2025 Offseason Talk

[Dynamite Time]

I think we should keep Robo, but he is kinda the only one on the team that we can realistically trade for good value (for a RHD, whatever).

Marchment, Duchene, and Dumba absolutely have to be gone somehow.

Seguin ain't going anywhere

Benn will be re-signed whether we like it or not

Granlund only stays if he wants to win and not go to the highest bidder

I know Seguin has a NMC but let Nill say hey a trade to the Avs on your final year, we’re not bringing back your buddy Duchene either, you guys jump over there… they’ve been looking for a #2 center for a while. Game on!

Avs love our guys.

 

[too374]

This is rolling out the essential same team as we had this year, albeit a bit worse on paper. I honestly don’t know what Nill can possibly cook up to do anything of significance.

We have a lot of young guys a couple of them ought to take a step forward; johnston, bichel, lundqvist, harley, robo, back. We just made it to the conference finals its really not a bad roster. The big question mark is who goes into the granlund slot or do they stick w parchment.

 

[dalness]

I'm sad the season is over.

 

[catters078]

In no way can they trade Robertson.

Clearly don't have any top end scoring options outside Rantanen, Hintz and Johnston. You need to have a 4th guy so you can at least have 2 star players on each of your top 2 lines.

Trade Marchment. Add a pick to dump off Dumba, see if you can use that ~6 mill to find the right additions.

I think you will find a cup hungry vet or 2 willing to sign cheap who can have an impact

 

[Arkham32]

Robertson was the only star to show up he’s been pretty much a ppg player most of his playoffs going to toss this one for the injury. I wouldn’t trade him it gives off rantanen or hall type trade vibes letting him go. We aren’t going to find another 40 goal score to attach to this core again.

 

[Sports2]

Here are my thoughts.

Retool- set your sights on 2026-27.

You should get outbid on Granlund. In retrospect and looking forward, would feel like a very Marchment-y risky contract in an effort to stay afloat right now.

Duchene gone.

Marchment gone.

Somewhat indifferent about bringing back Dadonov another year- I think his compete is there. Seems like a good vet presence. You need to fill the roster.

I would like the next leadership group to emerge and become a fixture over the next two seasons. Go into the season with the mindset to hand over the C when someone is ready. From what we’ve heard about Benn and his leadership- theres no good reason to start from scratch. They have a great opportunity to pass the torch and build on and learn from the Benneguin era while Benn still has something left in the tank. I think theres a lot of value to that and doing right by the captain for the next generation. I mentioned it before, but it really just feels like the right time- and a year with less pressure would be perfect.

To that point, no need to move on from Seguin in a retooling year- he’s a quintessential Star and presumably a great mentor to the young guys. As far as 2026-27, who knows- cross that bridge when you get there.

Dumba seems like a good vet presence- and this allows them to not waste assets trying to dump him. Let his contract fall off next year.

I understand the desire to win now, but I think being patient and giving yourself two offseasons (read: chances) to rebuild the roster- particularly the offense. You can walk away from bad deals in year one knowing you get another go in year two. I think that flexibility would be really valuable in the long term- setting the next run up with as much cap flexibility as possible.

I also recognize that next year’s team would still be expected to make the playoffs, but their offensive depth presumably would take a huge hit. Benn is still on the roster. So is Dumba. I guess the general idea is just don’t blow your wad chasing now. Which I am very concerned about Nill’s appetite for because this core still has so much opportunity ahead of them.

EDIT: How could I forget, the sentiment seems to be that DeBoer is on the way out- the team gets a gimmie year to get their legs in a new system under a new coach.

 

[dalness]

What if we just take a huge risk and make Donskov the head coach?

 

[Frozen Failure]

Here are my thoughts.

Retool- set your sights on 2026-27.

You should get outbid on Granlund. In retrospect and looking forward, would feel like a very Marchment-y risky contract in an effort to stay afloat right now.

Duchene gone.

Marchment gone.

Somewhat indifferent about bringing back Dadonov another year- I think his compete is there. Seems like a good vet presence. You need to fill the roster.

I would like the next leadership group to emerge and become a fixture over the next two seasons. Go into the season with the mindset to hand over the C when someone is ready. From what we’ve heard about Benn and his leadership- theres no good reason to start from scratch. They have a great opportunity to pass the torch and build on and learn from the Benneguin era while Benn still has something left in the tank. I think theres a lot of value to that and doing right by the captain for the next generation. I mentioned it before, but it really just feels like the right time- and a year with less pressure would be perfect.

To that point, no need to move on from Seguin in a retooling year- he’s a quintessential Star and presumably a great mentor to the young guys. As far as 2026-27, who knows- cross that bridge when you get there.

Dumba seems like a good vet presence- and this allows them to not waste assets trying to dump him. Let his contract fall off next year.

I understand the desire to win now, but I think being patient and giving yourself two offseasons (read: chances) to rebuild the roster- particularly the offense. You can walk away from bad deals in year one knowing you get another go in year two. I think that flexibility would be really valuable in the long term- setting the next run up with as much cap flexibility as possible.

I also recognize that next year’s team would still be expected to make the playoffs, but their offensive depth presumably would take a huge hit. Benn is still on the roster. So is Dumba. I guess the general idea is just don’t blow your wad chasing now. Which I am very concerned about Nill’s appetite for because this core still has so much opportunity ahead of them.

EDIT: How could I forget, the sentiment seems to be that DeBoer is on the way out- the team gets a gimmie year to get their legs in a new system under a new coach.

Dumba existed this year to get the team through 82 games and struggled with that. It's a lot of money for a guy that didn't play in PO, and barely made it through the regular season. He's not going to return to form suddenly.

Dadonov should go, and there needs to be a youth infusion after that.

Look at the two teams about to slug it out. They have or two guys over 33, most of their lineup is 27-30. Plenty of talent in Cedar Park ready for an opportunity.

The team desperately needs some hearts and legs, and enough to make sure that there's gas to go hard through the POs, because crapping the bed for three weeks at the end of the season trying to rest clearly didn't work.

 

[Azzuri]

Oh ya. Let this shit rise to the surface. Don't let Nill ignore it.

New voice is needed somewhere at the top. Coaching, leadership, or both.

 

[catters078]

Xx-Hintz-Rantanen
Robertson-Johnston-Bourque
Steel-Duchene-Seguin
Benn-Back-Hryckowian
Min salary vet / AHL call up as 13th fwd

Find 1 top 9 fwds, hopefully you can get at low cost who's effective (need speed!) Oloffson?

Benn and Duchene only return if they combine for 6 mill Max.

On defense, likely same group but see if you can find an upgrade at Right D with Ceci not coming back. Maybe someone on a prove it deal like Dante Fabbro

 

[Sports2]

Oh ya. Let this shit rise to the surface. Don't let Nill ignore it.

New voice is needed somewhere at the top. Coaching, leadership, or both.

Pete might as well be talking in the past tense about his time here.

 

[too374]

Dumba seems like a good vet presence- and this allows them to not waste assets trying to dump him. Let his contract fall off next year.

Moving dumba is not a measure of his utility but a reality of the cap.

 

[Arkham32]

Some positives out of this is atleast we can pencil bischel in as a core piece. Very solid playoffs and he is the type of physicality and skating this team desperately needs just wish one of these guys was a righty.

 

[Sports2]

Dumba existed this year to get the team through 82 games and struggled with that. It's a lot of money for a guy didn't play in PO, and barely made it through the regular season. He's not going to return to form suddenly.

Dadonov should go, and there needs to be a youth infusion after that.

Look at the two teams about to slug it out. They have or two guys over 33, most of their lineup is 27-30. Plenty of talent in Cedar Park ready for an opportunity.

The team desperately needs some hearts and legs, and enough to make sure that there's gas to go hard through the POs, because crapping the bed for three weeks at the end of the season trying to rest clearly didn't work.

The idea is that whats unsaid with a wink and a nod is an acknowledgment that three deep postseason runs is a lot of extra hockey for any team- and an opportunity to reset with “no” expectations would be a strategic respite from pressure for the players while the organization gears up for the next run. Injuries played through. Surgeries put off.

Dumba remaining on the roster would be more about conserving ammunition for the next year- same philosophy for whatever assets Marchment would return.

I understand that sounds defeatist and like wasting time- but to keep scrambling to compete- which is what got Dumba here in the first place on some level- is a choice in it’s own. I don’t want another short-sighted decision like the Dumba contract to hinder the team for multiple seasons yet again.

Their cap situation is what it is. I don’t think its insurmountable. But I also think there are some worthwhile long term benefits to taking a year to regroup.

 

[Dynamite Time]

So @Sports2, and everyone else, who do you see as our captain?

I say give it to Rantanen and run alternates for Heiskanen, Hintz, Johnston and Harley.

 

[Arkham32]

Has to be Hesikanen team, he’s still arguably the best player on the team and he’s been here the longest out of the young core. I don’t think it can be rantanen you can’t really give the guy whose been here half the year the captaincy just because he scores the most goals.

 

[Troy McClure]

Given the quote from DeBoer about the team being unable to fight until up against the wall, my vote is to not pick anyone who is currently wearing a letter. Maybe even look for an outside voice via trade or free agency.

 

[dalness]

Given the quote from DeBoer about the team being unable to fight until up against the wall, my vote is to not pick anyone who is currently wearing a letter. Maybe even look for an outside voice via trade or free agency.

Brady Tkachuck?

 

[Sports2]

So @Sports2, and everyone else, who do you see as our captain?

I say give it to Rantanen and run alternates for Heiskanen, Hintz, Johnston and Harley.

In transition?

C:
Benn

A:
Robertson
Lindell
Harley
Seguin
Rantanen

Once they come out on the other side?

A/C:
Robertson
Harley
Lindell
Rantanen

Look I love Hintz- but his body language kind of sucks sometimes. I think Lindell and Heiskanen are both kind of quiet, similar leaders but Lindell leads with his fists and sticks up for his teammates which gives him the edge. I think it’s still early for Johnston. Don’t force it.

As far as the C? No idea- my criticism of Benn as a leader over the years has been thoroughly been debunked so I don’t really know. Lindell? Maybe he holds it down until a young gun takes it from him.

Given the quote from DeBoer about the team being unable to fight until up against the wall, my vote is to not pick anyone who is currently wearing a letter. Maybe even look for an outside voice via trade or free agency.

I think there are members of the leadership group that would do things differently if they were captain. But supporting the captain is the right thing to do and I don’t think it should detract from any of the existing leadership for not publicly speaking out on some level if they didn’t like the way things were. We also don’t know what kind of conversations may take place behind closed doors.

 

[Dynamite Time]

Brady Tkachuck?

No. 50/50 with Troy though. Heiskanen is still a young stud but Rantanen is a superstar… ?

 

[Sports2]

You know whats really funny? If DeBoer is let go before July 1st- Lundkvist will have outlived DeBoer.

 

[Kcb12345]

DeBoer isn't going anywhere & neither is Jamie Benn imo.

If Benn wants to play still, it'll be here and no where else. Probably 1-year, $3m or something like that if I'm guessing

 

[sooni]

Winning window is pretty much now. It is not like Rantanen is getting younger.

Need to get rid off Marchment and Benn (they are just taking stupid penalties at playoffs), Dumba is done, Duchene is impotent at playoffs.

Seguin can produce if he is actually healthy before playoffs. He is getting injured before trade deadline and there is good 9 million cap space

 

[Hinterland]

DeBoer isn't going anywhere & neither is Jamie Benn imo.

If Benn wants to play still, it'll be here and no where else. Probably 1-year, $3m or something like that if I'm guessing

If DeBoer wants to stay then he's gonna have to pubicly apologize to Oettinger. The action of taking your clear cut starter (who brought you to where you are) out of the net because the team in front of him decided to half ass an elimination game was dumb enough. His comments afterwards were totally unacceptable though.

These kinda words you usually only get to hear from coaches fully knowing they're done because that kinda damage is difficult to repair.

 

[Satan]

If DeBoer wants to stay then he's gonna have to pubicly apologize to Oettinger. The action of taking your clear cut starter (who brought you to where you are) out of the net because the team in front of him decided to half ass an elimination game was dumb enough. His comments afterwards were totally unacceptable though.

These kinda words you usually only get to hear from coaches fully knowing they're done because that kinda damage is difficult to repair.

hahahahahaha