2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Roko]

Originally Posted by Wolven

lol, what?

Andersson can also sign an extension. He can do so the day he is traded. He could also do so in June after a playoff run. All of those things are possible.

To get McQueen out of the Ducks, Andersson almost certainly needs to be open to an extension and Verbeek needs to be ready to pay him. Right now the Ducks have $40M in cap space for next season, which sounds like a lot but they still need to sign Carlsson, Gauthier, Zellweger, Mintyukov, and Moore.

Even though I expect Carlsson and Gauthier to get big contracts, they should be softened by the fact that they are just coming off their ELCs and have a lot of RFA years to incorporate. If they are $10M AAV or under then that should leave plenty of space for the D.

I think the Ducks could easily offer Andersson $9Mx8 and not hurt their cap structure too much. Most of that cap space is with Trouba ($8M) and Gudas ($4M) right now.

I support and agree with everything you are saying. Andersson could easily be swayed but a fun exciting team on the rise. In California.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

So if McQueen (a very top draft pick) is 4-5 years away from playing any sort of prominent role, if any, with the Ducks, query why lesser prospects with the Flames are going to be putting us in playoff contention in a few years when we move into the new rink?

Cause McQueen was drafted 10th overall while our guys will mostly be mid to late 1st rounders ! That’s where you find the real talent

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Roko

I support and agree with everything you are saying. Andersson could easily be swayed but a fun exciting team on the rise. In California.

He doesn't have to be just open to re-signing there, he actually has to make the commitment therefore passing on his biggest opportunity to test the market.
I think that'll be tough.

[PepsiFree]

There’s nothing that suggests McQueen is a better prospect than Reschny at this point.

[Bonded]

I think the Kadri return is much more interesting than the Andersson return. He’ll fetch more

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

There’s nothing that suggests McQueen is a better prospect than Reschny at this point.

And?
I’d be ecstatic to have both

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I think the Kadri return is much more interesting than the Andersson return. He’ll fetch more

I don't see Edwards approving a Kadri trade. History suggests that they will move veterans, but only when the contract is getting close to running down. Hope to be wrong there.


Also I think the Andersson return should be good. While his deal is running down, he's playing like one of the best dmen in the league this season. Even as a rental it should be late 1st plus. And if he'll re-sign somewhere the plus should be a very solid prospect.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Cause McQueen was drafted 10th overall while our guys will mostly be mid to late 1st rounders ! That’s where you find the real talent

Hopefully we only have late first round picks.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Wolven

It is a valid argument. What is unreasonable is to have someone call out a generic opinion to show their work and back up their opinion and then you say "you do it". If Cliff thinks 10+ teams can offer a RD better than Andersson then he should back up that claim. There are only 30 other teams to look at and when lazy people are throwing out generic opinions that "Some GM" will throw out a "better RD" offer in vague terms then it is fair game to call that person out to prove their work to support their argument.

Just find 1 example of a team with RD depth that has a player to offer that is better than Andersson.

Right now there are only 6 RD with more points than Andersson. Makar, Bouchard, Heiskanen, Fox, Carlson, and Seider. 0 of those teams would offer their top RD for McQueen.

Also, I disagree with your notion that the Ducks would prioritize youth. They already have 5 D in their NHL roster who are under 25 with Soldberg and Luneau in the pipe. They need a vet to help lead the young guys and to fill the organizational hole in RD as most of their young guys are LD. (Especially if both Gudas and Trouba walk in the summer)

Now, having said all of that, I do not believe it is a simple transaction. Definitely not Andersson for McQueen, 1:1. But the Ducks are on top of the division and I do not think you are really aware of the reality of their org or their org needs. Taking a quick look at r/AnaheimDucks it seems that their fans feel that their team needs a #1RD to be a contender right now.

I’ll stand by my take that trades like the one you are suggesting are few and far between.

Find a better RHS D available? In what context? Today? Last year? Three months from now? Noah Dobson got traded. Dougie Hamilton may be available. Wasn’t long ago Erik Karlson was as well. All those players at certain times have been better than Andersson. These things are fluid so to look at scoring stats today and say Andersson is the best RHS D available is a pretty thin argument.

Ducks fans? Well, Oilers fans say they need a G to be a contender right now. Take your pick of team and positional need every team in the league needs fill in the blank to be a contender right now.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

And?
I’d be ecstatic to have both

Just that anyone mentioning where he was drafted as being indicative of his value is out to lunch.

Wouldn’t mind picking up the player. But having him in a proposal for Andersson is a lot less controversial when you realize he’s likely a lot closer to a Joe Colborne than Joe Thornton.

More of an average Joe. Roger that?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

People are really going to be disappointed in the Andersson return just like the Hanifin trade is my prediction based on names being thrown out .

Really hope I'm wrong!

I never have expectations. Easier that way ... there are so many variables that change the value of the same type of player each season, and each month within the season.

The key is asset management to me.

Move the player and don't let him walk.
Preferably don't sign the player to a contract that takes him to 38.

Once those two landmines are avoided I'm good with whatever happens.

[CochraneKurt]

When a prospects name is randomly thrown out there (McQueen is the flavor of the week I see) with absolutely zero connection from anyone outside this forum, the debate over said prospect is 100% just a pissing match of opinions isn't it? I understand the "speculation" aspect of this forum but does every single random name require incessant back and forth for days when the odds of actually acquiring said player are likely under 1%?

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’ll stand by my take that trades like the one you are suggesting are few and far between.

Find a better RHS D available? In what context? Today? Last year? Three months from now? Noah Dobson got traded. Dougie Hamilton may be available. Wasn’t long ago Erik Karlson was as well. All those players at certain times have been better than Andersson. These things are fluid so to look at scoring stats today and say Andersson is the best RHS D available is a pretty thin argument.

Ducks fans? Well, Oilers fans say they need a G to be a contender right now. Take your pick of team and positional need every team in the league needs fill in the blank to be a contender right now.

Speaking of mental gymnastics.... your arguments always rely on running in the other direction and speaking in generic terms without specifics. Does invoking Dobson or the Oilers mean you disagree that the Ducks need a #1RD? Dunking on the Ducks fans is fun and all but they clearly know the details of their team better than you do.

Andersson has been the top RD on the trade board for about a year and is the top RD on the board for next summer's UFA class. That isn't a thin argument, that is just stating some information that is widely accepted as true. If you want to disprove it then you need to put in more effort than this runaround.

It's also weird that you cannot just be happy that Andersson's value is up and changes the leverage that Conroy has in negotiations. Why does this thread always need to have a competition for who can be the most wettest blanket?

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Just that anyone mentioning where he was drafted as being indicative of his value is out to lunch.

Wouldn’t mind picking up the player. But having him in a proposal for Andersson is a lot less controversial when you realize he’s likely a lot closer to a Joe Colborne than Joe Thornton.

More of an average Joe. Roger that?

Scouts had McQueen ahead of Reschny across the board. I bet the Flames did as well.

What has changed in 16 games? Slow start for a guy who missed most of last season?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’ll stand by my take that trades like the one you are suggesting are few and far between.

Find a better RHS D available? In what context? Today? Last year? Three months from now? Noah Dobson got traded. Dougie Hamilton may be available. Wasn’t long ago Erik Karlson was as well. All those players at certain times have been better than Andersson. These things are fluid so to look at scoring stats today and say Andersson is the best RHS D available is a pretty thin argument.

Ducks fans? Well, Oilers fans say they need a G to be a contender right now. Take your pick of team and positional need every team in the league needs fill in the blank to be a contender right now.

Karlsson is currently a little bit worse than Rasmus offensively and a lot worse defensively.

Dougie is hard to judge because he is usually injured but a lot worse offensively this year and worse defensively.

Both players would be a significant downgrade compared with Rasmus (at least in current hockey playing ability without taking into account nostalgia)

If teams are trading trying to address current needs (like this year) and not needs from previous years Rasmus is probably the best available.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Just that anyone mentioning where he was drafted as being indicative of his value is out to lunch.

Wouldn’t mind picking up the player. But having him in a proposal for Andersson is a lot less controversial when you realize he’s likely a lot closer to a Joe Colborne than Joe Thornton.

More of an average Joe. Roger that?

I would be ecstatic to get a Reschny equivalent center prospect in a Rasmus deal.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by CochraneKurt

When a prospects name is randomly thrown out there (McQueen is the flavor of the week I see) with absolutely zero connection from anyone outside this forum, the debate over said prospect is 100% just a pissing match of opinions isn't it? I understand the "speculation" aspect of this forum but does every single random name require incessant back and forth for days when the odds of actually acquiring said player are likely under 1%?

That’s why we should focus on what’s important. How funny that helicopter trip was.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Scouts had McQueen ahead of Reschny across the board. I bet the Flames did as well.

What has changed in 16 games? Slow start for a guy who missed most of last season?

Slow start. Far less CHL production at the same ages. Worse on the dot. He’s nearly a full year older (an entire hockey season older) and has 6 inches on Reschny.

It was a more speculative pick than most (all scouting is speculative of course) because of missing most of his draft season.

It’s not that much has changed in 16 games. It’s that nothing has. And things certainly needed to change for McQueen to deserve being picked that high.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by traptor

I would be ecstatic to get a Reschny equivalent center prospect in a Rasmus deal.

I don’t think he’s equivalent. Reschny is better.

But I think he’d be a fair target in an Andersson deal.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Slow start. Far less CHL production at the same ages. Worse on the dot. He’s nearly a full year older (an entire hockey season older) and has 6 inches on Reschny.

It was a more speculative pick than most (all scouting is speculative of course) because of missing most of his draft season.

It’s not that much has changed in 16 games. It’s that nothing has. And things certainly needed to change for McQueen to deserve being picked that high.

McQueen
Elite - 5th
Bob - 7th
Button - 5th
Ferrari - 17th
Kennedy - 6th
McKeens - 9th
FC - 8th
Daily - 9th
Cosentino - 10th
Bukla - 7th
Recruit - 9th
Dobber - 12th
Smaht - 12th

Reschny
Elite - 33rd
Bob - 29th
Button - 13th
Ferrari - 31st
Kennedy - 25th
McKeens - 38th
FC - 25th
Daily 22nd
Cosentino - 21st
Bukala - 20th
Recruit - 17th
Dobber - 22nd
Smaht - 25th

16 games into season and random guy says nothing saying McQueen is better. It's very possible Reschny ends up better, but McQueen's rank has not changed due to 5 less points in 18 games in NCAA.