Speculation: Armchair GM - 2026 CBJ Offseason Roster Moves, Rumors, and Discussion

[alphafox]

I think there needs to be another piece added to that.

I would be disgusted in Zach though if he left Columbus to go “win” and went to San Jose though.

I'll be honest, I can see the argument for SJS. Between #2 (Stenberg/Malhotra), #9 (Assume one of the D) picks this year Macklin, Will Smith, Chernyshov and Misa they are only a couple of years from being a wagon if they add Z even if they have to give up Misa and the #2 OA. They are on a lot stronger of a foundation compared to us and a much higher ceiling unfortunately.

 

[Ice9]

Come on, nobody professes to love a city/ organization and then stick that city/ organization like that and leave before they had a shot at a pre draft deal. Zach isn’t an idiot and I can’t believe he’d want to leave on bad terms.

He may well say he’s concerned about the teams lack of success but heck, we can all say that!

 

[Banana duck]

I'll be honest, I can see the argument for SJS. Between #2 (Stenberg/Malhotra), #9 (Assume one of the D) picks this year Macklin, Will Smith, Chernyshov and Misa they are only a couple of years from being a wagon if they add Z even if they have to give up Misa and the #2 OA. They are on a lot stronger of a foundation compared to us and a much higher ceiling unfortunately.

We don’t know that. Development isn’t linear, they have a weak defense pipeline, and with what they have to send back they weaken that foundation a lot. He would be taking a big risk that they actually take that step forward.

 

[Cheddarcheese]

I'll be honest, I can see the argument for SJS. Between #2 (Stenberg/Malhotra), #9 (Assume one of the D) picks this year Macklin, Will Smith, Chernyshov and Misa they are only a couple of years from being a wagon if they add Z even if they have to give up Misa and the #2 OA. They are on a lot stronger of a foundation compared to us and a much higher ceiling unfortunately.

it pays off to be last LOL we have always been not good enough and not shit enough ahaha

 

[Banana duck]

Macklin is the future of the nhl would be a bad spot for Z

Teams don’t win a cup with one player.

 

[SC Cannon]

Come on, nobody professes to love a city/ organization and then stick that city/ organization like that and leave before they had a shot at a pre draft deal. Zach isn’t an idiot and I can’t believe he’d want to leave on bad terms.

He may well say he’s concerned about the teams lack of success but heck, we can all say that!

Yeah, I don't see him demanding a trade. He's probably saying if things don't improve I won't re-sign, which is fair. It's the McDavid situation. Both teams have a doomsday clock running on their star player staying or going.

 

[Fro]

Not sure what time the Waddell presser will be but it’s usually in the 11Am-12pm window

Noon

 

[alphafox]

Currently we are "minus" Boone and Marchment & "plus" no one new. Hard to believe we can be worse than last year. But right now that is at least a plausible scenario. We have to see what happens in the next few days.

I see approximately zero chance we aren't worse next year barring a truly inspired trade from DW and jumps from inside which never seem to materialize (KJ, Vronk, Sillinger) or a leap from LDBB. It's one of the reasons I would be OK with a Z trade as sad as that would be. I don't think the Z or Marchenko trade happens because the team leadership has never shown the willingness to truly tear it down and commit to a rebuild but it could be the right thing to do it just won't happen because of leadership.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

I believe the best path to being a contender requires Werenski to be moved now for 2-3 top picks and/or young guys that play forward. In a couple years you hope that Mateychuk and Jackson Smith are top 4 defenseman and that the best of the Russian goalies is ready to be the guy. Unless Werenski agrees to extend, he is gone in 2 years. This roster doesnt line up currently to be good enough in those two years to justify keeping him for another 6 months to a year and let his trade value drop lower.

 

[Crede777]

Kent Johnson + 14 OA for

I believe the best path to being a contender requires Werenski to be moved now for 2-3 top picks and/or young guys that play forward. In a couple years you hope that Mateychuk and Jackson Smith are top 4 defenseman and that the best of the Russian goalies is ready to be the guy. Unless Werenski agrees to extend, he is gone in 2 years. This roster doesnt line up currently to be good enough in those two years to justify keeping him for another 6 months to a year and let his trade value drop lower.

Regarding top picks - Not this year. You could make an argument for Chase Reid developing into a #1 D but that's years away and as such is far from a sure bet. Besides the outside shot of Malhotra becoming a good #1 C there aren't really any pieces to build a team around in the 2026 draft.

With the way 1st rounders are getting moved this year, I don't think it's strange that the meeting is happening post-draft. Much rather get unprotected 1st's in 2027 and 2028 even over a top-5 pick this year.

 

[Cheddarcheese]

Teams don’t win a cup with one player.

with Ivan they're about to have 2 generational players

 

[SC Cannon]

with Ivan they're about to have 2 generational players

Let's pump the brakes on the magic beans being generational lol

 

[MissADD]

Come on, nobody professes to love a city/ organization and then stick that city/ organization like that and leave before they had a shot at a pre draft deal. Zach isn’t an idiot and I can’t believe he’d want to leave on bad terms.

He may well say he’s concerned about the teams lack of success but heck, we can all say that!

You are forgetting the detail of the rumored USA Olympic team group chat. I know its just a rumor, but I have reason to believe it is real. He may be or may have been trying to recruit players to here. If they don't want to come here and all want different teams, maybe they are getting into his ear and he is succumbing to peer pressure.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

that's the thing that's odd why would it be after the draft.

It would not

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Kent Johnson + 14 OA for

Regarding top picks - Not this year. You could make an argument for Chase Reid developing into a #1 D but that's years away and as such is far from a sure bet. Besides the outside shot of Malhotra becoming a good #1 C there aren't really any pieces to build a team around in the 2026 draft.

It doesnt have to be guys only in this draft. I would want one high pick and then get the best of that teams' prospects that were drafted in 2024 or 2025. Basically 3 unproven but highly rated prospects and you assume the risk for their eventual success.

 

[SC Cannon]

You are forgetting the detail of the rumored USA Olympic team group chat. I know its just a rumor, but I have reason to believe it is real. He may be or may have been trying to recruit players to here. If they don't want to come here and all want different teams, maybe they are getting into his ear and he is succumbing to peer pressure.

Like who?

I think this whole group chat thing is just HF being starved for news and blowing it waaaaaaay out of proportion.

Who do we think is recruiting Z?

Can't be any of the Florida guys
Can't be any of the Minnesota guys
Really doubt Larkin is trying to get Z to go to Detroit lol

Who we thinking?

 

[Ice9]

You are forgetting the detail of the rumored USA Olympic team group chat. I know its just a rumor, but I have reason to believe it is real. He may be or may have been trying to recruit players to here. If they don't want to come here and all want different teams, maybe they are getting into his ear and he is succumbing to peer pressure.

Then he’s weak?

Why not come here? I think with our guys who should be ready to pop (no need to name em all) Larkin and maybe another solid scorer this team could be something. We don’t know for sure all these guys want to go warm climates. Heck, they ain’t home all season and in the off can do anything or go anywhere. Apparently, home, or close to it is important to some.

I also think the team USA thing is more running with a funny rumor than anything…

 

[MissADD]

Like who?

I think this whole group chat thing is just HF being starved for news and blowing it waaaaaaay out of proportion.

Who do we think is recruiting Z?

Can't be any of the Florida guys
Can't be any of the Minnesota guys
Really doubt Larkin is trying to get Z to go to Detroit lol

Who we thinking?

If I had to guess it is Larkin but he is telling Z to hold still until he gets dealt and then join him there.

 

[Xoggz22]

with Ivan they're about to have 2 generational players

He's going to bust. mark it down

 

[SC Cannon]

If I had to guess it is Larkin but he is telling Z to hold still until he gets dealt and then join him there.

Come on lol

You gotta admit that's a little unrealistic.

What team has the need for both, the cap space, and the assets?

Especially if they both want to stick closer to home and not go to SJ.

 

[Doggy]

i think we should trade Z and try and get that 2nd overall pick with Misa? then we can look to trade KJ or Sillenger/voronkov and picks for a D man.

easier said then done. i think if we lose Z for nothing it puts us in a dark spot

"Son, there ain't no draft no more"

 

[BigBoss614]

If Z wants to win in the next 3-5 years, he's not going to a team that's been in the lottery the last few years, he's going to a team that's been contending the last few years...

 

[Ice9]

If Z wants to win in the next 3-5 years, he's not going to a team that's been in the lottery the last few years, he's going to a team that's been contending the last few years...

And we could well be primed to bust out within his remaining productive years with a coach capable of guiding them there. With a good push this team has a shot. Worry about cap hell later. Everyone else seems to and we’ll need a rebuild by then anyway. Win something!

There ain’t much meat on the bone left for those teams that are “right there”. They’ll have to subtract to add…

 

[hockey17jp]

On the one hand I understand the perspective of the people here who think we are "close", but on the other hand I don't think the "close" that we are seeing with this team is exactly what a star like Werenski is happy with.

Realistically, even if Monahan and KJ have major bounce back years and Fantilli takes another step forward, we're still a round 1 or round 2 exit, right? This team isn't a Stanley Cup contender barring a major Cinderella run.

If they want to go all in on Werenski staying they gotta find a way to get more dangerous. And if it isn't possible than I agree with some others on here when they say we should just trade him to try and get ahead of our next rebuild.

I also don't blame Werenski for any of this. He has been a consummate pro here and very outspoken about how much he loves Columbus. But he also wants to win a cup, and so far in his tenure here that has been a pipe dream.

All of this entire saga was conjured up by reporters wildly speculating to the point where Werenski now has to actually address it, but it's not like he's been demanding a trade behind the scenes.

 

[Xoggz22]

I guess I'm a "drink the cool aid" guy, but I continue to think that improvements internally should be expected. I've seen a lot (and added to that) about down years from KJ, Voronkov and Monahan. Why would we not expect a better year from Monahan? He's been so much better in his career than he's looked last year. So I would expect a bounce back from him. he should be a 60+ point player without question. KJ, while less history than Monahan, is not a 22 pt player and should be at least a 50+ point player. Voronkov may just be what we've seen - a half season player. I dont' think anyone would disagree he's a 20-25g guy and 40-50 pt guy, but needs his minutes curtailed and better conditioning to say the least. May not get that... Those three are the ones we've talked about the most and the return to even average level play would be a dramatic improvement.

That said, I don't think we've mentioned Marchenko enough. He was nearly a PPG player so it's hard to say he had a down year, but I personally think he underperformed. There is no reason he shouldn't be a 35+ goal, 80+pt guy. Yes, he wasn't far off, but I think his play the 2nd half was less than inspiring and maybe he's had to learn how to play in pressure games in the NHL. I expect more from him and suspect we'll get that this year.

I don't think I can qualify these as "ifs" since Monahan and KJ have been there and should be expected to be better. Marchenko has shown he's a top line guy that should score more. Vornokov is a wild card, but just getting back to expectation for 3 of the 4 is a big step forward.

All that said, we absolutely benefited from Marchment and he needs replaced (I hope wherever he goes he drifts back to Kraken level play ). We need an upgrade on the 3rd defensive pair as well. This does not make us a Cup contender, but I don't see a thought that this team will be worse. Any team can suffer down years from players. CBJ had multiple. They truly need another top 9 player that can contribute offensively and help with special teams.

Big week ahead to add, but bigger off season for the underperforming assets.