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

Tbh I’m apprehensive like a prude virgin when it comes to drafting d men high. It seems like the swing and miss rate is much higher on d, the likelihood of finding to pair d late in the draft is higher than finding first line forwards, and almost all of the best forwards in the league are first round picks.

Not that I wouldn’t take a d.
 
Yeah...not straight up. The idea here would be to get a player that analytically replaces Knies in the lineup but doesn't have the sexy sexy value our handsome boy brings...and get Reid or Carels on top.


See, that's the large part of the issue, though.

When the pick still belonged to Chicago, they had Anton Frondell for Chayka to ask for in addition to the pick---a recent 3rd overall pick who had 9 points in 12 games last year in his NHL debut.

Now that the pick's with Buffalo, who's the singular enticing young player they can package with the pick that'd actually make it worth it to part with Knies? I don't see one.

And although I grudgingly could've lived with that Frondell/4th package, my view on trading Knies is still very consistent---there are really only two outcomes I will actually be happy with here. One is Matthew Knies not getting traded at all and playing for the Leafs next year. The other outcome I would be happy with is trading him for a legit stud #1 defenseman like Werenski. Any other scenario I have next-to-zero interest in.
 

The fact that he couches it as “likely” gives us a bit of a window into how he speaks to the media.

He knows he’s for sure making the pick, yet says just that it’s likely.

He says trading Knies is “improbable” which means not happening.

So basically take what he says and wherever it’s leaning, push it to the end of that side of the spectrum.

Applying that principle, if he said that about Rielly, maybe it does mean that he’s gone.
 
See, that's the large part of the issue, though.

When the pick still belonged to Chicago, they had Anton Frondell for Chayka to ask for in addition to the pick---a recent 3rd overall pick who had 9 points in 12 games last year in his NHL debut.

Now that the pick's with Buffalo, who's the singular enticing young player they can package with the pick that'd actually make it worth it to part with Knies? I don't see one.

And although I grudgingly could've lived with that Frondell/4th package, my view on trading Knies is still very consistent---there are really only two outcomes I will actually be happy with here. One is Matthew Knies not getting traded at all and playing for the Leafs next year. The other outcome I would be happy with is trading him for a legit stud #1 defenseman like Werenski. Any other scenario I have next-to-zero interest in.

I mean that offer was kind of a joke, which is the point. I don't think the Sharks give you Frondell straight up for Knies... and I love Knies.
 
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
 
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