The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds
- Thread starter MindzEye
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LeafOfFaith
Well-known member
Volcanologist
Well-known member
I don't see Rielly going for no salary in return. but on paper that is almost 15m in space.
let's hope the big thing isn't Bob at an exorbitant AAV..
LeafGm
Well-known member
I suppose maybe he is if you live inside a reality distortion field where Morgan Rielly is still a great top-pairing defenseman and is absolutely NOT being traded, no matter what anyone says…
Preston
MBow30 alt account
Even in that bizarre reality, I would still look to try to acquire the literal best defenseman on the planet and would not call it unnecessary.
LeafOfFaith
Well-known member
D is the one place where we're actually pretty set. 6 good guys and no bums. We also have Danford, and now Bilecki and MacKenzie, and other guys like Johnsson. Removing Rielly, who could very easily have a massive bounceback season, is rash and shortsighted, especially when we'd be getting squat for him right now.
G we don't know for sure, other than Stolarz is not the answer, but whether one or both of these kids can be good enough remains to be seen.
On forward, we have three of our four best established guys at 29, 31, and 35. Knies, McKenna, and Cowan are great next gen pieces. And that's for sure the best top 6 we've ever been able to roll out during this era. But our bottom six is almost a complete wasteland other than Robertson and we can't count on any prospects coming to help in the next year or so - even Koblar is a maybe at best.
So when you look at this landscape, the rational take is not let's supercharge the D by trading a bunch of young forward talent and decimating the forward ranks. The rational take is, we're good at D, and if we can find a reasonable upgrade somewhere for cheap, we should look into it. But our focus should be on adding to the forwards, not subtracting from them.
What's bizarre is that you guys can't get past this trade everything for Werenski fetish and realize it would make us worse, not better.
G we don't know for sure, other than Stolarz is not the answer, but whether one or both of these kids can be good enough remains to be seen.
On forward, we have three of our four best established guys at 29, 31, and 35. Knies, McKenna, and Cowan are great next gen pieces. And that's for sure the best top 6 we've ever been able to roll out during this era. But our bottom six is almost a complete wasteland other than Robertson and we can't count on any prospects coming to help in the next year or so - even Koblar is a maybe at best.
So when you look at this landscape, the rational take is not let's supercharge the D by trading a bunch of young forward talent and decimating the forward ranks. The rational take is, we're good at D, and if we can find a reasonable upgrade somewhere for cheap, we should look into it. But our focus should be on adding to the forwards, not subtracting from them.
What's bizarre is that you guys can't get past this trade everything for Werenski fetish and realize it would make us worse, not better.
leafman101
Well-known member
Meh. Most cup winners have a legit #1 dman. Its been our biggest hole the entire Matthews era.
Having a ppg dman that plays 30 minutes a game in all situations, and dominates possession, would unquestionably make the team better. Its one of the most imapctful players in hockey.
He's literally on the ice 10 minutes a game more than Knies, and does better in those minutes. Drives possession more. Creates more chances. Scores more.
Having a ppg dman that plays 30 minutes a game in all situations, and dominates possession, would unquestionably make the team better. Its one of the most imapctful players in hockey.
He's literally on the ice 10 minutes a game more than Knies, and does better in those minutes. Drives possession more. Creates more chances. Scores more.
LeafOfFaith
Well-known member
I've always said I love Werenski. If he were a UFA right now, all I'd be talking about is getting him in every post.
And yes, it would be great to have an elite, elite dman. Maybe Raddysh is one, by the way, and you guys are trying to address a need that was just filled. But either way, the acquisition cost is just way too high, and it doesn't make sense to turn the defense from what might be an A- to an A+ while taking the forward group from a B (given the complete lack of bottom six depth) to a C or D.
MyNameIsJonas
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MyNameIsJonas
Well-known member
If you think subtracting Knies takes a F group down 2 full letter grades you’ve lost the plot
Preston
MBow30 alt account
Kritter
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I don’t hate the bob idea… I don’t love it. I have never understood the notion we actually have competent goaltending in the organization, cause we don’t. Two 24 yr olds with nothing but upside isn’t going to cut it IMO.
If Chayka does sign bob it better be for no more than 2 yrs and a discount, a bonus laden contract… give him $1M for x-number of wins and $1M per playoff round won if he’s the #1 goalie.. give him the keys to the city if he wins us a cup in nets.
If Chayka does sign bob it better be for no more than 2 yrs and a discount, a bonus laden contract… give him $1M for x-number of wins and $1M per playoff round won if he’s the #1 goalie.. give him the keys to the city if he wins us a cup in nets.
axlsalinger
Well-known member
BOB: I want 6 years x $7m
LEAFS: Best we can do is 1 x $1m plus a $1m bonus...
... is probably not going to get it done
Kritter
Well-known member
Not what I said. But we can’t depend on them for full time dury.So never play rookies/young goalies?