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

[worm]

One thing Chayka did say is that he’s got pretty much unlimited resources here.

So that thing about not wanting to pay Berube not to coach was bullshit like it sounded

So too late to make my joke that the leafs need to draft someone that won't make the rookie max?

 

[CH1]

Chayka saying “dig in” was a dog whistle, getting LeafNation primed for the return of The Chief

 

[Preston]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2052139676471882153

 

[CH1]

It’s not impossible to cover the globe if you’re Scott Wheeler

 

[CH1]

“What does it mean not to ignore numbers? We totally get it as evidenced by our weekly segment on analytics, but can you explain it to the average fan out there?”

 

[Preston]

That was them being condescending, I believe they joke around about being data driven and created a segment on data. But they despise nerds.

 

[Feyd]

Such a refreshing change from the folksy bullshit interviews Treliving would give.

 

[CH1]

That was them being condescending, I believe they joke around about being data driven and created a segment on data. But they despise nerds.

The fact that this is still a talking point in 2026 is quite sad. Every team in the NHL/NBA/MLB/NFL/ etc has an analytics department. Is everyone just wasting money?

“I hear your franchise has a strength and conditioning dept. how would you say fitness plays a role in performance?”

 

[zeke]

View: https://x.com/PuckReportNHL/status/2052095352736473143?s=20

Sorry if already posted.

PuckGM has had it at $104 for a while now tbh.

 

[zeke]

Nah, you just take whichever of Carels or Verhoeff that falls to you and keep it moving.

I think chayka was probably pretty excited about 'stealing' a guy like that tbh.

 

[zeke]

View: https://x.com/NHL_Watcher/status/2052084965425258561?s=20

"Auston, take a look at exhibit A:"

 

[MindzEye]

Yeah, i was just about to post that Button is a dummy.

"We go from the GM of the Leafs to the guy who traded Rask for Raycroft, Craig Button joins us on Overdrive'

 

[mbow30]

I mean, this is just fucking dumb. The top of the draft has 3 guys who have put up elite-elite age adjusted numbers this year, then Reid who makes eye testers change their pants, and Verhoeff who is about as close to the Ekblad, Parayko, Pietrangelo, etc mold as you're going to get.

He was in love with the 2023 draft and this top 5 is at least the pre draft equal of Bedard, Carlson, Fantilli, Smith, and Reinbacher/Simashev.

Yeah I mean didn’t he just put up the second best ppg in a pre draft wjc tourney ever and put up 2ppg in his d-2 whl season?

Like the cautionary tales here are

This




And this

 

[zeke]

It was always just hipster fuckwit prospect nerds who needed a contrarian take in an obvious draft.

and Zeke.

For the record, one game at the WCs and i said he was going to be the best player in franchise history.

 

[MindzEye]

For the record, one game at the WCs and i said he was going to be the best player in franchise history.

Eye test >

 

[MyNameIsJonas]

"We go from the GM of the Leafs to the guy who traded Rask for Raycroft, Craig Button joins us on Overdrive'

Button's track record in Calgary could be the worst tenure of any GM ever

 

[MindzEye]

Yeah I mean didn’t he just put up the second best ppg in a pre draft wjc tourney ever and put up 2ppg in his d-2 whl season?

Like the cautionary tales here are

This

View attachment 34114


And this

View attachment 34115

Pretty good cautionary tales. Tavares and Bedard no,?

 

[MindzEye]

Button's track record in Calgary could be the worst tenure of any GM ever

Hyperbole but fuck him so I'll allow it

 

[Pwner]

Button said maybe one of the dumbest things I have heard as a "draft" analysis.

They ask him on Overdrive if the draft is a good one.

His answer: "It is only good if you pick the right players".

So. Dumb.

 

[mbow30]

Pretty good cautionary tales. Tavares and Bedard no,?

Ya if worst case is he’s a jr all time great who doesn’t maybe have the speed or size to fully translate that to the nhl, well the two most recent guys who fit that mould still became first line ppg nhlers. And of those two one is yet to peak and probably does get to the 90-100 point territory at some point while the other is one of the steadiest players of all time who has continued to produce at a high rate into his mid 30s.

Sign me the fuck up and eat a dick about this being a weak draft.