2026 NHL Offseason Thread: You're probably wondering how I got there

[Grand Moff Larkin]

I've been getting suggested posts on Instagram from NHL team fan pages with their trade proposals -- clearly Instagram knows I've visited HFBoards -- and the Broons ones are the funniest. Every package is some combination of Casey Mittelstadt, Matthew Poitras, Mason Lohrei, Florida's 2028 1st, mid-round picks, and prospects I barely recognize. Like for Robert Thomas. And then most of their fans are either "I couldn't give up all of that" or "I would do a lot of those deals." One guy will be like "Uh those teams would want more."

[Grand Moff Larkin]

Welp Larkin has requested a trade

Pretty sure Neu! 15 will not handle this news well

[Grand Moff Larkin]

It's a real gut punch because 1. he's the captain and the longest tenured Wing 2. I assumed he wanted to be part of the solution, not jump ship 3. they need another top six C, not to trade the one they have.

I assume any team who was in on Robert Thomas would look at Larkin. Can't see them trading him in division (Montreal and Boston would be the obvious ones, but also Buffalo and Ottawa). Minnesota and Utah are the obvious ones out West. Maybe Anaheim since McTavish is on the block? Prashanth Iyer mentions San Jose and Seattle, but Larkin has a full no-trade clause so I don't think Seattle is likely. https://prashanthiyer.substack.com/p/dy ... a-trade-my

If they move him, the best potential piece coming back is a future top-six C, like Caleb Desnoyers from Utah. It's hard to say that anyone (Yurov, Stramel) coming back from Minnesota is a guaranteed top 6 C -- otherwise they'd just keep him. But my gut says that he wants to go to Minnesota because of Guerin running the Olympic team and Hughes / Boldy being there. I'd prefer that over anyone in the East, but if he insists on Minnesota they're not getting the best package.

The bigger problem is how this affects the rest of the offseason. Does Kane come back if Larkin's headed out? Do they move DeBrincat because he's a similar age and has one year left before he's UFA? I assumed he wanted to come back to Detroit. Basically, does this trigger another tear-down? It wouldn't be complete like last time but the goal was to make the playoffs, and I don't see them doing that if Larkin's traded for futures.

[Grand Moff Larkin]

The Faulk trade got worse, too. It's one thing to give up a mid-first and not make the playoffs, but if you're getting a piece for next year to help with the playoffs, and then you're less likely for the playoffs anyway...

[practice]

All these dickheads only want to play on one of like 5 teams or in one of 4 states, stupida fahking league

[Grand Moff Larkin]

I will do a power ranking of teams I would be OK with seeing Larkin go to

[Grand Moff Larkin]

I started doing that and got real depressed. Anyway someone commented that there's likely a trade in the works if this is coming out, and I tend to agree. My gut is still that it's Minnesota because of the Olympic connections, and Yzerman has to take something like Yurov / cap dump / Stramel and/or 2027 first. Anaheim seems like the best trade return scenario, like McTavish + Solberg or 1st. Columbus got brought up because of Werenski (that fucking pipe dream of them playing together, real monkey's paw shit) but I don't see them moving Sillinger, and past that it's guys like Jackson Smith, Kent Johnson, etc. Right now I'd bet on Minnesota.

Guess I'll have to get my son a Seider jersey.