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

[SC Cannon]

It would be too ironic to get Demidov

Marchenko and Lindstrom for Demidov and Reinbacher. Then the world explodes.

 

[majormajor]

I think that would be the Occam's Razor explanation

I call something an Occam's Razor scenario when all the other possibilities are far fetched. But none of these are far fetched:

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.

 

[CBJW]

CSKA's Nikolai Makarov Set to Join Blue Jackets, Aims for NHL Breakthrough

CSKA defenseman Nikolai Makarov, 22, is heading to the NHL with Columbus after leaving Russia to chase his dream

rg.org

Same reporter who said we were going to sign Makarov a few years ago.

So while she seems to have good sources, she’s not 100%.

 

[koteka]

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.

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.

I think the Occam’s Razor explanation is Marchenko thinks the team isn’t good enough, no big moves were made in the offseason, we are running the same team back, and the best player in franchise history said he wanted to leave. I don’t think Bowness had anything to do with it.

 

[Sdrawkcab321]

We won’t have a team left after all these trade requests

 

[CBJW]

Milstein continues tweeting at Montreal fans teasing them of something coming.

 

[Banana duck]

CSKA's Nikolai Makarov Set to Join Blue Jackets, Aims for NHL Breakthrough

CSKA defenseman Nikolai Makarov, 22, is heading to the NHL with Columbus after leaving Russia to chase his dream

rg.org

Same reporter who said we were going to sign Makarov a few years ago.

So while she seems to have good sources, she’s not 100%.

He probably should start to hope for a trade at this point, it is not going to be a friendly reception at NWA.

 

[MissADD]

Milstein continues tweeting at Montreal fans teasing them of something coming.

It would be the funniest thing ever if he is doing all this just for Marchy to extend and stay. I highly doubt that happens, just stating it would be hilarious.

 

[CBJW]

 

[SC Cannon]

I think the Occam’s Razor explanation is Marchenko thinks the team isn’t good enough, no big moves were made in the offseason, we are running the same team back, and the best player in franchise history said he wanted to leave. I don’t think Bowness had anything to do with it.

What are all these big moves that the rest of the league are doing that we aren't? The best players can't constantly expect big moves, they ARE the move. If Z wants 16m and Fantilli wants 15m and Marchenko wants 12m then they are the moves. They're the reason we win or lose.

I am so sick of hearing that. It's Laine all over again. We don't care about winning enough. Oh ok dude we brought in an 8m+ dude to lead the team to better things and he sucked, wanna talk about it?

This has been going on from regime to regime from coach to coach from roster to roster. There's one common denominator. I guess the rest of the world dunking on us is just right at this point. Players just don't want to live in Ohio. Is what it is. After 25 years of it, just is what it is.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Last summer he was singing the praises of Columbus and talking about being here long term, and how it was a top organization and he wasn’t Panarin.

bones did a good job righting the ship halfway through the season, but if his tirade at the end of game 82 ended up alienating marchenko (and perhaps werenski too) to the point where it prevents a long term contract from being signed and necessitates a trade? yikes.

 

[KJ Dangler]

I just find it ironic that 2 of our key players laid an egg after the Olympic break .. Zach had 2 goals in his final 23 games , Krill 2 in his final 16 games .. coach said there were players lucky that not have practice tomorrow and ripped the culture .. Zach and Krill give seem bothered by Bowness assertion in exit interviews , and both ask for a trade … Honestly , unless it’s a sweet deal like we would have got for Zach .. Harley , Bourque … I’m telling Krill we will talk after next season , see you at camp ..

 

[KJ Dangler]

bones did a good job righting the ship halfway through the season, but if his tirade at the end of game 82 ended up alienating marchenko (and perhaps werenski too) to the point where it prevents a long term contract from being signed and necessitates a trade? yikes.

Goes back to what Bones said .. culture .. if it’s honestly what has caused this , you can’t get rid of these guys fast enough .. Porty said there were guys in the cbj dressing room that liked the idea of being an nhl player more than doing it ..

 

[Banana duck]

bones did a good job righting the ship halfway through the season, but if his tirade at the end of game 82 ended up alienating marchenko (and perhaps werenski too) to the point where it prevents a long term contract from being signed and necessitates a trade? yikes.

Soft players

 

[SC Cannon]

Goes back to what Bones said .. culture .. if it’s honestly what has caused this , you can’t get rid of these guys fast enough .. Porty said there were guys in the cbj dressing room that liked the idea of being an nhl player more than doing it ..

Honestly, I kind of trust Bones' judgement on this one.

 

[CBJW]

Agent apparently. Translation

Marchenko file, the latest info I have: 3 teams are currently in the mix, but Montreal and Utah are clearly at the top of the list. File to follow closely!

 

[Indy18]

What are all these big moves that the rest of the league are doing that we aren't? The best players can't constantly expect big moves, they ARE the move. If Z wants 16m and Fantilli wants 15m and Marchenko wants 12m then they are the moves. They're the reason we win or lose.

I am so sick of hearing that. It's Laine all over again. We don't care about winning enough. Oh ok dude we brought in an 8m+ dude to lead the team to better things and he sucked, wanna talk about it?

This has been going on from regime to regime from coach to coach from roster to roster. There's one common denominator. I guess the rest of the world dunking on us is just right at this point. Players just don't want to live in Ohio. Is what it is. After 25 years of it, just is what it is.

Also the irony now of Laine can’t even get a pto spot in the league

 

[Indy18]

We call that “engagement farming”

 

[SC Cannon]

Agent apparently. Translation

I've thought this whole time Utah could be a great trade partner...

 

[Aaaarrgghh]

I've thought this whole time Utah could be a great trade partner...

Agreed. If Marchenko is traded to Utah, Iginla had better be part of the package coming back.

 

[Indy18]

Agreed. If Marchenko is traded to Utah, Iginla had better be part of the package coming back.

And who is the top 6 coming back from Utah? We are openly stating we are not going to take a step back as this is a crossroads year.

Why all these mock trades are hurting my brain everyone is like give me the shiny new toy when they don’t realize we have a player at 2 years control, one of which is at an extremely low cap hit.

A Marchenko trade is going to badly hurt whoever takes him and even his own agent has said that.

If you take Marchenko for straight futures might as well go ahead and trade Z and get the rebuild started.

 

[SC Cannon]

And who is the top 6 coming back from Utah? We are openly stating we are not going to take a step back as this is a crossroads year.

Why all these mock trades are hurting my brain everyone is like give me the shiny new toy when they don’t realize we have a player at 2 years control, one of which is at an extremely low cap hit.

A Marchenko trade is going to badly hurt whoever takes him and even his own agent has said that.

If you take Marchenko for straight futures might as well go ahead and trade Z and get the rebuild started.

I'd kill for Guenther but that's probably a pipe dream

 

[Banana duck]

And who is the top 6 coming back from Utah? We are openly stating we are not going to take a step back as this is a crossroads year.

Why all these mock trades are hurting my brain everyone is like give me the shiny new toy when they don’t realize we have a player at 2 years control, one of which is at an extremely low cap hit.

A Marchenko trade is going to badly hurt whoever takes him and even his own agent has said that

If this is really all happening to try to move him out before the season starts, as quickly as this seems to be going down - something must be unrepairable.

 

[Banana duck]

 

[Indy18]

Exactly...

This ain't no NMC picking their teams, he's an RFA that has 2 years of control, 1 year at an extreme discount, right handed sniper who runs a top line. There would be 20 teams interested in 3,850,000 reasons alone for a year at minimum