As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time to look ahead to what is sure to be a busy 2026. The Calgary Flames will play 16 games in the new year before the Olympic break in early February. After a month-long absence, the league will return to action just a few days before the 2026 Trade Deadline on March 6. The season felt jam-packed with the compact schedule. The fear isn’t reserved for Flames fans.
We saw the Vancouver Canucks break the ice with a blockbuster trade that sent their captain, Quinn Hughes, to the Minnesota Wild for a plethora of young talent and a first-round pick in the upcoming draft. Since the Flames have kept their cards close to their chest thus far, we wanted to know how many current Flames roster members will be traded when the calendar turns. If the Flames make a move, how much?
We asked, you answered.
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How many current Flames will be traded in 2026?
We have presented the survey below to our readers.
Two players traded
About 45% of fans believe two current Flames will be traded in 2026. Two is a reasonable number, but given the desire of the masses to rebuild, it may not be enough. The Flames are still 27th overall in the league, just two points ahead of the Bedard-less Chicago Blackhawks in 32nd.
Despite the Flames’ atrocious start to the season, veterans Nazem Kadri and Rasmus Andersson are playing some of their best hockey careers. Kadri’s 31 points lead the team, while his eight goals rank fourth in the Flames scoring chart. Kadri was once again the heartbeat of this Flames group, which came close to the play-offs thanks to a good start, but without success.
Andersson, on the other hand, is having one of his worst career seasons last year. The 29-year-old Flame has made a comeback in the 2025-2026 season, with 25 points and seven goals in 36 games. Rasmus has also been a workhorse this season, leading the team with a TOI of 24:06 per game.
Both veterans have made it clear that they still have a lot of fighting to do and would certainly be valuable to any playoff team that pursued them. The real question will be: what do the offers look like?
Three or more players traded
More than a third of respondents think there will be a third name in the trading conversation by early 2026. You would assume the logical choice would be two-time Stanley Cup champion Blake Coleman. The 34-year-old from Plano, Texas has scored 17 points while scoring 10 goals, a mark good enough for second on the team.
Coleman also has three shorthanded goals. That’s half of the Flames’ league-leading six, making him tied for the most in the league. There’s no doubt that Coleman would be a vital piece to add to a Cup contender. Over the past few seasons, Coleman has really played above and beyond his expected role, taking advantage of opportunities and being one of the most consistent players in the Flames room.
If Kadri and Andersson are on their way out, I think Coleman is long gone too. It’s a clear set of trade chips in Calgary, and despite their age, a return to the Flames could be nice. All three players we discussed moved the needle for the Flames on a regular basis during their tenure with the team.
One or none
About 20% of fans believe the Flames will trade one or fewer current players in 2026. Things started to look bleak after the Flames encouraged Don Maloney to enrage fans and make sure the league knew they weren’t trading with anyone, and playoffs were the goal. About a month later, the team turned their game around. However, there was still a lot to make up for and many teams had to step up.
With the Flames still in the bottom five of the standings after a strong stretch of play, the alarm bells are getting louder. With about six weeks until the Olympic break and the trade deadline soon to follow, trade stickers will be busy in the new year as teams prepare for the sprint to the playoffs in March.
Many can fall
It seems like the consensus among Flames fans is that the team should trade at least one of their aging prospects. Between Kadri, Andersson and Coleman, the Flames could get healthy returns to fuel their rebuild. If they want to keep a Coleman or a Kadri, I think some fans can understand that from a leadership perspective. However, one thing is certain. Flames fans are ready for change, and we’ve been teased for too long. Time to pick up the phone, Craig.
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