2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[CallMeShaft]

I actually wonder if TB would have interest in Reichel for Howard considering he's cheap for another year, an NHL player and they are up against the cap. I'd prefer to move a position of strength which is one of the young d-man (Allan, Kaiser) for Howard though. As long as the "character concerns" check out (which I think were way overblown in the first place. Front offices hate hockey players with personality).

If a trade were to happen in the next week or so, before the playoffs, Reichel couldn't be involved.

The whole reason for this drama between Tampa and Howard is they don't have the cap to squeeze in a guy on an ELC. No way could they add Reichel, even with him having a cheap cap hit.

If we're trading for him now, it'll be picks or a young D. And if he's not moved by the end of the season, he has more reason to go back to college than to go to an NHL team that traded for his rights.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I actually wonder if TB would have interest in Reichel for Howard considering he's cheap for another year

Why would they want an AHLer?

 

[u2wojo]

Why would they want an AHLer?

To get something of value for an asset that may get pissed off enough over not getting NHL time to burn a year of the contract that he goes back to college and holds a grudge all the way to being a UFA in 16 months. Tampa needs an asset not commanding an NHL roster spot (or cap).

 

[CallMeShaft]

I think you offer Tampa one of Kaiser/Allan/Crevier/our 2nd for him provided we can discuss with Howard and his manager beforehand to decide if he'd be willing to sign and play now.

Korchinski is too much IMO, even taking away the possibility he walks in 16 months.

We're one of the teams that the kid would probably have a real interest in coming to. If we can get him for cheap enough using assets we have in spades, fine. If not, prepare to make a pitch for him if he hits free agency in August of next year.

 

[Hawkaholic]

Give them Torontos 1st in return.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

I think you offer Tampa one of Kaiser/Allan/Crevier/our 2nd for him provided we can discuss with Howard and his manager beforehand to decide if he'd be willing to sign and play now.

Korchinski is too much IMO, even taking away the possibility he walks in 16 months.

We're one of the teams that the kid would probably have a real interest in coming to. If we can get him for cheap enough using assets we have in spades, fine. If not, prepare to make a pitch for him if he hits free agency in August of next year.

Agreed, save Korchinski for a bigger fish.

 

[Kevin Musto]

I think you offer Tampa one of Kaiser/Allan/Crevier/our 2nd for him provided we can discuss with Howard and his manager beforehand to decide if he'd be willing to sign and play now.

Korchinski is too much IMO, even taking away the possibility he walks in 16 months.

We're one of the teams that the kid would probably have a real interest in coming to. If we can get him for cheap enough using assets we have in spades, fine. If not, prepare to make a pitch for him if he hits free agency in August of next year.

Well then you go with Allan

He's so far down the depth chart, he'll never see the light of day

 

[CallMeShaft]

Well then you go with Allan

He's so far down the depth chart, he'll never see the light of day

It was multiple options for the benefit of Tampa, not us. I'm fine giving them one of those other assets I listed if it meant a deal could get done.

 

[SimpleJack]

This would be a dream scenario for our top 6 + blueline to start the 2026/27 season:

Misa-McKenna-Bedard
Moore-Nazar-Marner

Vlasic-Rinzel
Korchinski-Levshunov
Kaiser-EDM/Allan/Crevier

+ Knight in goal. The bottom 6 has too many possibilities to list and we're gonna have to maybe sign another player or 2 along the way to go along with all those prospects and guys like TT/Donato who might also still be on the team.

Just imagine if all the stars align and everyone reaches their ceiling. In this dream world we can also afford to have Bedard move to the wing and thrive there instead of C.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

This would be a dream scenario for our top 6 + blueline to start the 2026/27 season:

Misa-McKenna-Bedard
Moore-Nazar-Marner

Vlasic-Rinzel
Korchinski-Levshunov
Kaiser-EDM/Allan/Crevier

+ Knight in goal. The bottom 6 has too many possibilities to list and we're gonna have to maybe sign another player or 2 along the way to go along with all those prospects and guys like TT/Donato who might also still be on the team.

Just imagine if all the stars align and everyone reaches their ceiling. In this dream world we can also afford to have Bedard move to the wing and thrive there instead of C.

dream scenario would be a cup contender ceiling

 

[RememberTheRoar]

This would be a dream scenario for our top 6 + blueline to start the 2026/27 season:

Misa-McKenna-Bedard
Moore-Nazar-Marner

Vlasic-Rinzel
Korchinski-Levshunov
Kaiser-EDM/Allan/Crevier

+ Knight in goal. The bottom 6 has too many possibilities to list and we're gonna have to maybe sign another player or 2 along the way to go along with all those prospects and guys like TT/Donato who might also still be on the team.

Just imagine if all the stars align and everyone reaches their ceiling. In this dream world we can also afford to have Bedard move to the wing and thrive there instead of C.

Marner is leaving Toronto, passing on other teams, and choosing to sign with Chicago to play on the second line with two guys that are maybe/probably second liners?

 

[WarriorofTime]

It would be sick if the leafs re-signed Marner and then got into a cap thing with Knies and had to trade him for like Korchinski because their defense is pretty old and so they wanted to add a younger guy. Long shot obviously.

 

[Hattrick Kane]

Marner is leaving Toronto, passing on other teams, and choosing to sign with Chicago to play on the second line with two guys that are maybe/probably second liners?

I get what you’re trying to say. And I have the Leafs as far and away the number one contender to re-sign him. But if we go into hypotheticals and say he hits free agency, it’s not nearly as far fetched as you might think. But he would definitely be playing with Bedard.

There aren’t nearly as many teams that make sense for him as you might think.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

I get what you’re trying to say. And I have the Leafs as far and away the number one contender to re-sign him. But if we go into hypotheticals and say he hits free agency, it’s not nearly as far fetched as you might think. But he would definitely be playing with Bedard.

There aren’t nearly as many teams that make sense for him as you might think.

The hypothetical I’m responding to is exactly what you just agreed with. Marner isn’t signing here to be a second line forward, he’s coming here to be the team’s best forward, to play with Bedard, and to lead the team until Bedard grows.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I get what you’re trying to say. And I have the Leafs as far and away the number one contender to re-sign him. But if we go into hypotheticals and say he hits free agency, it’s not nearly as far fetched as you might think. But he would definitely be playing with Bedard.

There aren’t nearly as many teams that make sense for him as you might think.

With the cap inflation, anyone with a bunch of players locked in would technically have the cap room and take a "devil may care" attitude about whatever issues it may lead to down the road if they think it could get them over the hump for next year.

 

[SimpleJack]

Marner is leaving Toronto, passing on other teams, and choosing to sign with Chicago to play on the second line with two guys that are maybe/probably second liners?

Yup, 100%. In my dream scenario you see Moore and Nazar are both already established stars in the making(especially Nazar) after they each have breakout seasons in 2025/26. So in this case Marner is more than happy to play alongside these 2 young studs.

 

[Northernhawk]

From my understanding of NHL rules both Colton Dach and Ethan Del Mastro should still be considered NHL rookies next season…

Any player who has not played in more than 25 games in an NHL season or more that 6 games in each of two previous seasons…

Dach played 25 games this season
Del Mastro played 24 games this season and 2 the season before

So next year the Blackhawks have Dach, Del Mastro, Levshunov, Moore, Rinzel and Commesso as rookies…

Blackhawks still have not had an allrookie team defenceman…Nolan Allan looked promising thr first half of the season but I don’t think he nailing down a spot anymore…next year?

Rinzel? Levshunov? Del Mastro?

Looking possible

 

[dreadpirateroberts]

It would be sick if the leafs re-signed Marner and then got into a cap thing with Knies and had to trade him for like Korchinski because their defense is pretty old and so they wanted to add a younger guy. Long shot obviously.

Do that and then hope they sign Kaprizov next offseason, and I think that would be a nice consolation prize

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Was his debut in 2020-21 delayed due to injury? If so that’s a lot of missed games for him in his 5 year NHL career so far.

2020-21 - 27
2021-22 - 1
2021-23 - 15
2023-24 - 7
2024-25 - 41

91 games over 5 seasons.

As talented as he is I don’t know about that next contract of his that will take place mostly in his 30s.

Everyone shits on Marner for playoff performance but Kaprizov in his limited playoff experience has been even worse production wise.

 

[giza]

Nolan Allen has a 3rd line role with the Hawks unless EDM fulfills it. None of the Big 4 are tough.

 

[statswatcher]

Lol dude Chicago is a joke. Saying wild are mid while Chicago is a complete joke and has nowhere to go is laughable. Kaprizov isn't going anywhere, nor would ever leave MN for Chicago. Chicago fans can keep wishing. wild have the best owner who spend. Money and loyalty talk dude. wild have done everything kaprizov wants. Chicago fan saying this is funny. Your owner doesn't spend either. NO avenue to improving? really? wild have top 5 prospect pool, that's a fact, and still all their picks. lol

you know you are having some high level discussion when a paragraph long post is bookended by lol's

 

[Mrfenn92]

Lol dude Chicago is a joke. Saying wild are mid while Chicago is a complete joke and has nowhere to go is laughable. Kaprizov isn't going anywhere, nor would ever leave MN for Chicago. Chicago fans can keep wishing. wild have the best owner who spend. Money and loyalty talk dude. wild have done everything kaprizov wants. Chicago fan saying this is funny. Your owner doesn't spend either. NO avenue to improving? really? wild have top 5 prospect pool, that's a fact, and still all their picks. lol

Go to your own team boards bud. You can talk Kaprizov there.

 

[Larmer83]

you know you are having some high level discussion when a paragraph long post is bookended by lol's

lol. Good catch. Lol.

 

[TheFridge]

Lol dude Chicago is a joke. Saying wild are mid while Chicago is a complete joke and has nowhere to go is laughable. Kaprizov isn't going anywhere, nor would ever leave MN for Chicago. Chicago fans can keep wishing. wild have the best owner who spend. Money and loyalty talk dude. wild have done everything kaprizov wants. Chicago fan saying this is funny. Your owner doesn't spend either. NO avenue to improving? really? wild have top 5 prospect pool, that's a fact, and still all their picks. lol

No Chicago is bad, not a joke. A joke would be a team like the Wild, that flounder on or in the playoff bubble but never truly contend and never will. The Wild have won 4 playoff series in their entire history. They've been to *one* Western Conference Final, 20+ years ago and got swept. The Wild haven't even won a playoff series in the Kaprizov era. Come on now. Back to the Wild board with you.

 

[ColbyChaos]

Wild have a top 5 prospect pool?

Lol dude Chicago is a joke. Saying wild are mid while Chicago is a complete joke and has nowhere to go is laughable. Kaprizov isn't going anywhere, nor would ever leave MN for Chicago. Chicago fans can keep wishing. wild have the best owner who spend. Money and loyalty talk dude. wild have done everything kaprizov wants. Chicago fan saying this is funny. Your owner doesn't spend either. NO avenue to improving? really? wild have top 5 prospect pool, that's a fact, and still all their picks. lol