2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

The Stars do match up well against the Avs, they are built to beat them. My point was only that some people say we should use the Dallas model to build a contender, but Dallas themselves have never won the cup with the model. Even with the amazing drafting.

To be fair, you said you were jealous of the Edmonton model (even though they lucked into McDavid). And they haven't won a cup in their last two attempts.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

The Stars do match up well against the Avs, they are built to beat them. My point was only that some people say we should use the Dallas model to build a contender, but Dallas themselves have never won the cup with the model. Even with the amazing drafting.

I think the Dallas model has worked, as they have been a contender.

But that Dallas model is based on getting lucky with the lottery and some unreal drafting. Plus having a destination in a low tax state. It's not really a model.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

If there was ever a year where I want the Flames to get a top pick, this is it. But, they really are too good to finish that low in the standings. I picked them to take a step up from last year and make the playoffs, the slow start made me think we may actually get Gavin but that's not likely now. On top of that I thought the slow start would lead to not only a Ras trade for futures, but also Kadri and Coleman for futures. I still think Ras goes, can't let him walk for nothing. Kadri and Coleman though? That ship has sailed for this season IMO. Will have to revisit down the road possibly.

Nothing you can do as a fan but enjoy the fact that they are playing well.

Good news is you can build a hell of a team without a top pick. Look at the Stars. Three straight conference finals appearances and they are currently 2nd overall in the NHL. Other than Heiskanen they are not build around top picks, and he was only because of a lottery win where they jumped up like 7 spots in a down year to get 3rd overall. And while he's good, he's no Makar or Mackinnon.

Their top players:

Rantanen 10th OA
Robertson 39th OA
Johnston 23rd OA
Heiskanen 3rd OA (lottery win)
Hintz 49th OA
Lindell 74th OA
Faksa 13th OA
Harley 18th OA
Oettinger 26th OA

Just need to hit in all rounds of the draft and especially in the mid to late 1st round.

Those are some great picks, but IMO a lot of them turned out that good because of guys like Pavelski.

The young guys were surrounded by Pavelski, Benn, Seguin, and Duchene all of whom were at most a couple of years removed from being stars(no pun intended).

[Niemo]

There is no such thing as the Dallas model. That was just winning the lottery once and drafting well. Every team is striving for that.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

I could see a deal built around Robertson, Coleman, and Andersson.

To DAL
Andersson
Coleman (50% retained)
2026 3rd

To CGY
Robertson
Conditional 2026 2nd (becomes 2027 1st if Andersson resigns)

Calgary could flip Robertson in another trade since he may be a better fit with teams that have prospects or players the Flames have identified.

Perhaps Montreal, New Jersey, Los Angeles??

It sounds like an odd trade but I think Andersson and Coleman bring more to Dallas combined and helps them in more areas important for a playoff run than Robertson does. Robertson is also going to be done so at best they would trade him at the draft anyhow.

We've never been a 'flip a recently acquired player' type of team. Has it happened even once in 45 years?

If we made that trade, Flames would extend Robertson and that would be our 'star.' I think Dallas is all in, so they won't subtract in any meaningful way from their team to add Cup run support guys (which is what Ras and Blake would be). So there is no way they are trading Robertson - I am sure they would rather lose him for nothing if having him helps the Cup run.

- Ras wants to test free agency, he's a rental full stop.
- Blake improves their 3rd line, and maybe drops a guy down to 4th to improve that line too. Does that move the needle much against the Avs for example?

You will never get a Robertson for so little a price.

Any which way you look at it, I don't see a trade with Dallas.

I have no doubt Dallas are serious about acquiring our guys. I just doubt that anything on offer would appeal to Conroy.

The hold up is that a deal is impossible.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

I think the Dallas model has worked, as they have been a contender.

But that Dallas model is based on getting lucky with the lottery and some unreal drafting. Plus having a destination in a low tax state. It's not really a model.

I just don't agree that Dallas has been a contender. In my mind, a contender is a team that has a chance of winning the cup.

And while teams like Dallas and Winnipeg (up until this year) have had good teams, that does not automatically make them a contender. I don't believe those teams have any chance of winning the cup.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Conroy is a competent GM. He’s going to keep his powder dry for a big name UFA, not going to waste cap space on yet another complementary player. He would 100% be in on first line players in UFA and from what I understand, they expressed interest in the few that were available this summer.

This is complete news to me and I never saw anything like that on this site or from any other source.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I just don't agree that Dallas has been a contender. In my mind, a contender is a team that has a chance of winning the cup.

And while teams like Dallas and Winnipeg (up until this year) have had good teams, that does not automatically make them a contender. I don't believe those teams have any chance of winning the cup.

Dallas has been a series away from the finals for the past three years. And was in the finals in 2020. And this year they have a better record (so far) than in any of those years.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

We've never been a 'flip a recently acquired player' type of team. Has it happened even once in 45 years?

Does Kuzmenko count? I'm pretty sure they'd have traded Mantha but for his injury.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

I just don't agree that Dallas has been a contender. In my mind, a contender is a team that has a chance of winning the cup.

And while teams like Dallas and Winnipeg (up until this year) have had good teams, that does not automatically make them a contender. I don't believe those teams have any chance of winning the cup.

Can you list the teams you think do have a chance?

[stemit14]

I keep hearing how the schedule is about to get really tough for the flames but it must mean that it will get tough in the final quarter of the season because the next month does not seem like many powerhouse teams (not that many teams qualify as powerhouses this year). These are their opponents leading up to the Olympic break:

Nashville
Seattle
@Montreal
@Boston
@Pittsburgh
@Columbus
@Chicago
Long Island
New Jersey
Pittsburgh
Washington
Anaheim
@Minnesota
San Jose
Toronto
Edmonton

There is only one back-to-back in that stretch of games and it’s early on (Montreal and Boston). Eight home games and six road games. Personally, I think most of those games are very winnable. There is a real opportunity for the flames to gain more ground in the west before the Olympic break. Unfortunately, if the schedule does get tough after that, the belief management has in the team may prove to be a mistake if they fall off as the games/opponents get tougher after the TDL.

[Finger Cookin]

Well obviously Buffalo and New Jersey are top tier contenders, because they've both drafted first overall twice in the past 10 years. Then in the next tier of contenders, you have your Rangers, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Blackhawks, Sharks, and Islanders.

Teams like Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Tampa, Florida, and Vegas? Not real contenders.

[TheScorpion]

Dallas is obviously a contender although I don't think it's a coincidence that they keep bowing out against teams with the true top-end superstars in the league.

[traptor]

The stars are a legit contender and Rants was exactly what they needed. He is a true superstar. Arguably not a top 5 player but forsure a top 10 player league wide.

Also, some of their core is very young still with room to grow. Whose to say Johnston, Robertson, Hesikenan and Harley don't have other levels they can get to. Johnston is only 22.

As long as they don't do anything crazy they're really well positioned to compete for the next 5+ years.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Can you list the teams you think do have a chance?

In the east: Florida, Tampa, Carolina.

In the west: Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Minnesota (after the Hughes trade).

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

In the east: Florida, Tampa, Carolina.

In the west: Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Minnesota (after the Hughes trade).

lol come on now

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Dallas is obviously a contender although I don't think it's a coincidence that they keep bowing out against teams with the true top-end superstars in the league.

Except when they beat the Avs?

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

In the east: Florida, Tampa, Carolina.

In the west: Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Minnesota (after the Hughes trade).

So Colorado is a contender but the team that has taken them out twice in a row isn’t?
Also who are Carolina’s elite game changers?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Except when they beat the Avs?

Well yes although that was Rantanen going completely nuclear in full revenge mode — the rest of the team was not particularly impressive in that series. And then they got destroyed by the Oilers in pretty short order.

[browntrout]

There is no such thing as the Dallas model, every team tries to emulate this strategy to a degree, alot more often than not, the strategy does not work, it's another straw that management can grasp at, to prove to Calgary fans, they "know" what they are doing. If we just copy Dallas, will automatically be successful, good luck with that