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

[SC Cannon]

Yeah I can’t either.

I’m still not unconvinced that this isn’t Milstein causing problems. It started with him publicly saying “a good comparison for Marchenko would be Dorofeyev” then it was “well now he won’t extend” then it was “we are discussing his contract now, we may not get around to it for a bit, I have three other RFAs to attend to” then “we need to make sure we have room for Marchenko and Johnson and Voronkov next year” then “yes I’ve spoken with his agent, his contract is still on my list, I need to do these ones first” and now it’s “trade is imminent”

Milstein has been known to stir the pot with us to get what he wants, so who really knows.

It's a crazy 180 from what Marchenko was saying just 4 months or so ago.

And I understand you can just say what people want to hear but he didn't need to be that complimentary of Columbus if he didn't mean it either lol.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Then why have an NHL franchise in Columbus? You can't keep players that genuinely dont want to be here, this appears to be something more serious than, "Werenski won't resign so neither will I."

You can when teams have contracts and rights. If a player wants to whine their way out of town it shows more about their character than the organization they are a part of.

They need to do their job no matter what shirt they wear. You don't just trade a guy because he got a little sand in his lower body orifices.

There is a case you could look back and say the organization should have given PLD a little tough love and scratched him until he fixed his attitude. Otherwise he would have been risking his entire career and future pay days over some immaturity. Instead we pacified him and gave in to his temper tantrum.

 

[Napoli]

You can when teams have contracts and rights. If a player wants to whine their way out of town it shows more about their character than the organization they are a part of.

They need to do their job no matter what shirt they wear. You don't just trade a guy because he got a little sand in his lower body orifices.

There is a case you could look back and say the organization should have given PLD a little tough love and scratched him until he fixed his attitude. Otherwise he would have been risking his entire career and future pay days over some immaturity. Instead we pacified him and gave in to his temper tantrum.

I look at PLD and see a pretty underwhelming career based off the hype. Any player that goes this route tends not to be as good as they think they are.

You can play hardball but no guarantee it works out. It really depends on the trade.

 

[Indy18]

I don't understand the Marchenko thing here. We are at a crossroads this year. Waddell can't afford to make the team weaker by trading his only right handed sniper as his seat is probably starting to feel warm too and he's not going to trade his only sniper for futures, especially when the face of your franchise could be on his last playable year before you need to sell him off to recoup assets... So unless its a knockout homerun win for us...see you in September!

 

[Banana duck]

Well the middle three quotes are Waddell not Milstein, so that explains a lot of the swing back and forth. Obviously Waddell is not trying to amplify any trade requests publicly.

This post was to show a series of events. I’ll make sure I specify better for you next time.

 

[Banana duck]

I don't understand the Marchenko thing here. We are at a crossroads this year. Waddell can't afford to make the team weaker by trading his only right handed sniper as his seat is probably starting to feel warm too and he's not going to trade his only sniper for futures, especially when the face of your franchise could be on his last playable year before you need to sell him off to recoup assets... So unless its a knockout homerun win for us...see you in September!

I think his biggest mistakes have been thinking “I’ll do a bridge deal now and then a longer one later”

Obviously it takes two to tango, but he’s commented publicly several times about how he likes to do things this way, so it makes me wonder if there have actually ever been conversations otherwise.

 

[Cheddarcheese]

There has to be team drama here for this marchenko news. It makes zero sense

 

[Indy18]

I think his biggest mistakes have been thinking “I’ll do a bridge deal now and then a longer one later”

Obviously it takes two to tango, but he’s commented publicly several times about how he likes to do things this way, so it makes me wonder if there have actually ever been conversations otherwise.

That's just Waddell being a GM boomer...that's how it used to go

 

[MissADD]

There has to be team drama here for this marchenko news. It makes zero sense

Or Marchenko just took offense to what Bones said after the final game last season and he is soft.

 

[majormajor]

This post was to show a series of events. I’ll make sure I specify better for you next time.

Don't make it like it's just a major major thing. You attributed Waddell's quotes to Milstein. That's poor form everywhere!

 

[EspenK]

I can see why Montreal wants Marchenko. But what are they willing to send back th CBJ would want?

 

[Banana duck]

Don't make it like it's just a major major thing. You attributed Waddell's quotes to Milstein. That's poor form everywhere!

Im sorry I forgot to say “and then Waddell said” when I said “then it was” when I was speaking casually on a hockey fan forum. I’ll specify better next time.

 

[majormajor]

Or Marchenko just took offense to what Bones said after the final game last season and he is soft.

If you were to randomly pick a group of people and call them lazy or soft, why is it assumed that the only people who would take offense to that would be the lazy or soft ones? In the real world hard working people also take offense when you call them lazy. And Marchenko is clearly one of the hardest working players we have. It's more likely he's offended because it isn't true.

In any case, we have no idea if Bowness has anything to do with this. It's a bit silly to spend so much time talking about it when it's likely unrelated.

 

[Habs10Habs]

Yeah I can’t either.

I’m still not unconvinced that this isn’t Milstein causing problems. It started with him publicly saying “a good comparison for Marchenko for Columbus would be Dorofeyev’s contract” then it was “well now he won’t extend” then it was “we are discussing his contract now, we may not get around to it for a bit, I have three other RFAs to attend to” then “we need to make sure we have room for Marchenko and Johnson and Voronkov next year” then “yes I’ve spoken with his agent, his contract is still on my list, I need to do these ones first” and now it’s “trade is imminent”

Milstein has been known to stir the pot with us to get what he wants, so who really knows.

I totally agree and I believe that with Milstein being a shit disturber. He's using Montreal as a way to increase the asking price for Marchenko. I have to say that this has been amusing for me, since even a slight chance of obtaining someone like Marchenko is exciting. Putting myself in your and other CLB fans shoes. This must be extremely annoying.

 

[SC Cannon]

I totally agree and I believe that with Milstein being a shit disturber. He's using Montreal as a way to increase the asking price for Marchenko. I have to say that this has been amusing for me, since even a slight chance of obtaining someone like Marchenko is exciting. Putting myself in your and other CLB fans shoes. This must be extremely annoying.

We're well trained in these matters

 

[CBJW]

Milton is so unprofessional for responding to shit like this

 

[KJ Dangler]

If you were to randomly pick a group of people and call them lazy or soft, why is it assumed that the only people who would take offense to that would be the lazy or soft ones? In the real world hard working people also take offense when you call them lazy. And Marchenko is clearly one of the hardest working players we have. It's more likely he's offended because it isn't true.

In any case, we have no idea if Bowness has anything to do with this. It's a bit silly to spend so much time talking about it when it's likely unrelated.

Explain the dramatic 180 where he has to be traded now ? We had his exit interview .. News Bones is coming back , and now all a sudden , happy go lucky Marchenko who loves Columbus and the fans , demands a trade . He’s soft …

 

[Habs10Habs]

I can see why Montreal wants Marchenko. But what are they willing to send back th CBJ would want?

I can't speak for all Habs fans, but from what I've read. Your management wants players that can contribute right now. Not prospects or high draft picks. So looking at my Habs, I can't see any one for one deals to be made. As I've mentioned before, trading a Slafkovsky or Demidov straight up, really doesn't make sense.

So here are the current roster players that are on the Habs No-trade list in my humble opinion.

Suzuki
Caufield
Slafkovsky
Demidov

Hutson
Dobson
Guhle (Maybe)
Matheson (NMC)

Not moving any of the players I listed would make it incredibly difficult to make a trade. Personally I'd be curious to see the rumored "incredible" offer that Waddell turned down.

 

[Crede777]

I really doubt Waddell would say Marchenko will be a Jacket when camp opens only to turn around and trade him.

 

[Fro]

Milton is so unprofessional for responding to shit like this

I want him to be blacklisted from the NHL so much

 

[Habs10Habs]

We're well trained in these matters

You all have kept a good sense of humor.

I can't even imagine having to go through what your fanbase has gone through. I have one word for you all "Respect"

 

[Indy18]

Milton is so unprofessional for responding to shit like this

If you have to ask...you can't afford it

Basically what we knew all along.

 

[majormajor]

Explain the dramatic 180 where he has to be traded now ? We had his exit interview .. News Bones is coming back , and now all a sudden , happy go lucky Marchenko who loves Columbus and the fans , demands a trade . He’s soft …

There are an infinite number of things that could explain a player taking a different stance in the summer than what they took during an exit interview. Maybe Milstein told him now is the time. Maybe the Werenski news tipped him. Maybe just getting more time away from the team allowed him to think about the future. Maybe telling fans in an exit interview that you're leaving is not a good idea.

This idea that it has to be Bowness is just unfounded. We simply don't know.

 

[SC Cannon]

This idea that it has to be Bowness is just unfounded. We simply don't know.

I think that would be the Occam's Razor explanation, but ultimately you're right. I'm gonna be really jacked off if this winds up being another mystery situation like PLD.

I get to an extent it's none of our business, but I can still be bitter about it.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Werenski - NMC and that ship has apparently sailed for this year. Would have liked the Harley+ deal but Z nixed it.

Marchenko - rumors a few weeks ago were Montreal made an absurd offer. Just guessing it was loaded with futures and not a hockey trade. If it is them, I'd be fine with either Slafkovsky or Demidov, but I don't know why they would do that.

It would be too ironic to get Demidov