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

[Preston]

With Brad in charge, I was a firm no on any Knies deal. I don't want him to be the one to make a determination that there is a franchise altering move on the table.

But if John makes that determination, I'm way more likely to get behind that. Knies is the only guy they can trade that can change everything for this organization if they acquire the right piece.

 

[Cal Gal]

Brad in charge is a horror show.

 

[zeke]

well, maybe not loved, but Werenski isn't the type to make the big ugly blunders that slower guys like Fox can make.

but yeah he's not gritty enough to ever be loved in this market.

 

[leafman101]

Getting Fox or Werenski would be stupid amazing.

Can’t believe how underrated Fox has become.

 

[Preston]

Funnily enough, Mitch dominating in the playoffs could be the gift we needed to convince GMs that you can, in fact, build around a winger. Enough to trade their undervalued #1d for him! Do it, johnny.

 

[MindzEye]

With Brad in charge, I was a firm no on any Knies deal. I don't want him to be the one to make a determination that there is a franchise altering move on the table.

But if John makes that determination, I'm way more likely to get behind that. Knies is the only guy they can trade that can change everything for this organization if they acquire the right piece.

Thing is, Knies is the most likely player on the team to be over valued. If he is the majority of the value in a Fox deal with NYR, start celebrating. He's a good player, and a rare player type but it's an overvalued player type imo. The only team to make the top 4 that had that player type is Montreal with Slafkovsky.

Yeah, Brad was trying to give him away to replenish the pipeline after his fuck ups, but if Chayka can turn him into an in prime true #1 defender, let's fucking go. The only things I'd trade Knies for are an elite defender or an elite centre.

 

[MindzEye]

Getting Fox or Werenski would be stupid amazing.

Can’t believe how underrated Fox has become.

Literally a perennial Norris threat.

 

[MindzEye]

You have UFA period opening up and Raddysh and Andersson seemingly available.

Thing is, Fox and Werenski are Raddysh good every year and not just this one year. I'm willing to throw some chips in the middle on a bet that Raddysh was a break out and not a weirdo outlier year, but those are two are that guy, or better, every year.

We of course, have the cap space and structure for both one of those two, and Raddysh. This isn't an either or.

Andersson isn't close to as good as either Fox or Werenski, like, two tiers down.

 

[thehabhater]

I bet he likes teams that shoot pucks too. And even pass them. Too bad he wasn't asked about those things.

It’s early

 

[leafman101]

Literally a perennial Norris threat.

Yeah, but legit elite defensively in tough minutes, not just a little offensive dmen like he’s talked about.

 

[leafman101]

View: https://x.com/FAN590/status/2067336904236785708/video/1?s=46


I believe in insiders again

 

[MindzEye]

Yeah, but legit elite defensively in tough minutes, not just a little offensive dmen like he’s talked about.

Yep. One of the few true all purpose #1 defenders in the league.

McCabe-Fox becomes a very legitimate top pairing against anyone.

 

[thehabhater]

Exactly

 

[MindzEye]

View: https://x.com/FAN590/status/2067336904236785708/video/1?s=46


I believe in insiders again

Yeah, I don't think Knies value is quite what captain CTE is saying there, but I do think he's 80%+ of the trade value that gets you an elite defender, and I don't think any other piece given up is significant (1sts, Cowan, etc). I think it's more things like Carlo, Robertson, Maccelli, etc in conjunction with Knies.

Power forwards are over valued. A market inefficiency if you will.

 

[LeafGm]

View: https://x.com/FAN590/status/2067336904236785708/video/1?s=46


I believe in insiders again

Fuck getting a “package” back for Knies.

The only circumstance in which I’d be remotely interesting in seeing him get traded is if a stud #1 defenseman in their prime with at least three years of term (or team control) is coming back the other way.

 

[trujaysfan]

View: https://x.com/FAN590/status/2067336904236785708/video/1?s=46


I believe in insiders again

Taking Kyper at face value:

10/11/12 th overall plus a top pair D plus a secondary player:

Nashville: i see nothing unless the top pair D is Josi, 10 and random guy
NJ: Hughes (likely mlre value than Knies alone), or nemes, 11th and Mercer?
St louis: parayko, 12th, neighbors?

NJ and St Louis for a F appear more reasonable with Thomas and Hischer being the guys.

Again its Kyper, so its just something to fill the air.

 

[LeafGm]

Taking Kyper at face value:

10/11/12 th overall plus a top pair D plus a secondary player:

Nashville: i see nothing unless the top pair D is Josi, 10 and random guy
NJ: Hughes (likely mlre value than Knies alone), or nemes, 11th and Mercer?
St louis: parayko, 12th, neighbors?

NJ and St Louis for a F appear more reasonable with Thomas and Hischer being the guys.

Again its Kyper, so its just something to fill the air.

Dunno how good Josi is these days, but in the context of a Knies trade I don’t care either. Trading Knies for a 36 year-old would be insanity.

Parayko is nothing close to a stud #1 D and is also 33. Hard pass on him as well.

And then New Jersey isn’t trading Luke Hughes when they clearly are hoping to use Luke & Jack as bait to sign Quinn a year from now and unite the Hughes brothers. Also don’t think I’d call Luke a legit #1 defenseman anyway.

 

[LeafOfFaith]

Keep your tier 1 guy and add tier 2 guys for free.

Don't trade your tier 1 guy for their tier 1 guy.

 

[leafman101]

well if we’re being honest Knies isn’t a tier 1 guy like Werenski, Fox, Matthews, Willy and McKenna are.

That’s why it’s an obvious yes.

 

[Preston]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2067328927962702000

"If you're trying to get the best possible package for your star young winger, that's not gonna fly."