2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

To me a pretty clear indication you are directionless is that the opinion is so split on what you are doing. Some fans say this is a rebuild, some say it is a retool, some say a rebiggle.

If you picked a clear direction, we wouldn't have people arguing about what the plan is. To me that just screams directionless. Because you can make an argument either way.

They are directionless because fans all pick different but similar words for the same thing?

[Tbull8]

I wish Misa or Tij (I know he’s untouchable) were somehow on the table. Those are the 2 guys I’ve consistently seen Parekh generating with. They seem to just always be on the same page as him

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by browntrout

With the exception of Zayne, none of the other "quality" picks have shown that they are legitimate NHL'ers, let alone 1st line NHL'ers, what this team desperately needs.

I get that he is accumulating picks, I get that, and it is a start in the right direction, the bigger problem is this team is on a downward trajectory, probably going to miss the playoffs for the 4th straight year, with no clear prospects ready to take over more established vet roles, that's the bigger concern.

They need to start addressing that, you can't do it through Free agency anymore, so the entry drafts become even more important. And it's almost impossible to move up, as in it literally never happens, at least not the top 5.

If your miss the playoffs this year and your goal is to get in the playoffs at around the new arena opens, or shortly after, you do need to start getting better quality prospects to start the handover process, and it's something that seems to be getting stalled and delayed

Conroy hasn't had enough time to see if his draft classes to date are great, good, average or bad.

They're all too young.

But different draft rankings have them slaying the 2024 draft and doing quite well with the 2025 draft.

Best indicator we have right now.

Plus I think you're ignoring some pretty positive trends from Gridin.

[Macindoc]

For those who insist that the Flames are going to any length to try to make the playoffs every season, regardless of the cost, can you please explain why the Flames didn’t trade for Marner and sign Ehlers last summer. They had the assets and cap space for both.

One poster asked why Ehlers would sign here. The answer, of course, is money, if that’s no object and the only thing that matters is making the playoffs. And with Marner, the Flames could have outbid the Golden Knights if the only thing that mattered was trying to squeak into the playoffs every season.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

So may people turn other posters' speculation into the fact of what management is doing.

Myself, I think Conroy saw firsthand what happens when management makes a knee jerk trade (and I'm not even talking about Treliving). I think he's in a much better position to assess the market. And I dont think his hands are tied.

Knee jerk trade?

In the last 18 months hes done nothing . At what point can we move pass knee jerk reaction timeframe hahahah

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by FlamesFanInEdmonton

Just caught up on 20 pages of posts in this thread. I want my 30 mins back.

What were you expecting ? A breaking trade none of the media outlets picked up on hiding somewhere in those 20 pages !

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Bingo

The Flames were a spend to the cap team for 15 straight years (guessing). They spend to the cap when they want to.

So who would you have signed if you were given the order to improve the team?


Go look at the plethora of quality FAs last year and see who actually improves this team and moved teams

Certainly no top 2 line forwards which was their biggest issue

[Roko]

The UFA list this summer is dire too. There is no improving through that more than likely. Trades and draft. I would be interested to hear if Conroy reaches back out to the Sharks to negotiate. If rasmus would go there, it frankly is the best case situation I feel.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Tbull8

I wish Misa or Tij (I know he’s untouchable) were somehow on the table. Those are the 2 guys I’ve consistently seen Parekh generating with. They seem to just always be on the same page as him

Ya, it really bugs me that Misa is going to be a secondary player on the Sharks instead of the top guy on the Flames.

I really like the Sharks as a trade partner because they really need to upgrade on D and could send us a great player in return.... and if they do not trade with us, then I hope they wallow in the mushy middle because their D group will remain lacking for years!!!

Same feeling about the Ducks and McQueen... but arguably their D group is better built.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

For those who insist that the Flames are going to any length to try to make the playoffs every season, regardless of the cost, can you please explain why the Flames didn’t trade for Marner and sign Ehlers last summer. They had the assets and cap space for both.

One poster asked why Ehlers would sign here. The answer, of course, is money, if that’s no object and the only thing that matters is making the playoffs. And with Marner, the Flames could have outbid the Golden Knights if the only thing that mattered was trying to squeak into the playoffs every season.

I havent seen a single poster say or even allude to this. Make the playoffs at any cost?

They admitted they were big game hunting in the offseason, and rumored (really confirmed) to at least have engaged Marner.

You know those guys have to want to sign here? There was zero chance Marner was signing here.

Obviously the Flames aren't going to offer Ehlers 11-12 million a year for a career high 60 point guy. Did they offer him a contract in the range Carolina did? /shrug who knows.

Two things can be true - Conroy can be trying to improve the team via FA's AND also have a price he wants to pay them realistically.

The point is having cap space when the UFA class was putrid does not prove that they didn't try to sign FA's, want to sign FA's, or engage FA's

It does show that Conroy isn't going to overpay on FA's and blow up the eventual needed cap structure and put us in another MT situation - Which is certainly positive.

Or at least for 1 offseason it did

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Roko

The UFA list this summer is dire too. There is no improving through that more than likely. Trades and draft. I would be interested to hear if Conroy reaches back out to the Sharks to negotiate. If rasmus would go there, it frankly is the best case situation I feel.

The UFAs will be dire until the cap stabilizes.

Also teams learned from Calgarys mistake (IMO)to get their stars locked up long term even if you are overpaying as you can't replace them easily or quickly.

[FlamesFanInEdmonton]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

What were you expecting ? A breaking trade none of the media outlets picked up on hiding somewhere in those 20 pages !

Ohhh I dunno...trade talk instead of the same pissing contests that consume every other thread. I know it's a stretch to think we might see some trade talk in the trade rumours and speculation thread.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think Conroy's picks look great myself. Aside from Parekh (who is just as unproven as anyone and so is McKenna for that matter) Honzek looks like an NHler. And Reschny looks good. So does Gridin.

I'm pretty high on most of Conroy's picks, but this year once again reminded me that development is far from linear.

Here are some (unexpected?) set-backs:
2023
Honzek - can't seem to avoid the injury bug for a 3rd(4th?) year in a row.
Morin - started the year moving between the AHL and ECHL, in part due to fitness.
Suniev - hasn't been producing offense with any consistency at the AHL level.

2024
Parekh - rotated in and out of the lineup at the NHL level. Constantly got caught by hard hits, got injured
Basha - was just sent back down to the WHL.
Battaglia - is putting up points at a much lower rate for the Forntenacs. His production went down from 1.32PPG to 0.74PPG this year.
Mews - Season ending injury in November.
Misa - had a pretty big drop in production playing for Penn State compared to his OHL numbers. He put up only 3P in 16GP.

2025
Stockselius - shut down after 2 games in the SHL due to a freak injury. I think he's back to playing now but in the Swe-Jr league instead.

---
Gridin who's having a great season, was also on a bit of a cold streak(2P in 5GP) by his standards before he missed the last 3 games due to injury. He's still day-to-day.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

So who would you have signed if you were given the order to improve the team?


Go look at the plethora of quality FAs last year and see who actually improves this team and moved teams

Certainly no top 2 line forwards which was their biggest issue

Marner. Burns. Roslovic. Boeser. Beauvillier.

But they also could have made trades to upgrade and they didn't.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Free agency won't fix this mess. They need to build in the draft and trade vets.

Otherwise, the vets themselves all likely decline rapidly over the next few years. And we may be looking at bottoming out the year we have the new arena.

Well the draft isn’t going to fix this mess on that timeline either so it’s a good thing the world isn’t going to end when the new arena opens.

Should have at least a few years of life left after that to continue building the team.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Thought it might generate something else to discuss besides watching the same people have the same fight for the 1 millionth time. Seems I was wrong.

paywalled and no one wants to get clapped by the mods for sharing paid content so its hard to discuss

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Knee jerk trade?

In the last 18 months hes done nothing . At what point can we move pass knee jerk reaction timeframe hahahah

Yes, knee jerk trade. He has time to make a move and won't because of some perceived phony pressure.

[BigThief]

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I havent seen a single poster say or even allude to this. Make the playoffs at any cost?

They admitted they were big game hunting in the offseason, and rumored (really confirmed) to at least have engaged Marner.

You know those guys have to want to sign here? There was zero chance Marner was signing here.

Obviously the Flames aren't going to offer Ehlers 11-12 million a year for a career high 60 point guy. Did they offer him a contract in the range Carolina did? /shrug who knows.

Two things can be true - Conroy can be trying to improve the team via FA's AND also have a price he wants to pay them realistically.

The point is having cap space when the UFA class was putrid does not prove that they didn't try to sign FA's, want to sign FA's, or engage FA's

It does show that Conroy isn't going to overpay on FA's and blow up the eventual needed cap structure and put us in another MT situation - Which is certainly positive.

Or at least for 1 offseason it did

All teams always try to better their teams through all avenues. This is not a Calgary or Conroy specific thing.

Do you seriously have nothing better to do then cry about the Flames not being bad enough for your liking?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Rebiggle: It's like when you get a new username to trick people into thinking you're significantly different, but it's really only a minor change and things remain the same.