Speculation: 2025-2026 Offseason Thread 2: more threads than combined playoff goals between Cirelli and Point edition!

[atlanticobserver]

I'm basically operating as if we are still trying to keep Raddysh, and everything else is on top. For Larkin, money would have to move out, but our D is now a position of strength (if we keep Raddysh), and we can actually move money there. I don't know what Cernak's clauses are like, but we might finally be in a position where we could move him if that's what it takes to upgrade at F. That said, it risks that McDonagh falls off a cliff and Hedman doesn't bounce back, and that the younger D don't maintain last year's level or improve.

Nick Paul is the other one. Both Cernak and Paul should have great value league-wide. I'd be more hesitant to move Paul if we aren't certain to add a C who can win face offs though.

I think I would hold on to Cernak. People forget how young he is (despite the amount of wear and tear) and he has pulled his weight for basically his whole career excluding the one where McDonagh was in Nashville

 

[atlanticobserver]

It's probably not a popular opinion but yeah, we needed to start thinking about life after Cernak about 2 years ago. But it's not like he was SOOOOOOO bad it was this immediate problem that needed to be resolved. We've been able to ride it out with trade protection well enough. He has a NTC which turns into a 16 team list next year. We are probably okay to ride it out with him this year too. But!!! It never hurts to think ahead though. I'm getting worried that Hedman's season last year is a preview for how hard and how fast Cernak could fall off one day.

I'm okay with keeping Paul but if he can be packaged for another center then send it

Cernak makes less than Bjorkstrand did and he's 5 years younger than Hedman. And he doesn't really rely on his wheels or puck moving prowess to play well. I'm not super worried about how he ages unless he takes another headshot which honestly would prob just force him to retire

 

[DFC]

I think I would hold on to Cernak. People forget how young he is (despite the amount of wear and tear) and he has pulled his weight for basically his whole career excluding the one where McDonagh was in Nashville

He's very valuable, but i think that's the only way to create enough cap space to add. Gotta deal from a position of strength. Our defense in general was kind of ridiculously strong last year. I think we have to deal from there to add a forward or two.

 

[Todd1a]

JBB has to get Raddysh done so he knows whats left. It really should have already been done by now - if this drags out much longer JBB will miss out on other potential "big signings/moves"

If it goes to FA on July 1st Raddysh is gone because JBB will 100% move on to Tuch - he's been JBBs biggest want for a bit now

Why do you think raddysh will get done he’s probably going to the markets why sign before that ?

 

[atlanticobserver]

He's very valuable, but i think that's the only way to create enough cap space to add. Gotta deal from a position of strength. Our defense in general was kind of ridiculously strong last year. I think we have to deal from there to add a forward or two.

If we are trading him for some sort of tangible upgrade and keeping raddysh that’s ok with me. But I don’t think we should be looking at him as a cap dump. He’s been pretty solid for the majority of his career and that has carried into the playoffs imo

Edit: I just mean an upgrade anywhere in the lineup, not necessarily as a Cernak replacement

 

[The Gongshow]

Why do you think raddysh will get done he’s probably going to the markets why sign before that ?

If he wants to be here he might /JBB providing a good offer.

If he goes to FA he's 100% gone and will get teams throwing the bag at him - which you cant fault him for taking. We won't be able to match.

 

[atlanticobserver]

Why do you think raddysh will get done he’s probably going to the markets why sign before that ?

I have no sources or factual reporting but the guy wants to stay TB wants to keep him the FA market is barren and TB has a lot of cap room. This should probably get worked out unless JBB is being too stingy or raddysh and his agent are being too greedy

 

[Todd1a]

If he wants to be here he might /JBB providing a good offer.

If he goes to FA he's 100% gone and will get teams throwing the bag at him - which you cant fault him for taking. We won't be able to match.

The ship has sailed he’s not signing here for 6 million per year when he can get 9 on the market.

We should have done this deal in December for like 6.5 to 7 million per year

 

[CupsOverCash]

Yea I can see the plan being to focus on raddysh and then see what they can do after that. I do see a strong push for either Larkin or Tuch.

The part that bums me out about Larkin speculation, Tuch signing, etc is that our highest paid players are postseason boat anchors except Hagel and Jake. I think for the first time since 2015 my expectations have really plummeted on what this team can actually do. Until they win a series again, I wont feel any different. I dont hold the mindset that this group can get it done because several are cup winners. Its a different coaching staff, different division, different captain, top six, defense, etc and you're adding at minimum 5 years onto the last series wins if it happens in 2027.

This last attempt, call it whatever you want, killed my optimism. Unless we get McDavid himself, these options to "round out" the lineup really do not mean shit in the grand scheme of things when Kucherov, Point, Cirelli, Vasy and Hedman arent contributing. Its sad, yes, but its the truth.

It's because they have been at it since 2015. After that cup run expectations rose. When we lost against the avs, reality maybe should have set in that it's not going to be easy to get back to that level and be there consistently. But since we were doing it for so long it's like no we're not allowed to slow down. Especially because the team wasn't that old but they have experienced so much.

I understand part of the mentality to change things drastically is to get a shift in those expectations again. Bring some hungry people that haven't been at the top yet but are hungry for it. Maybe these guys don't have that same hunger. I understand that but I also don't think it's like one of those black and white things we have been treating it as. Just because we got beat in the first round doesn't mean we can't ever advance. There is still a foundation to build around here. Just have to get some of that hunger again.

 

[Flat Ronnie]

If Larkin wants to go to Utah, I think thats the team that gets it done.

I personally dont think theyre that close to winning a SC, but whatever he wants to do i guess.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Cernak is always the same issue, he stays home, he needs someone to handle zone exits for him though he occasionally jumps up into the play. I'd really hate to see what we look like in the playoffs without him, it was bad enough losing that edge with Sergys departure.

 

[Major4Boarding]

It's probably not a popular opinion but yeah, we needed to start thinking about life after Cernak about 2 years ago. But it's not like he was SOOOOOOO bad it was this immediate problem that needed to be resolved. We've been able to ride it out with trade protection well enough. He has a NTC which turns into a 16 team list next year. We are probably okay to ride it out with him this year too. But!!! It never hurts to think ahead though. I'm getting worried that Hedman's season last year is a preview for how hard and how fast Cernak could fall off one day.

I'm okay with keeping Paul but if he can be packaged for another center then send it

IIRC, BDN's contract turns into a 16-team modified this summer

 

[Flat Ronnie]

I dont really want to see him leave, but if Larkin comes in and Point moves down to 2C, does that make Cirelli a bit less valuable (more expendable) since he'd basically be the 3C? Would you trade him then? It does clear up most of Larkin's salary coming in. Still leaves us with like $11-13M left for FA.

Center depth would be: Larkin, Point, Gourde, Paul.

 

[Flat Ronnie]

 

[J Roc Baby]

We're probably on the list and it's okay to possibly be excited for Larkin again

 

[DFC]

If we are trading him for some sort of tangible upgrade and keeping raddysh that’s ok with me. But I don’t think we should be looking at him as a cap dump. He’s been pretty solid for the majority of his career and that has carried into the playoffs imo

Edit: I just mean an upgrade anywhere in the lineup, not necessarily as a Cernak replacement

Oh yeah, those circumstances are the only way I'd consider it. Like if we BOTH retained Raddysh AND were acquiring Larkin. I think Cernak has a lot of value at his cap hit, but (if we keep Raddysh) we are pretty strong on D and he has enough value to help get a real deal done. I'd rather not lose him unless it meant a real upgrade elsewhere. And honestly i was thinking he made 6, but it's 5.2 (even more valuable) with a NTC. So it's unlikely.

 

[DFC]

Insiders have been mentioning us the whole time.

 

[Stammertime91]

I dont really want to see him leave, but if Larkin comes in and Point moves down to 2C, does that make Cirelli a bit less valuable since he'd basically be the 3C? Would you trade him then?

Center depth would be: Larkin, Point, Gourde, Paul. Still leaves us with like $11-13M left for FA.

Hey Mr. Ronnie, we noticed a clear cut violation of penis code 71.71 and code 71.72 which states there is no Anthony Cirelli slander and he is never to be traded. Why would Joolian Brisebois trade for Dylan Larkin who quits on his team? Why would Cirelli play less? Anthony Cirelli is a sub 50% faceoff guy which allows him and the team to focus more on defense than offense. Larkin wins too many draws and scores too many goals. Meaning, he would probably end up with inflated, fake, empty net stats like Kucherov. You have been issued a trespass from SCU until you can correct your behavior. Pick up your belongings in Evangelista hall by the dwarf water fountain and have a nice day. Regards, Stammerclown.

 

[DFC]

I dont really want to see him leave, but if Larkin comes in and Point moves down to 2C, does that make Cirelli a bit less valuable (more expendable) since he'd basically be the 3C? Would you trade him then? It does clear up most of Larkin's salary coming in. Still leaves us with like $11-13M left for FA.

Center depth would be: Larkin, Point, Gourde, Paul.

I don't think so. I think Paul is more likely to move. Cirelli in strictly a shutdown role is like Final Form Cirelli.

That of course is IF Cooper would do that. Probably more likely he would put Point with Cirelli and keep using Line 2 as a shutdown line.

 

[Flat Ronnie]

I don't think so. I think Paul is more likely to move. Cirelli in strictly a shutdown role is like Final Form Cirelli.

That of course is IF Cooper would do that. Probably more likely he would put Point with Cirelli and keep using Line 2 as a shutdown line.

The only benefit of trading Cirelli would be if you think it opens up enough cap for you to make a move that would improve the forward unit even more. Like Tuch for instance.

In: Larkin, Tuch
Out: Cirelli +

I dont know...

 

[J Roc Baby]

The only benefit of trading Cirelli would be if you think it opens up enough cap for you to make a move that would improve the forward unit even more. Like Tuch for instance.

In: Larkin, Tuch
Out: Cirelli +

I dont know...

It might even open up enough money for Raddysh depending on Tuch's ask

 

[Flat Ronnie]

It might even open up enough money for Raddysh depending on Tuch's ask

Conservative estimate:

13.2M available

Tuch - 9.5M
Raddysh - 7.5M
Larkin - 8.7M

Thats 25.7M

Subtract Cirelli's 6.25 and the 13.7 space...

I think that still puts us about 6M over.

 

[J Roc Baby]

Conservative estimate:

13.2M available

Tuch - 9.5M
Raddysh - 7.5M
Larkin - 8.7M

Thats 25.7M

Subtract Cirelli's 6.25 and the 13.7 space...

I think that still puts us about 6M over.

I suck at math because @Stammertime91's SCU doesn't teach anything. Also I imagine Paul would be traded too for extra space

 

[Flat Ronnie]

I suck at math because @Stammertime91's SCU doesn't teach anything. Also I imagine Paul would be traded too for extra space

Still leaves us about 3M over

 

[Stammertime91]

Larkin is probably the better fit if we try to maximize our current roster. You can run a strong 1-2-3 punch down the middle or move Point to wing and fill the 2RW spot.

Tuch is basically all in that Point will figure it out and regain what he was. Thats the more costly move and could age rather poorly. Certainly a higher risk in my opinion than Larkin. And I like Tuch. I just think if youre holding onto Point, you push him down a line. If not, GGs next April cause its probably more of the same.