving out a then 20 year old former 11th overall pick, a 2nd and 7th along with Moser a then 24 year old former 2nd round pick for a then 26 year old Sergachev.

I would be looking at them, one of their top prospects, a 1st and a 2nd for Kadri would be nice and it might make sense for them. But, their 2027 1st and the Rangers 2026 2nd for Kadri would be good and they may think that Iginla and Desnoyers makes But somewhat redundant.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

More like Coleman. The Stars don't have the assets for Kadri.

Not only that there is about zero chance Kadri will want to go to the Southern States.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Agree patience is the key but Utah may be a team that pulls the trigger earlier. Owner wants to make the playoffs, is willing to spend to the cap and they are loaded with prospects.

They have 3 firsts, 5 2nds and 5 3rds over the next 3 years.

They have a number of prospects

And they have traded prospects for players since they moved to Utah, moving out a then 20 year old former 11th overall pick, a 2nd and 7th along with Moser a then 24 year old former 2nd round pick for a then 26 year old Sergachev.

I would be looking at them, one of their top prospects, a 1st and a 2nd for Kadri would be nice and it might make sense for them. But, their 2027 1st and the Rangers 2026 2nd for Kadri would be good and they may think that Iginla and Desnoyers makes But somewhat redundant.

I don't see it. As I said before the Flames will work with Kadri if they do decide to trade him and it will be a location he wants to go. I think if a team like Montreal or somehow Toronto finds a way to make a serious offer he would be ok that but everything I hear is not only would he prefer to stay but he wants to stay in a Canadian market. Would Kadri waive to go to Utah? I can't see it.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I don't see it. As I said before the Flames will work with Kadri if they do decide to trade him and it will be a location he wants to go. I think if a team like Montreal or somehow Toronto finds a way to make a serious offer he would be ok that but everything I hear is not only would he prefer to stay but he wants to stay in a Canadian market. Would Kadri waive to go to Utah? I can't see it.

Ya that is fair, I would not want to go to the States if I was Kadri either.

You would not get that package for Coleman but Utah may be interested in Coleman. I fully expect them to be buyers this year.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by redmile04

Where i have seen that before? hmm

It is funny to see all the comments on social media. It is so similar, their fans comments to some posts on this site.

"Fire the GM".
"Sell the team".
"I'm just going to start watching the Sharks or Blackhawks if they don't rebuild".

[Royle9]

If Kadri even waives for a U.S team you'd best be sure it's a team with a real shot @ the cup (Colorado)
Utah is not it, as much as people have a hard on for Iginla, who too will NOT be traded by Utah at this point anyway.

Right now if I were a betting man, I'd put my chips on MTL.

[SuperMatt18]

Whenever I watch Montreal my immediate thought is that they need Kadri.

They need a 2nd line center with offensive pop. They could use playoff experience. They could use a bit more Edge and grit up front.

Honestly he's a perfect fit for what they need.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Royle9

If Kadri even waives for a U.S team you'd best be sure it's a team with a real shot @ the cup (Colorado)
Utah is not it, as much as people have a hard on for Iginla, who too will NOT be traded by Utah at this point anyway.

Right now if I were a betting man, I'd put my chips on MTL.

Do you get the sense that Calgary will prioritize trading Kadri to where he wants to go over getting their high asking price? If Conroy is making sure he’ll only trade Kadri to a true contender and/or a Canadian team, that could really start to limit the list of teams. It limits it even more when you consider how few contenders have any valuable prospects/picks left to give. Dallas and Colorado have little to offer I think in terms of prospects. Their picks would likely have to be in 2027 but that’s not a deal-breaker. Toronto is not a contender and they have nothing of value in the cupboards. Ottawa has some good prospects but they have no 1st this year and likely don’t need a 2nd/3rd line center with Stutzle/Pinto/Cousins/Greig. Pretty sure I heard somewhere on this forum that Carolina is on Kadri’s NT list. Vegas doesn’t really have any good prospects and Calgary helping them this year just hurts the value of the 2026 1st they got from Vegas in the Hanifin trade.

Montreal starts to look like the only option for him - they have the need, the assets and Kadri would likely love to play for them. Problem is if they know the list is limited for Calgary, would they really pay the high asking price to get Kadri? That management group is also pretty smart in keeping/collecting young players… would be a shift in the mentality to spend young prospects and picks on a 35 year old.

What would you put as the most likely outcome of these options:

A) Kadri is traded to Montreal this season and they pay the high asking price that has been rumoured (i.e. a minimum of the Nelson trade level of return).
B) Kadri is traded to Montreal this season but at a lower return than the Nelson trade (eg. protected 1st + 4th + B-level prospect).
C) Kadri is traded to an American team this season and they pay the high asking price that has been rumoured (i.e. a minimum of the Nelson trade level of return).
D) Kadri is not traded this season because no team that Kadri wants to go to meets Conroy’s asking price.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Whenever I watch Montreal my immediate thought is that they need Kadri.

They need a 2nd line center with offensive pop. They could use playoff experience. They could use a bit more Edge and grit up front.

Honestly he's a perfect fit for what they need.

It’ll also drive leaf fans mad.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Do you get the sense that Calgary will prioritize trading Kadri to where he wants to go over getting their high asking price?

Short answer is no, I don't get a sense that there's a priority on that.
I will say that both player and team have enough mutual respect that Craig wont simply trade him somewhere to rot out the rest of his contract, but Kadri would simply block a lot of those teams anyway.

Both player and team have known its probably inevitable this year, and there will be plenty of suitors lining up with good offers that I don't think we even need to worry about it.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Royle9

If Kadri even waives for a U.S team you'd best be sure it's a team with a real shot @ the cup (Colorado)
Utah is not it, as much as people have a hard on for Iginla, who too will NOT be traded by Utah at this point anyway.

Right now if I were a betting man, I'd put my chips on MTL.

Last I checked Kadri only had a 13 team no-trade list. Utah may very well be on his list, but the trade is very much out of his control.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Last I checked Kadri only had a 13 team no-trade list. Utah may very well be on his list, but the trade is very much out of his control.

Yeah I don't get doing right by the player or whatever.

He has a 13 team no-trade list. You should take the best offer you get from the other 18 teams. Aside from that, he really should have no say on where he goes.

Take the best offer for your team as you are running a business.

[5abi]

Kadri, imho, if not a minority would’ve been the face of a franchise snub what where

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Last I checked Kadri only had a 13 team no-trade list. Utah may very well be on his list, but the trade is very much out of his control.

No idea how Conroy will handle this trade and I don’t know Kadri’s no trade list but if he’s been strategic with his no trade list and if Conroy is respecting his desire to not be traded to certain teams even if they are not in his trade list, the list of teams that are fit for a trade could shrink pretty fast. Below is my uninformed attempt at a NT list for Kadri based on how competitive teams are and Kadri’s likely desire to avoid moving his family to politically-charged areas of the US (if that truly is a factor in his preferences).

NT list:
Buffalo, Carolina, Philadelphia, Columbus, Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida, Nashville, St. Louis, Utah, Seattle, Dallas and Anaheim.

The following are teams the flames are very, very unlikely to trade with:
Edmonton and Toronto

The following teams are probably not buyers this season (at least not for Kadri):
Chicago, San Jose, Vancouver, Long Island, Pittsburgh, Winnipeg (might not be buyers if they keep losing) and Ottawa

That leaves the following teams that could potentially be in the market for Kadri:
Montreal, New Jersey, New York, Detroit, Vegas, Los Angeles, Colorado, Minnesota and Boston

Personally, I don’t think Boston would be looking to trade for more older players at this point after letting Marchand walk. New York is a wild card because you never know what they are doing these days - my gut tells me they would not be looking to spend assets on Kadri after sending out so many vets. Vegas has no assets left to trade. Don’t think Colorado has the assets either and I think they have made all the big trades they can at this point after the Nelson trade last year.

That leaves Montreal, New Jersey, Detroit, LA and Minnesota. The good news is all those teams have the assets the flames would look for in a Kadri trade - 1st round picks and A-level prospects. The bad news is if Kadri doesn’t want to move his family to some of those places, the list starts to get small. And I think Conroy will respect that preference for Kadri.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by 5abi

Kadri, imho, if not a minority would’ve been the face of a franchise snub what where

If we drafted him he may have been. It is hard to sign as a free agent half way through your career and become the face of a franchise.

A large part of the reason people were so invested in Gaudreau, Tkachuk, and Monahan besides their talent is we drafted them. We watched them develop, struggle at times, succeed and then eventually become really good players.

It is just harder for a vet to sign with a team and become a face of the franchise. Especially when he joined the team at the same time as Huberdeau and we had the results we did.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by 5abi

Kadri, imho, if not a minority would’ve been the face of a franchise snub what where

[jmac98]

Originally Posted by 5abi

Kadri, imho, if not a minority would’ve been the face of a franchise snub what where

I’m not sure I agree he’d have been the face of a franchise regardless. Even if you appreciate his preset form of skill, heart, leadership, community involvement, etc, it took him a long time to grow into that role. For years he was a chaotic and careless player making poor and untimely choices that were detrimental to his team. He absolutely has turned that around in the latter of his career, but that simply makes him a (deserved) heart and soul type leader on a roster as a coveted veteran. Just my thoughts, anyway. For right or wrong.

[Saqe]

Kadri is a second line player in the big picture. You don't make second line players the face of a franchise, anywhere.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Yeah I don't get doing right by the player or whatever.

He has a 13 team no-trade list. You should take the best offer you get from the other 18 teams. Aside from that, he really should have no say on where he goes.

Take the best offer for your team as you are running a business.

Disagree.

Working with the player to find a preferred landing spot is good business. I’m not suggesting the Flames take penny’s on the dollar but if they are seen to treat players in this way, others around the league see that. Hockey players, like the vast majority of people, would prefer to work for an organization that treats their people well. The Predators are doing the same with ROR and they don’t have to.

I agree that Montreal seems to be the best spot for Kadri. They have a clear need at 2C and Kadri’s experience would fit like a glove there as would his playing style. That said, as mentioned previously, the Flames should just give him to the Canadiens. Conroy should set his price and not move off that. As per Saravalli, Kadri is the best C out there. So Montreal can decide how serious they are about giving their team the best chance to win. Settle for less or bring in the best.