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

[Preston]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2067923471372284231


Tampa just doing Darren a solid to get him the extra year. Looks like the return will be minimal

 

[leafman101]

View: https://x.com/darrendreger/status/2067923471372284231?s=46

 

[zeke]

 

[Killer93]

Raddysh/McCabe/OEL/Tanev/Andrae appear locked in; Rielly or Carlo have to be gone

 

[trujaysfan]

Good but risky move.

Also takes a Dman off the UFA list and makes Mo more appealing.

 

[Kritter]

Late round pick.. perfect...
I cringe at what Tre would have given up for this.

 

[Killer93]

View attachment 35086

 

[Preston]

Late round pick.. perfect...
I cringe at what Tre would have given up for this.

He would sign the 7th best d on the board. Maybe.

 

[zeke]

Stecher ---> Raddysh
Carlo ---> Tanev
Benoit ---> Andrae
Myers ---> ???/kids

​

 

[Volcanologist]

it's a risk but probably one we have to take.

 

[hockeylover]

I agree it's a risk but I do still kinda like the big swings for the best guys on the market. I think players like seeing a GM with some balls and wanting to keep adding more and more skill every summer.

 

[LeafGm]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2067923471372284231


Tampa just doing Darren a solid to get him the extra year. Looks like the return will be minimal

Kinda seems like the Stamkos situation. Tampa had a firm, below-market-value number & term in mind and presented it as a take-it-or-leave offer.

And when Raddysh wasn’t willing to accept it, both sides knew he’d be moving on.

 

[Killer93]

I agree it's a risk but I do still kinda like the big swings for the best guys on the market. I think players like seeing a GM with some balls and wanting to keep adding more and more skill every summer.

This.

 

[leafman101]

UFAs always come with risk though. This one also comes with massive, realistic upside of a 1D that’s paid like a 3, which is not common.

 

[hockeylover]

It seems to me that it's usually the mid tier guys in free agency that end up getting massively overpaid anyway - teams strike out on the big fish and get a little desperate.

 

[Preston]

Yup. Like I said with any potential Knies return, it's all about chasing upside right now. With that, also may come with a little extra risk. And that's fine.

 

[Feyd]

Late round pick.. perfect...
I cringe at what Tre would have given up for this.

A conditional 2nd that turns into the ‘29 1st if they make the playoffs next season. Top 5 protected of course.

 

[hockeylover]

You'd think our PP should be significantly improved next year.

 

[LeafGm]

You'd think our PP should be significantly improved next year.

You’d hope so, with the only coach in the Matthews era to run a good PP getting hired back, and with McKenna & Raddysh getting added to it.

 

[Preston]

I see a lot of "he won't have Kucherov this year tho!"

Fair point if that were true tbh. But it ain't true.