2025/2026 Season Trade Rumours and Speculation Thread

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Rhett just likes Zeev Buium, and thinks that the Flames have missed out on the guy, because he looked more NHL ready, and MIN flipped him for Hughes.

I thought that Buium fell in part because of what happened with McGroarty in WPG. Teams were a lot more weary about drafting a player with a top 10 pick that might request a trade 2 years removed from the draft.

It's way too early to judge the defensive game of a 19-year-old. If he has the same defensive warts after 300 NHL games, then sure. The Flames' biggest need was offense, and Parekh was a great get to address that. People are just upset he can't seamlessly fit into Andersson's shoes 15 games into his NHL career.

Buium is who I wanted them to draft as well but still hoping Parekh is better long term and I would only want him traded for a prospect with actual #1C upside

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

But Utah already had that choice and picked Iginla.
Why would they now turn around and flip him for a guy they could have taken but chose not to?
I realize things change over time, but what has changed that would cause Utah to do that?

Not much has changed, it's just position of strength (Utah F prospect) for position of strength (Calgary D prospect). I think the best reply I would give is Utah getting to opportunity to draft Desnoyers after going from 14th to 4th in the most recent draft. I'd argue that with the extra year of development for Parekh, he has more value than Iggy who has rebuilt his value and then some after his injury that took him out for all of last season.

Other than that, not much change. If Brzustewicz increases his value, we might be better off offering him and some +s to get an established NHL center on the market, but for value sake and trying to acquire Iggy, I'd say Parekh is the only thing that wouldn't have Utah instantly hanging up.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Cooley says hi. If Parekh was offered for Iggy 1 for 1, I think Utah accepts. Parekh or Wolf are the only two pieces (in my opinion) that Utah wouldn't hang up the phone. Utah would be happy with Cooley and Desnoyers down the middle and Serg/Parekh as a future top pairing.

Utah chose him over Parekh. And I believe they also liked the name recognition (being a son of a legendary player) as well as his attitude.

I really doubt they trade him even if you offer more.

[Hoop27]

Absolutely no reason at this time to even consider trading Parekh. Even with my own complaints about his defensive play he has the potential to be elite. He'll need a partner like Bahl (Which I'm assuming is the plan.) to cover up for him and help take care of him.

I'd also like to see the rest of the team go into more gang warfare mode if someone decides to take runs at the kid.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Hoop27

I'd also like to see the rest of the team go into more gang warfare mode if someone decides to take runs at the kid.

It would be really terrific if Pospisil can make his comeback at the same time Parekh gets back with the team. If anybody takes liberties with Parekh, they can have a yoked Slovak in their face the rest of the night, doing his best Tasmanian Devil impression.

[Sandman]

Controversial Take Alert:

As a guy who watched Parekh since his D-minus-2 year, I tend to agree with Warrener. I realize how important he is to the organization as a prospect, and how he could affect our future if he fulfilled his potential, but I think there’s just as much of a chance that he busts (probably more). Like Rhett, I didn’t like the pick at the time, and I said as much leading up to the draft; I wanted Buium or Dickenson.

To me, Zayne’s defense isn’t the biggest issue- we’ve always known that he can’t defend, and that’s not going to change. It’s the reason he was drafted-his offense- that worries me. To much of what he does relies on flashy individual efforts, and that’s just not going to fly at the NHL level. There’s also the issue that he can’t manage contact, and leaves himself open to be demolished too often. I hope he learns and develops, but I have never seen an NHL defenseman there. Flame away!

[Sandman]

Glad I got that off my chest!

[Royle9]

Oof Sandman, that’s a hot take.
I’d argue Dickinson is more of a bust at this point.
Don’t want Zeev for his US bias.

I think we’ll be fine.

[dammage79]

I thought this thread jumped the sharks months ago. Nope, today is the day this thread jumped the shark.

Everyone on this trade Parekh BS is off their rocker. Rhett Warrener being the chief calamity in all of this.

19 year offensive defenseman breaks every record in OHL , breaks WJC scoring record, makes NHL debut and scores.

Nope, can't have that on the Flames. Too far from center on the safety scale.


Give your heads a shake. Actually, who cares. Keep on being you.

[dammage79]

Man, I'd love to have y'all back in Bobby Orr's day giving us these epic hot takes. Good god.


First it was Gaudreau, then it was Wolf, now it's Parekh. Can't wait for the tune to change once again when the player shuts y'all up.

[PepsiFree]

I respect your effort and contributions on everything draft-related Sandman but that take is a dog’s breakfast lol. I do notice you tend to get pretty high on guys with size and toughness and a little low on guys without it. The game is more set up for guys like Parekh than ever, and he’s certainly not anywhere close to the first D to play like he does and make a career out of it.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Controversial Take Alert:

As a guy who watched Parekh since his D-minus-2 year, I tend to agree with Warrener. I realize how important he is to the organization as a prospect, and how he could affect our future if he fulfilled his potential, but I think there’s just as much of a chance that he busts (probably more). Like Rhett, I didn’t like the pick at the time, and I said as much leading up to the draft; I wanted Buium or Dickenson.

To me, Zayne’s defense isn’t the biggest issue- we’ve always known that he can’t defend, and that’s not going to change. It’s the reason he was drafted-his offense- that worries me. To much of what he does relies on flashy individual efforts, and that’s just not going to fly at the NHL level. There’s also the issue that he can’t manage contact, and leaves himself open to be demolished too often. I hope he learns and develops, but I have never seen an NHL defenseman there. Flame away!

I was also higher on Buium, and Dickinson at the draft, but I thought they were all more or less in the same tier. You watch a lot more junior than I do, so I defer to your opinion, but I think that you underestimate Parekh's offensive game. I think he could be similar to D. Hamilton offensively. In particular, in using his wrister from the top of the circles.

Here's a blast from the past of Hamilton's goals with the Flames:

Spoiler!

I see a lot of Parekh's game here. And hopefully the coaches could steal a couple of those plays in order to get Parekh's offense going. Moreover, I think that Parekh's passing would improve the Flames' transition game, which would create more odd-man rushes, result in quicker play, and so on.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I thought this thread jumped the sharks months ago. Nope, today is the day this thread jumped the shark.

Everyone on this trade Parekh BS is off their rocker. Rhett Warrener being the chief calamity in all of this.

19 year offensive defenseman breaks every record in OHL , breaks WJC scoring record, makes NHL debut and scores.

Nope, can't have that on the Flames. Too far from center on the safety scale.


Give your heads a shake. Actually, who cares. Keep on being you.

I think this is the craziest part. This isn’t a guy who is like, “good offensively but bad defensively.” We’re talking about a playing who is showing up and breaking records that have stood for years, some decades, and talking like he’s not an NHLer because he makes mistakes in the defensive zone on a team full of guys who make even worse mistakes in a tournament full of guys who make endless mistakes… it feels insane to read.

I was at a Flames game in December and watched Weegar make about half a dozen more mistakes than Kuz. Still played a good game. Backlund? Mistakes. One of the better Flames this year. Like it’s fine if you think Parekh might not be generational but to go to a complete bust because he’s not stopping every chance before it becomes something is craaaaaazy.

[ColossusXIII]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Glad I got that off my chest!

I'm still incredibly optimistic and hopeful about the pick but I always appreciate your very informed takes of any temperature.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Controversial Take Alert:

As a guy who watched Parekh since his D-minus-2 year, I tend to agree with Warrener. I realize how important he is to the organization as a prospect, and how he could affect our future if he fulfilled his potential, but I think there’s just as much of a chance that he busts (probably more). Like Rhett, I didn’t like the pick at the time, and I said as much leading up to the draft; I wanted Buium or Dickenson.

To me, Zayne’s defense isn’t the biggest issue- we’ve always known that he can’t defend, and that’s not going to change. It’s the reason he was drafted-his offense- that worries me. To much of what he does relies on flashy individual efforts, and that’s just not going to fly at the NHL level. There’s also the issue that he can’t manage contact, and leaves himself open to be demolished too often. I hope he learns and develops, but I have never seen an NHL defenseman there. Flame away!

100%
I wanted Buium as well and am convinced he will be the more successful of the two long term.

If there was an opportunity to grab a top C prospect for Parekh I would jump at it. I am just not convinced that Zayne's game will fit with the Flames culture of hard work and N-S hockey. I've been a fan long enough to suspect that this style is not doing to deviate much.

I also think that his personality is going to drive some people crazy, similar to Subban in MTL. He is already driving many fans crazy on this site...this will only get worse. Media are already creating drama with his comments about interviews.

Due to these factors, I see an eventual falling out in the future and would prefer to get ahead of it when an opportunity arrises.

[CgyFlamesftw]

Parekh taking too much heat, not from here but everywhere. Guess going forward flames should just take the safe bet and draft a player like Luchenko, oh wait he seems like a offensive blackhole. Maybe Yakemchuk if he was still available and wasn't a reach, oh wait he didn't even make team Canada.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Controversial Take Alert:

As a guy who watched Parekh since his D-minus-2 year, I tend to agree with Warrener. I realize how important he is to the organization as a prospect, and how he could affect our future if he fulfilled his potential, but I think there’s just as much of a chance that he busts (probably more). Like Rhett, I didn’t like the pick at the time, and I said as much leading up to the draft; I wanted Buium or Dickenson.

To me, Zayne’s defense isn’t the biggest issue- we’ve always known that he can’t defend, and that’s not going to change. It’s the reason he was drafted-his offense- that worries me. To much of what he does relies on flashy individual efforts, and that’s just not going to fly at the NHL level. There’s also the issue that he can’t manage contact, and leaves himself open to be demolished too often. I hope he learns and develops, but I have never seen an NHL defenseman there. Flame away!

"Can't defend".

Talk about hyperbolic.

[CFO]

Would anyone do McMichael for Coleman and a pick?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by CFO

Would anyone do McMichael for Coleman and a pick?

Uhm yeah. I would. Isn't he like the future for the Caps though? Him and Ryan Leonard?

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Controversial Take Alert:

As a guy who watched Parekh since his D-minus-2 year, I tend to agree with Warrener. I realize how important he is to the organization as a prospect, and how he could affect our future if he fulfilled his potential, but I think there’s just as much of a chance that he busts (probably more). Like Rhett, I didn’t like the pick at the time, and I said as much leading up to the draft; I wanted Buium or Dickenson.

To me, Zayne’s defense isn’t the biggest issue- we’ve always known that he can’t defend, and that’s not going to change. It’s the reason he was drafted-his offense- that worries me. To much of what he does relies on flashy individual efforts, and that’s just not going to fly at the NHL level. There’s also the issue that he can’t manage contact, and leaves himself open to be demolished too often. I hope he learns and develops, but I have never seen an NHL defenseman there. Flame away!

Zayne to me is a great pick at where we got him. He’s the ultimate high risk/high reward pick, and when we’re a team that doesn’t often get high picks, swinging for it is how you end up with the players we need.

They won’t all hit, but you’ve got to go for the upside.

Offensive defenceman/roamer is a hell of a hard skill set to transition to the NHL. I see the bust potential, but I’m still high on the upside and potential - I also think the Flames and how they handle him will have a huge impact on success. It’s absolute garbage that the AHL eligibility rule didn’t come into play this season, because it’s exactly what Zayne needed. His game is ALWAYS going to be fuelled by confidence and a strong sense that the team believes in him because he does play a risky brand of hockey.

So I definitely understand the concern, but I also view it as a great challenge for the organization because the upside is massive - they just need to help build him into it and not destroy the confidence in the process, because that confidence is and will be key to his success.

In short, I still love the upside of the pick - and yeah, I don’t think things have gone great to date. I really hope Raz is dealt soon, so that the Flames can truly embrace Zayne and give him some runway and space to say “we’ve got you kid, go out there and do your thing”.

…in the “bold takes” category, it also wouldn’t shock me to see Zayne traded in a blockbuster.