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The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

Chayka mentions Koblar when asked who he meant when saying they have internal options down the middle. Says he'll be in camp. Only player he named.


That's interesting. Last I heard Koblar had committed to a team in the Swedish league next season, but that was before he signed his ELC. Hopefully this means that he'll be playing for the Marlies if he doesn't make the Leafs out of camp. Would be nice to have him close at hand and keep the option to call him up if his play and/or the Leafs situation calls for it at some point later in the season.
 
Interesting reading the Canucks board and seeing their fear of taking Reid at 3 due to his alleged lack of IQ and physical play

Seems a lot are wanting Verhoeff who they see is equivalent to Reid but bigger and meaner
Preferring Verhoeff feels dumb as fuck but yeah, there are many red flags with Reid. He's nowhere near a lock.
 
It would be fun to have two guys in the top 5 this year. I’d be open to trading a bunch of the non core parts, even the guys I really like like Cowan, Robertson, and Danford. With Buffalo having lost two key guys off their roster, they’d be most primed to do something like that, but surely other teams are making similar bids. It does feel they need to trade that pick if there’s any hope of staying competitive now.
 
I can see arguments for certain guys in our D to stick around - you're not going to get rid of every single guy - but neither do I think they'll come back with *all* of Rielly, Tanev, McCabe and OEL.
 
I’m sure Chayka would like to replace Tanev but it’s going to be impossible.

I think he probably values McCabe but would deal him if he got a really good offer.

I expect he’s shopping around OEL and will deal him if he thinks he can land a ufa replacement or promote Danford or another kid.
 
Rielly is too much a part of the core to deal away. He’s been here longer than anyone, he’s been a warrior for them and steps up intensity in the playoffs, he’s buddies with all these guys, he has a life in TO. He’ll go when it’s retirement time or if Matthews goes and they blow everything up. There’s no other scenario where he leaves.
 
Wait why would buffalo trade the 4 for a futures package? After losing Byram and Tuch?
It’s not a futures package. It would depend on them thinking Cowan is a second liner today (which he is) and will be a first liner imminently. Robertson is 24 and can easily get 20+ in a top 6 spot. Danford is futures but his stock has risen lately and he might be ready. And throw in the Avs 1st too if need be. Two, maybe three, young players to step in now, plus a 1st. Which means three of the four pieces are 1sts or former 1sts.
 
It’s not a futures package. It would depend on them thinking Cowan is a second liner today (which he is) and will be a first liner imminently. Robertson is 24 and can easily get 20+ in a top 6 spot. Danford is futures but his stock has risen lately and he might be ready. And throw in the Avs 1st too if need be. Two, maybe three, young players to step in now, plus a 1st. Which means three of the four pieces are 1sts or former 1sts.
Damn sounds like a really good package, I wouldn't do it if I were the Leafs
 
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