2026 NHL Offseason Thread: Major trade makes it easier to record podcasts for Tkachuk brothers

[neuartillery]

Coleman's half-retained, too.

My favorite Wild fan proposals for Larkin insisted that the Wings take Middleton and Hartman back instead of Yurov.

[Cacophony]

Yeah they have all been bad. While I wouldn’t mind adding him I really don’t think they have the assests

[neuartillery]

Supposedly Yzerman’s said the only return he’d want from Minnesota is Boldy, which, sure, but it’s not going to happen.

Boldy’s a better, younger player.

Larkin did officially have the captaincy taken away.

[neuartillery]

The Rangers signed old friend Dennis Cholowski to a two year deal for 875K

Always weird to remember prospects I was overly optimistic about

[nick]

Well, Cholocop had more goals in his first WANGS season than the rest of his career combined

[neuartillery]

He was probably getting PP2 time

[nick]

Remembering some former Dmen prospects is fun

Ville Heinola signed a one-year, one-way contract with Vegas after getting into 58 games over 6 seasons (never more than 18 a year)

Watch him step up into a quality #4 puck-moving dman by playing more than those 58 in one season who earns a longer-term, bigger $ deal

[neuartillery]

Vegas and Florida are great spots for reclamation projects.

I give Brendan Smith credit. I assumed he was going to be an offensive defenseman when he came in, but Babcock never trusted him with that role and it kind of killed his development. But he’s found a way to be a physical bottom pair D and is up to 741 games played.

The most memorable thing about Xavier Ouellet was that they played “X Gon Give It to Ya” after he scored.

[neuartillery]

Vegas also signed former Wings prospect Antii Tuomisto

I think his skating has held him back from a callup, but he was better last season for GR

[neuartillery]

I'm trying to think of how the Atlantic sifts out next year. I think Toronto will be back in the picture. So far:

Better: Florida, Toronto
Probably the same: Tampa, Montreal
Who fucking knows: Boston
Worse: Buffalo, Ottawa, Detroit

Florida, Tampa, and Montreal seem like locks. Montreal could take a step up with young players getting better. I don't think Buffalo's done, but they lost Tuch and Byram and who knows if their goaltending is at the same level. I don't think Ottawa will be substantially worse, but Brady to Eklund is a downgrade and their other moves are uninspiring. As of right now, Andrew Copp is the Wings' 1C.

[sutterfamily]

SNES also are also down Giroux if he signs elsewhere (which he absolutely should!). He was showing his age a bit but still, huge faceoff winner and brought leadership. I think they're... faster now? But yeah, definitely worse.

[sutterfamily]

Is this real?

John Chayka on Sergei Bobrovksy:

"He possibly ends up being the best at that position of all time."

Like, it can't be real right?

[neuartillery]

Is Chayka familiar with goaltenders before Henrik Lundqvist?

[nick]

[neuartillery]

Supposedly Arvidsson wears #71, Wings should give my son a free name plate for his Larkin jersey

[neuartillery]

Jamie Benn returns to Dallas on an 850K one year deal

I still loathe him even with the changing feelings on Larkin. Ideally Larkin goes there so I can consolidate my "fuck this team, don't let them win a Cup" mental energies. Also it would be pretty fucking funny if Larkin has to buddy-buddy with the asshole who broke his neck.

[sutterfamily]

apparently that "terms and conditions apply" asterisk is doing a LOT of lifting and it's only available for the top quality ones? I dunno, it's a reddit post who can trust that really

[captain]

I have to say I really like Bowman's work this summer.
- Getting out of Nurse's deal without retaining is huge, and getting legitimate assets back is even better. I don't have high hopes for Mukhamadullin but Sharks fans seem to love him and he gives us youth and depth options.
- From everything I've watched and read, Ryan Shea is a better defender than Nurse, is comparable on offense. Signed him and Connor Murphy for less than Nurse's cap hit. Gives us a strong puck mover on every pair.
- Bowman says they plan to carry 3 goalies this season, so I think going out and getting Andersen and Levi for a combined 1.85 million against the cap and a 3rd round pick is extremely tidy business, especially with Cossa netting a 1st. They still don't have a starter but I think a by committee approach here is probably the best they were going to do. He seems to be optimistic about what Freddy can do with limited starts so I suspect we'll have a rotation all year long.
- Glad we brought back Dickinson and Kapanen, highly competitive guys who make the team better. Babcock will love these guys. I think Mathieu Joseph is probably going to get a lot of minutes under Babcock too.

In all, they brought in guys to improve team defense, guys who excel on the PK, goalie options with youth and experience, got younger and cleared an absolute fuckton of cap space.

I still think they are shy a top 6 forward, adding Giroux on a 1 year deal would really knock this out of the park. Savoie was good and I think Howard can score, it's just putting a lot of pressure on a rookie and a sophomore to produce at a high rate. I'm guessing this is the roster come opening night:

Savoie - McDavid - Hyman
Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Howard
Nuge - Dickinson - Kapanen/Giroux
Joseph - Samanski - Dach
Janmark

Ekholm - Bouchard
Walman - Murphy
Shea - Emberson
Mukhamadullin

Andersen
Jarry
Levi

[neuartillery]

Whoa Flyers offer-sheeted Leo Carlsson 18 mil x 5 years

[nick]

holy shit that's a massive deal